Brian Hoban, Chief Commercial Banking Officer, 1 Ward Parkway, is featured as a Business Journal's Table of Experts panelist.
The Kansas City Business Journal recently held a panel discussion about economic development and ideas for positioning the Kansas City area for continued growth. Called "The Future of Kansas City—America's New Main Streets," the panel was part of a larger, national Future of Cities virtual event the Business Journal hosted.
Joining Brian on the panel were Sean Craven, vice president, AREA Real Estate Advisors and Doug Stone, attorney, Lewis Rice LLC. Bill Dietrich, president and CEO of Downtown Council of Kansas City, moderated the discussion.
Discussion focused on how to reinvent the Downtown area and Kansas City as we emerge from the pandemic, keeping in mind that downtowns are evolving from strictly business districts to central social districts that embrace cultural events and facilities, innovation, dining and culinary experiences and more.
Brian fielded questions about whether cities must evolve, change and grow to retain a competitive edge; strategies employers are using to handle workplace reentry after the the pandemic; how CCB is supporting the development of walkable urban and urban-suburban spaces; and what the bank is doing to help companies navigate the emerging new business environment, including addressing their lending needs and finding opportunities for growth.
Brian noted that to assist businesses with lending and growth, it's necessary to meet with business owners and develop a relationship.
"It starts with physically being out on Main Street," Hoban said, "seeing business owners, touring their businesses, sitting down and talking to them about their plans and goals, understanding the issues that they’re managing and helping them look forward. ... We have a number of commercial bankers who are driven to be trusted advisors, to know and understand the business issues their clients are facing. That helps us be better partners. There are all sorts of banking products we could talk about. But really understanding business owners and what they want to do with their business is at the heart of what we do."
He also addressed the critical need to retain and attract talent.
"Our number one priority has to be continuing that investment in the city that will help us attract employers who want the best talent," he said. We have many thriving businesses in Kansas City that need talent. ... At Country Club Bank, we’re dedicated to building our hometown. Supporting local businesses that make a direct impact on the community and those they serve is at the core of what we do. The need to attract talent is real. ... How does our city continue to build these incredibly thriving neighborhoods that make people want to move from London back to Kansas City?"
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