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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Dianne, <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>That was a very nice article on your sister’s
retirement. What an excellent career she has and one to be very proud of.
We as an organization and I as an individual will continue to keep Linda in
our thoughts and prayers during this time of healing. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Sincerely, <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Donna <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font size=2
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>
Home-on-the-range [mailto:home-on-the-range-bounces@nfbnet.org] <b><span
style='font-weight:bold'>On Behalf Of </span></b>Dianne Hemphill<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Friday, July 12, 2013 10:51
AM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> NFB of Kansas Internet Mailing
List<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> [Home-on-the-range]
FYI…for those of you unable to find the Wichita Business Journal link,
here is a print out of the interview. Dianne</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Begin forwarded message:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=4 face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:13.5pt;
font-family:Helvetica;font-weight:bold'>From: </span></span></font></b><font
size=4 face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Helvetica'>Jacquelin
Clifton <<a href="mailto:advocatecare@icloud.com">advocatecare@icloud.com</a>></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=4 face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:13.5pt;
font-family:Helvetica;font-weight:bold'>Subject: </span><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Wichita</st1:place></st1:City> Business Journal - Exclusive: Delta
Dental of Kansas CEO Linda Brantner to retire</span></font></b><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=4 face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:13.5pt;
font-family:Helvetica;font-weight:bold'>Date: </span></span></font></b><font
size=4 face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Helvetica'>July
12, 2013 9:10:26 AM CDT</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=4 face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:13.5pt;
font-family:Helvetica;font-weight:bold'>To: </span></span></font></b><font
size=4 face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Helvetica'>Dianne
Cell Hemphill <<a href="mailto:diannehemphill@cox.net">diannehemphill@cox.net</a>></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:14.5pt;
font-family:Georgia'>Exclusive: Delta Dental of Kansas CEO Linda Brantner to
retire</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p><font size=4 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:14.5pt;font-family:Georgia'>After
25 years at the company, Delta Dental of Kansas President and CEO Linda
Brantner is retiring.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=4 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:14.5pt;font-family:Georgia'>Brantner
went to work at Delta Dental in 1988 as operations director. She had previously
worked at Pizza Hut Inc. She twice served as Delta Dental’s interim CEO
before taking over permanently in 2006.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=4 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:14.5pt;font-family:Georgia'>Brantner
earned an MBA at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Wichita</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">State</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>
after getting an undergraduate degree in art education. She was a member of the
Women in Business class of 2012.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=4 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:14.5pt;font-family:Georgia'>In
her time at Delta Dental, the <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Kansas</st1:place></st1:State>
operation went from $8 million in annual revenues to $250 million.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=4 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:14.5pt;font-family:Georgia'>I
talked to Brantner Tuesday afternoon.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><strong><b><font size=4 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:14.5pt;
font-family:Georgia'>Tell me how you came to the decision to retire. </span></font></b></strong><font
size=4 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:14.5pt;font-family:Georgia'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=4 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:14.5pt;font-family:Georgia'>I
felt like I have built a very strong leadership team. The last several years I
felt very comfortable that if I was to leave there wouldn’t be a gap at
all because they’re just superstars. We also had a real challenge this
year to get ready for health care reform. We just completed the first round of
making sure that we are going to be able to be a part of the exchanges in our
state regardless of how they turn out. So this was just a good time to really
stop and think, “Should I wait longer, or is this the right time?”
because I’ve got some health issues that have come up again. To me, it
made sense that, because the company was in such great shape, and because
we’re really moving away from a group marketplace to a more
business-to-consumer marketplace, it makes sense to bring in a new CEO to lead
us to that next level.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><strong><b><font size=4 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:14.5pt;
font-family:Georgia'>How are you feeling now?</span></font></b></strong><font
size=4 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:14.5pt;font-family:Georgia'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=4 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:14.5pt;font-family:Georgia'>I’m
feeling good. I’m dealing with the issues at hand. We’re getting a
plan in place, and I’m optimistic.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><strong><b><font size=4 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:14.5pt;
font-family:Georgia'>When is your last day on the job? How did you come to
choose that day? </span></font></b></strong><font size=4 face=Georgia><span
style='font-size:14.5pt;font-family:Georgia'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=4 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:14.5pt;font-family:Georgia'>Sept.
30. That’s the end of the third quarter. And, quite frankly, I wanted to
give a minimum of three months’ notice. But more importantly I did not
want to stay through the end of the year because of all the long-range planning
for the next three to five years that takes place at the end of the year. I
believe that it’s important that, if I’m going to step back, to
give the team and the new leader the opportunity to build that plan.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><strong><b><font size=4 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:14.5pt;
font-family:Georgia'>Is there a succession plan in place? </span></font></b></strong><font
size=4 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:14.5pt;font-family:Georgia'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=4 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:14.5pt;font-family:Georgia'>We
do succession planning every year, formal succession planning for key
positions, and that’s presented to the board each December. Our
succession planning is for stepping in on an interim basis, and for my position
they will do a regular national search. Even with strong internal candidates
they will look outside before they make that decision.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><strong><b><font size=4 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:14.5pt;
font-family:Georgia'>As you reflect on your time at Delta Dental, what do you
feel are your biggest accomplishments? </span></font></b></strong><font size=4
face=Georgia><span style='font-size:14.5pt;font-family:Georgia'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=4 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:14.5pt;font-family:Georgia'>I
think just helping grow the company, making Delta Dental a household name. ...
Nobody knew who Delta was. People know who we are. I think we have the best
product out there. We’ve been able to truly be committed to the
communities in which we live through our contributions and through our
foundation dollars. I think we’ve made a real impact on the oral health
of Kansans. Our gift to WSU for the first formal dental education in the state,
the AEGD (Advanced Education in General Dentistry) program, to me was just so
important and something that we should be a part of. And we’ve had lots
of great national recognition for the way we manage the company. So many
things. The people — you just can’t stay at a place for 25 years
and have such passion about it as I do to not think there are so many
incredible things I’m proud of.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><strong><b><font size=4 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:14.5pt;
font-family:Georgia'>What’s the biggest challenge for the next CEO at
Delta? </span></font></b></strong><font size=4 face=Georgia><span
style='font-size:14.5pt;font-family:Georgia'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=4 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:14.5pt;font-family:Georgia'>Oh,
I’m passing some real opportunities and challenges on to the next CEO.
Anyone in health care knows that our world is changing. It’s not B to B;
it’s going to be B to C, which is very different from the world
I’ve operated in for 25 years. I’m envious because there are going
to be so many opportunities for that person. And sometimes I think I would kind
of like to be a part of that, but I think this is the right time.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><strong><b><font size=4 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:14.5pt;
font-family:Georgia'>You are a member of several boards of directors. Will you
continue to serve on those boards? </span></font></b></strong><font size=4
face=Georgia><span style='font-size:14.5pt;font-family:Georgia'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=4 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:14.5pt;font-family:Georgia'>I’m
thinking that through right now. I may take a break because I want to really
see what retirement’s like. I may take a break and really concentrate on
addressing my health issues and enjoying a break. But I’m committed to
this community, and I’m going to be on boards. ... I’m going to
step back and see what ones are most important to me. They’re all
important but you can only be on so many.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><strong><b><font size=4 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:14.5pt;
font-family:Georgia'>After getting your health back, what do you plan to do in
retirement? </span></font></b></strong><font size=4 face=Georgia><span
style='font-size:14.5pt;font-family:Georgia'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=4 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:14.5pt;font-family:Georgia'>My
husband and I like to travel and spend lots of time with family. We have the
best family around, I can tell you. We just spent Fourth of July with them, and
I’m worn out from laughing when they leave.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><strong><b><font size=4 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:14.5pt;
font-family:Georgia'>Anything else you want to add? </span></font></b></strong><font
size=4 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:14.5pt;font-family:Georgia'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=4 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:14.5pt;font-family:Georgia'>It’s
been a great run.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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Sent from my iPhone<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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