Mike is actively involved in community, city and state organizations involved in municipal policy and leadership. He serves in several public and community service organizations, including: • Johnson County Community College Foundation Board Executive Committee (July 2019-present) • Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors (June 2019-present) • KBA State Affairs Committee • Mid-America Regional Council Board of Directors (January 2018-present) • Johnson County Research Triangle Authority Board (2009-2015 & 2021-present) • Johnson County Community College Foundation Board of Directors (2015-present) • League of Kansas Municipalities Board of Directors (President 2005-2006) • Lenexa Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors (ex officio) (2003-present) • Lenexa Chamber of Commerce (Lifetime Member) • Johnson County Community College Carlsen Center Program Advisory Committee • Lenexa Historical Society (Lifetime Member) • Holy Trinity Catholic Church Welcome to Waverly Craig Meader CEO & Chairman, First National Bank of Kansas, Waverly Craig Meader, CEO & Chairman of First National Bank of Kansas in Waverly, began his banking career in 1981 after graduating from Kearney State in Kearney, Nebraska, with his bachelor’s degree in business administration and finance. At only 23, Meader became the youngest bank President in Kansas at the time. Meader’s father had bought First National Bank of Kansas in 1965 in Waverly, where he ran it as President & CEO until the time of his passing when Craig was only 15. Meader not only lost his father, but the town lost their community banker, public servant and friend. While Meader was growing up, he fondly remembered the townspeople stepping in to help serve in the father role after his father’s passing, which helped him grow into the man he is today. This inspired him to later join the Waverly City Council in 1987 and then step into the role of Mayor in 2003 until he retired in 2019. “My biggest inspiration was my father,” Meader said. “He did a lot for Waverly, including a nursing home and an exit for the town off I-35. He bought a $1.5 million bank on a Friday and closed the deal on the following Wednesday, and doubled its size in a year; you can’t do that today. He passed at age 43, and basically, my mom and dad’s friends and community raised me. I learned a lot of community responsibility.” Throughout Meader’s 16 years as Mayor, he relied on his experience in banking to help with understanding the town’s numbers as this was the number one deficiency on the council, and they looked to him when there was a money question on the table. Meader said that as a community banker, he was able to serve a wide variety of customers and was engaged with both his state and national politicians. This helped when applying for grants and financial assistance for the city. With the bank being right across the street from City Hall, Meader had a full plate to balance as both a full-time community banker and as the town Mayor that came with both successes and challenges. Meader would approach every situation with an open mind to listen to the diversity of comments and questions. He said that being a country boy, he could easily sniff out BS a mile away and was never shy about stepping forward and putting a stop to some crazy requests. He used the mindset that regardless of any circumstance if you are steering the city in the correct financial direction and at the same time maintaining a social/aesthetic balance, it would keep the city a place people would want to live. Leading the town on certain aspects also came with much opposition. Meader said that he would educate himself on every issue from every angle to prepare for questions from his constituents. His greatest fear was communicating with folks who “don’t know what they don’t know,” and that blind ignorance could be very dangerous. Craig Meader, CEO and Chairman at First National Bank of Kansas in Waverly, served as mayor for Waverly for 16 consecutive years from 2003-2019. The opening segment of the “Welcome to Waverly” documentary showcasing the town. 19
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