Benjamin J. Drouhard, Executive Vice President of Citizens Bank of Kansas (CBK), recently graduated from the Graduate School of Banking at Colorado’s (GSBC) Executive Development Institute for Community Bankers® (EDI) as a member of its 11th Cohort.

GSBC’s EDI program equips its participants for success with extensive leadership development and bank management training. Participants are up-and-coming C-level executives whose work efforts influence the future direction of their banks. To aid in their development, each participant is assigned a mentor and an executive coach. EDI curriculum topics cover customer relationships, cybersecurity, organizational change, the economy, talent management, profit improvement and more.

“EDI is helping community banks develop their future executives in support of the bank’s succession plan,” said GSBC President Michael Stevens. “It is reassuring to see Ben’s passion for the industry, his community and customers. GSBC is proud to have been a part of Ben’s development.”

 “We are pleased that Ben was able to attend and contribute to the Executive Development Institute, which prepares him for future growth in our Bank,” said CBK President Kyle Russell. A graduate of GSBC, Russell served on the GSBC Board of Trustees for several years and has served as an EDI mentor. 

Drouhard was one of 14 community bankers who graduated from the program during a ceremony in Broomfield, Colorado on April 16, 2025.