Changing My Role, Not Quite Ready for Retirement

“I truly care about our employees, this amazing company, and its clients.”

A Message From Stephen A. English…

“I have been blessed with a 50-year career in the trust business, especially the past 30 years leading The Trust Company of Kansas. I have witnessed many changes in the fiduciary world and take great pride in surrounding myself with an intelligent and dedicated team of professionals seeing us through each and every up and down.

When I reflect on the past, I treasure personal relationships with so many clients whom I call my friends. These are friendships I will continue to cherish as I change my role at The Trust Company of Kansas (TCK). I am extremely proud that so many have met my successor, my son, Christopher M. English. Effective January 1, 2021, Chris will take over my CEO responsibilities, and I will remain Chairman of the Board. Retirement is in my future, but I am not quite ready. I love what I do every day and I want to continue serving my friends.”

Timing is Everything.

“This is the right time for Chris to lead the company’s next phase,” said Martha L. Linsner, CTFA, President/Director of Marketing, TCK Board Member. “Despite the current pandemic, Steve and Chris have had the pleasure of working closely over the past year via Microsoft Teams, and Chris has visited our Wichita and Arkansas City offices on a regular basis. I am highly confident Chris brings the skill and experience to deliver the leadership which is needed today, while building for tomorrow.” Kimberly Ufford, Executive Vice President, TCK Board Member, and Co-Founder of TCK agrees, “Timing is everything. Determining the optimal CEO transition time is one of the board’s most important and most difficult responsibilities. Steve’s willingness to remain active with the company will assist with efforts to make this transition as seamless as possible. TCK is in great shape to move forward into the future!”

It is my honor.

Commenting on his appointment, Chris said, “It is my honor to assume the role as CEO of The Trust Company of Kansas; to help clients accomplish their financial goals now and for generations to come and to work with our talented team. I thank the Board of Directors for placing their trust in me to lead TCK as its next CEO, and I thank my father for all he has done for the company and our employee-owners – including me – during his tenure. I look forward to continuing to work closely with Steve in the coming months in his capacity as Chairman of the Board as we work together to deliver on TCK’s promise to stay focused on the financial aspects of our clients, so they can stay focused on their priorities.”

Congratulations, Steve & Chris!

Steve has guided TCK through tremendous growth since 1990. Chris, who joined TCK in 2009, will continue this English tradition in the future. Leadership change brings a fresh perspective, but client satisfaction and a positive corporate culture will remain strong areas of focus.

About Stephen A. English, Chairman of the Board

  • Stephen A. English, CTFA., Chairman of the Board, Founder
  • Years of Industry Experience: 50      
  • Years with TCK: 30
  • Bachelor of Arts – Business Administration, University of Minnesota, Duluth
  • Southwest School of Graduate Banking – Trust major – Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas
  • Designation: Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisor

In 1976, Steve accepted a position as Vice President and Trust Officer for a bank headquartered in Arkansas City. During his 11 years with the bank, Steve established the trust department and watched it grow to $30 million in assets. Steve then moved to a larger bank in Wichita where he headed a trust department which managed approximately $200 million in assets. In 1989, when the state laws in Kansas changed to allow the formation of independent trust companies, Steve left the bank and spent the next several months setting up TCK, the first non-depository trust company in Kansas. The company was officially chartered on May 21, 1990, and has since grown to manage over $850 million in assets. TCK is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2020!

Steve has been an active community leader in Arkansas City and Wichita for many years. In addition to serving as an Elder on the Session of the First Presbyterian Church of Arkansas City, he has served in the following capacities: Director for Botanica, The Wichita Gardens, Director for Music Theatre Wichita, Member of the Executive Council for the Quivira Scouts Council-Wichita, Treasurer for the Rotary Club of Wichita (Downtown), and Member of the Wichita State University College of Fine Arts Advisory Board, to name a few.

About Christopher M. English, CEO

  • Christopher M. English, CTFA, CEO
  • Years of Industry Experience: 11      
  • Years with TCK: 11
  • Bachelor of Arts – Education, University of Kansas, Lawrence
  • School of Banking Trust & Financial Services-Advanced
  • Cannon Financial Institute Personal Trust I, II, and III
  • Designation: Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisor

Chris graduated from the University of Kansas with his degree in education and has 12 years of experience as a junior high math teacher. In addition to serving as a teacher, Chris also worked as a high school girls’ basketball coach at Lawrence High School and as a junior high tennis coach at South Junior High. He joined TCK in 2009 and has been head of TCK’s Lawrence office since 2017.

Chris completed Cannon Financial Institute Personal Trust I, II, and III and earned the designation of Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisor (CTFA). His natural relationship building skills coupled with “being a numbers guy” make him a perfect fit in the trust and investment industry.

Chris and his wife, Tracey, live in Lawrence with their four children. He is an avid golfer who also enjoys hiking and camping with his family in his free time. An active member of the Lawrence community, Chris and his family are members of St. John’s Catholic Church.

Congratulations, Steve and Chris!