Ms. Pecis received her MBA from the University of Kansas in 1975 and has been involved in the banking industry for 22 years. She worked as a senior executive for First National Bank/Bank IV/Boatmans/NationsBank in Topeka and IntraWest Bank of Denver, Colorado. Ms. Pecis has served in Trust Investments, Correspondence Banking, Cash Management and Marketing and Commercial Lending. She has also served on the ALCO Committee and the Trust Investment Committee.

Ms. Pecis is active in the community, serves on the St. Francis Health Center Foundation and is Co-President of the Washburn Rural High School Booster Club.

 

B. Kent Garlinghouse – Vice Chair

Mr. Garlinghouse was formerly on the Board of Directors of Merchants National Bank/MidAmerican Bank/Mercantile Bank in Topeka for approximately 15 years. During that time he served on various committees and played an active role as a director. Mr. Garlinghouse has been the owner/manager of his own successful company for nearly 30 years. His company is international and has annual sales of $30 million.

Mr. Garlinghouse received his MBA from Harvard. He is the co-founder of Topeka Collegiate School and serves on the boards of the Washburn Endowment Association and St. Francis Health Center.

 

Mr. Blair is President of Kansas Development & Investment, Co., Inc and a broker for Coldwell Banker Griffith & Blair, Inc. He has actively developed and sold real estate properties in the Topeka market for over 40 year and recently expanded his business into the Grand Lake, Colorado market. Mr. Blair previously served as Director and Executive Committee Member for Merchants National Bank in Topeka.

Mr. Blair received his Juris Doctorate Degree from Washburn University, Topeka. He is active in the community serving as Director for Title Midwest, Inc., is Past Chairman of the Washburn University Board of Regents, and is a member of the Washburn Endowment Association and the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce.

Ms. La Rue is a community volunteer and a Director of her family's business, Salisbury Supply Co. Inc., a distributor of construction and industrial supplies. Previously, Ms. La Rue was a Vice President with Capitol Federal Savings in Topeka. During her tenure she served in the areas of Retail Banking and Residential Mortgage Lending.

Ms. La Rue holds a B. S. degree in Business Administration from the University of Kansas. A life-long resident of the Topeka area, Margaret is a member of the Kansas Children's Service League's Community Council, a Trustee of the grace Episcopal Cathedral Endowment Fund, and serves on the boards of the Topeka Swim Association and the Topeka Country Club. She is also a sustaining member of the Junior League of Topeka and a volunteer at Most Pure Heart of Mary School.

Mr. Ulmer joined Heritage Bank as President/CEO in January 2009. He is a native of Nebraska and a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He has over 30 years of banking experience, 20 of those years as President/CEO presiding over banks in York and Hastings, Nebraska, Newton and West Des Moines, Iowa and Riverview Bank in Minnesota. He has managed both privately and publicly held banks. He successfully started two banks and is known for his ability to grow banks in a safe and profitable manner. He has also taught bank and investment courses.

Mr. Ulmer has served on over 30 volunteer boards and served as chairman on many of those. He started housing agencies, as a volunteer, in two separate communities. He has also served as Chair of the Economic Development Board in Newton, Iowa.