Meet The Equity Bank Leadership Team
Brad Elliott
Chairman & CEO, Equity Bancshares, Inc.
Brad S. Elliott is our founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Under Mr. Elliott’s leadership over more than 20 years, Equity Bank has grown to $5.4 Billion in total assets with more than 70 locations across Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. Mr. Elliott has strategically expanded the Company through numerous capital raises and bank mergers. In 2015, he led the Company through its initial public offering (IPO), then in May 2023, moved Equity’s common stock from the Nasdaq to the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Both strategies better position the Bank, its customers, and shareholders for the future. One of Equity Bank’s core values is community focus, and Mr. Elliott exemplifies this. He has served on the board of directors for the Wichita Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, the Wichita State University Shocker Athletic Scholarship Organization, PCS Advisory Board, Via Christi Health, and the Kansas Bankers Association. Before founding the Company, Mr. Elliott served as Director of Marketing at Koch Industries, Inc., a privately held multinational corporation. Prior to joining Koch Industries, Inc., he served as a Regional President at Sunflower Bank, a community bank with locations throughout Kansas, Colorado, and Missouri. Prior to joining Sunflower bank, Mr. Elliott was employed in various capacities by Home State Bank and Trust for six years following graduation from McPherson College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and Management. Mr. Elliott is also a graduate of the Stonier Graduate School of Banking. Mr. Elliott adds financial services experience, especially lending and asset liability management, to the board of directors, as well as a deep understanding of the Company’s business and operations. Mr. Elliott also brings risk and operations management and strategic planning expertise to the board of directors, skills that are important as we continue to implement our business strategy and acquire and integrate growth opportunities. In July 2023, Mr. Elliott was honored as a ‘Top 10 CEO Redefining Business’ by CIO Views magazine. Mr. Elliott was also named in the Wichita Business Journal’s “Power 50” in 2024.
Richard M. Sems
CEO, Equity Bank
Richard M. Sems is the CEO of Equity Bank. Mr. Sems leads organic growth of consumer and business product lines at the bank’s more than 70 locations, as well as the day-to-day operations of the Bank. Mr. Sems joined the bank as President in May 2023. Before that, Mr. Sems was the Chief Banking Officer for First Bank in St. Louis, MO. Mr. Sems served as President and CEO of Reliance Bank from 2013 to 2016 and Regional President of PNC Financial Services from 2009-2013. He worked as the President and CEO of Missouri Banking and served as EVP and Managing Director of Corporate Planning of National City Corporation from 2000-2009. Mr. Sems also spent time with PWC, working as a manager from 1993 to 1998 and is an Inactive CPA. He has a B.S in Accounting from Grove City College in Pennsylvania and an MBA – Corporate Strategy from the University of Michigan Ross Business School. He serves on the board of trustees for Grove City College and Maryville University. Mr. Sems was recognized in the Wichita Business Journal’s Executives of the Year class in 2024.
Chris Navratil
EVP, Chief Financial Officer
Chris M. Navratil is the Chief Financial Officer of Equity Bancshares. Mr. Navratil first joined Equity as a Senior Vice President within Finance in February 2019. In December 2022, Mr. Navratil was promoted to Bank CFO, overseeing financial and balance sheet strategy, liquidity, financial planning and analysis, investor outreach and more. Before Equity Bank, Mr. Navratil spent seven years, including two as a Senior Manager within the Financial Institution Audit Practice, with Crowe LLP, a public accounting firm in Chicago, Illinois. Mr. Navratil received his Master’s degree in Accountancy from Northern Illinois University in 2011. Mr. Navratil was named in the Wichita Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 in 2024.
Julie Huber
EVP, Chief Operating Officer
Julie A. Huber serves as Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer at Equity Bank, leading all bank operations, including credit and deposit operations, card services, digital customer experience tools, customer care, merger and acquisition integration, and risk and compliance. Prior to this, Ms. Huber worked as EVP, Strategic Initiatives. Ms. Huber joined Equity Bank in 2003 and has served in a variety of leadership roles over a period of twelve years, including overseeing our operations, human resources, compliance functions, and sales and training, and has managed the integration process for each community bank we have acquired. Ms. Huber served as President of Signature Bank for three years following our acquisition in 2009. Prior to joining the company, Ms. Huber most recently served as the executive of Sunflower Bank responsible for the retail, operational, compliance, and security functions. Ms. Huber graduated from McPherson College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and History, received her MBA from Baker University in 2014, and is a graduate of the Stonier Graduate School of Banking and the Bank Leaders of Kansas. Ms. Huber currently serves as President of the Andover Advantage Foundation in Andover, Kansas and is a Business Plan Advisor with Youth Entrepreneurs.
Brett Reber
EVP, General Counsel
Brett A. Reber joined Equity Bank in October 2018 as General Counsel for Equity Bancshares, Inc. and Equity Bank. Prior to joining Equity, he served as Managing Member of the Wise & Reber, L.C., law firm in McPherson, Kansas. Brett has practiced corporate and business law for the past 30 years. Mr. Reber received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas in 1983, and his law degree from the University of Tulsa, College of Law in 1986. He served as a law clerk to United State District Judge Thomas R. Brett in the Northern District of Oklahoma before beginning his law practice. He was admitted to practice in Oklahoma in 1986 and Kansas in 1987, and holds membership in the American, Kansas and Oklahoma Bar Associations. Reber is active in community affairs, and serves on various boards including the McPherson Industrial Development Company and the Julia J. Mingenback Foundation locally, the National Board of Directors of Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever and the corporate boards of Farmers Alliance Mutual Insurance Company and the Bradbury Company.
Greg Kossover
EVP, Capital Markets | Senior Regional CEO
Gregory H. Kossover is Equity Bank’s Senior Regional CEO, overseeing the Central Oklahoma Region and Tulsa. Mr. Kossover returned to the bank in February 2025 as EVP, Capital Markets. He offices out of the bank’s Tulsa location, leading the bank’s capital markets division in addition to his duties as Senior Regional CEO. Previously, Mr. Kossover served as EVP, Chief Financial Officer and as EVP, Chief Operating Officer of Equity Bancshares, Inc., first beginning with the company in October 2013. He has served as a member of our Board of Directors since December 2011. Mr. Kossover is also a member of the bank’s Executive Credit Committee. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Kossover served as President of Physicians Development Group, a builder and manager of senior living facilities in the Wichita, Kansas metropolitan area, from 2012 to 2013. From 2004 to 2011 he served as Chief Executive Officer of Value Place, LLC, one of the largest economy extended stay lodging franchises in the United States. Mr. Kossover previously served as Treasurer of Western Financial Corporation, a publicly-held thrift holding company. Mr. Kossover graduated from Emporia State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and has successfully completed the Uniform Certified Public Accountants exam. His leadership and financial experience provide important oversight of our financial reporting and enterprise and operational risk management to the board of directors.
Krzysztof Slupkowski
EVP, Chief Credit Officer
Krzysztof Slupkowski has been Equity Bank’s Chief Credit Officer since September 2023. Krzysztof joined Equity in 2018 and has worked with its largest borrowers as Metro Market Chief Credit Officer guiding credit decisions for Equity’s locations in Wichita, Kansas City, and Tulsa. Prior to joining Equity, Mr. Slupkowski worked in various credit functions for Commerce Bancshares. Krzysztof earned his Master of Business Administration from Wichita State University. Mr. Slupkowski was named in the Wichita Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 in 2025.
Ann Knutson
EVP, Chief Human Resources Officer
Ann M. Knutson joined the Equity Bank team in June 2023 as Chief Human Resources Officer. Ms. Knutson brings 25 years of human resources experience to the team. Prior to Equity Bank, she was the Senior Vice President of Summit Credit Union in her native Wisconsin. The Milwaukee BizTimes recognized Ms. Knutson as a “Notable Woman in Human Resources” in 2021. She was an Adjunct Instructor at the Graduate School of Banking in Madison, WI from 2017 to 2022. Ms. Knutson also served as Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Bank Five Nine from 2008 to 2022. She received her Master of Science degree in Management from Cardinal Stritch University.
David Pass
EVP, Chief Information Officer
David Pass joined Equity Bank in July 2023 as Executive Vice President, Chief Information Officer. Mr. Pass brings more than 23 years in financial services information technology with him to Equity Bank. Most recently, Mr. Pass served as an EVP on the technology team at UMB Bank , overseeing transformation, enterprise architecture, applications, and enterprise fraud teams. Before UMB, Mr. Pass spent 17 years as the CIO of CoBiz Financial, which was acquired by BOK Financial in 2018.
Patrick Harbert
Chief Administrative Officer
Patrick J. Harbert is the Chief Administrative Officer for Equity Bank. Mr. Harbert first began working for Equity Bank in August of 2003, and previously served as President of Community Markets and Executive Vice President. Mr. Harbert holds a BA in Business with a minor in finance from Friends University. Before joining Equity Bank, Mr. Harbert was the Dodge City Market President for Sunflower Bank from June 1998 to August 2003. Prior experience also includes Branch Management roles with Commercial Federal Bank, Bank of America, and Emprise Bank. Mr. Harbert was an honoree of the Wichita business Journal “40 under 40” in 2007. He is currently a member of the Bank Leaders of Kansas (BLOK), sponsored by the KBA.
Mark Parman
Senior Regional CEO, Metro Markets
Mark C. Parman is Senior Regional CEO of Metro Markets for Equity Bank. Mr. Parman previously served as Senior Vice President and Market President of Kansas City. Parman joined Equity Bank as VP of Special Assets in 2012 and became market president of Kansas City in 2014. Parman also served as EVP for First Community Bank, CEO of Hillcrest Bank, and then Solutions Bank in Kansas.
Brad Daniel
Regional CEO, Community South | Director of Merger Transitions
Brad Daniel is Equity Bank’s Regional CEO of Community South. In April 2025, Mr. Daniel was also named Director of Merger Transitions, ensuring operational efficiency, maintaining customer service excellence, and fostering strong employee morale during merger integrations. Mr. Daniel joined Equity Bank early in 2018 as the Chief Deposit Officer. He was charged with leading the Deposit Growth Strategy for the bank which included Consumer, Commercial, and Treasury Management activities. In 2020, he became the President of the Ozark Mountain Region, responsible for all activities within that region. As the current CEO of Community South, Mr. Daniel now leads all bank operations for Equity’s Northern Oklahoma region. Mr. Daniel is a graduate of Tarleton State University with a BBA in Management and has flourished in his 24 year banking career.
Justin Harris
Regional CEO, Community West
Justin V. Harris is Equity Bank’s Regional CEO of Community West. Mr. Harris leads all efforts in the bank’s community Kansas markets as well as Guymon, Oklahoma. Prior to January 2024, when Mr. Harris served as the Regional CEO of Equity’s Community South region, he served as Regional President of Ozark Mountain, leading regional strategy, commercial and consumer business development, and local banking operations throughout those five locations, prioritizing local leadership and decision making in Equity Bank’s Arkansas offices, while continuing his duties as Senior Lending Officer. Mr. Harris joined Equity in 2021 as President of Equity Bank in Harrison, and has worked in a variety of roles throughout his more than 20 years in the community banking industry. Those include roles in middle-market commercial banking, C&I lending, Special Assets, retail deposit leadership, and positions as relationship manager, team leader, senior lender and business development officer. Mr. Harris is a graduate of the Southwest Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University, earned his B.S. in Accounting from Utah State University, and an MBA from the University of Arizona.
Craig Dunn
Regional CEO, Community East
Craig E. Dunn is Equity Bank’s Regional CEO of Community East. Mr. Dunn oversees the bank’s community regions of North Central Missouri, Western Missouri, and Ozark Mountain, a territory comprising 23 banks. Prior to Equity, Mr. Dunn most recently worked as an EVP of Commercial Banking at Guaranty Bank in Springfield, Missouri from 2020 to 2024. Prior to that, Mr. Dunn served as President of Regent Bank in Springfield from 2018 to 2020 and served in leadership roles at other institutions for more than 25 years. During that span, he managed teams of commercial lenders before working as a regional president over 17 locations. Mr. Dunn lives in Republic, Missouri with his family and offices out of Equity’s Clinton location at 615 E. Ohio St. He attended the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. He also has his master’s in business administration from Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Missouri.
Dan Duchnowski
Chief Services Officer
Dan Duchnowski joined the Equity Bank team in Jan. 2023 as Chief Services Officer. Mr. Duchnowski brings 23 years of banking experience, serving as EVP, Chief Banking Officer, EVP, Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Deposit Officer at Planters First Bank from 2020 to 2023. Duchnowski also served as an SVP for S&T Bank from 2017 to 2020 and was the Vice President of the Customer Service Center and Digital Banking Manager at Fidelity from 2016-2017. He has a degree in marketing and is currently attending the Georgia Banking School at the University of Georgia.
Jonathan Roop
SVP, Consumer Banking
Jonathan K. Roop is Equity Bank’s SVP of Consumer Banking, leading consumer sales, operations, treasury management, deposit pricing, and mortgage services for all 70+ locations. Mr. Roop joined Equity Bank in June 2021 as SVP, Chief Deposit Strategy Officer and has served in the financial services and banking industry for fifteen years. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from West Virginia State University and graduated from the ABA Stonier Graduate School of Banking in Philadelphia, PA. Prior to Equity Bank, Mr. Roop served as Retail District Manager for Huntington National Bank based in Columbus, OH. Within the Wichita community, he coaches local youth sports leagues, is an active member of his church, and volunteers with his children’s theater productions.