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Last month 435 South magazine introduced Community Voices 2012 with a heartfelt essay from Shamita Mahajan, a resident who has lived the world over and discovered the essence of home in Johnson County.
This month Bob Regnier, a name synonymous with growth, education, leadership, civic involvement and philanthropy in Johnson County, shares his personal view of what living here means. Unlike Mahajan, the president and chief executive officer of Blue Valley Bank and member of myriad boards and foundations has deep roots in the community. Regnier has lived here most of his life, and raised a family here. Like other visionary Johnson County leaders, his stake in the success and progress of this Kansas City suburb is a personal one. This is his home, a source of pride and joy. Regnier partners with the community in every sense of the word, helping it realize its potential, and giving Johnson County residents the same opportunity for ownership that he has enjoyed.
When it comes to community spirit, Bob Regnier is an open book.
Community Priorities
I have lived in Johnson County virtually all of my life. I was born here, went to school here, worked here, raised my family here; other than college and a couple of years living on the Plaza post-college, Johnson County has been my home for more than 60 years.
Recently 435 South magazine asked me to become part of Community Voices 2012, which includes writing this column on why I feel Johnson County is such a unique place. It’s a more complex challenge than I anticipated.
Elements I have always considered important in my community include education, the arts, faith, philanthropy, as well as the physical infrastructure we require in our daily lives. Other areas of our region can lay claim to superiority in many of these areas. The area’s largest arts organizations are located in Kansas City, Missouri, as are the most prominent philanthropic foundations. Great centers of worship and faith are evenly distributed across our entire metropolitan area. We are proud of our local governance and physical infrastructure, but in fairness others could argue it is only a relative differential. What I was hoping to discover was a unique difference.
My conclusion is that it isn’t really a thing or a particular element that sets Johnson County apart from other communities. I sense it is in the way that we prioritize the things within our communities that sets us apart.
When Johnson County first began to experience significant growth in the early 1950s and ‘60s, it was the result of people looking for a lifestyle that was centered on family. As the area developed housing, commercial development and amenities reflected that priority. As development moved south and west property was set aside for parks. Cities allocated tax dollars for pools, recreation facilities and bike paths. Community-sponsored events often were focused on family-oriented activities.
Conscious effort of this focus was evident in many decisions and projects. Residents were insistent in maintaining this priority and that was reflected in the people elected to public office.
A major priority in this family-centered attitude was a consistent focus on educational opportunities. A strong case can be made that Johnson County is the place it is today because of the Shawnee Mission School District. From the very beginning the district was good but it was such a community priority that it was expected to improve decade over decade. These high education standards were reflected and continued in the growth and quality of the Blue Valley, Olathe and DeSoto school districts, all considered some of the best in the country.
In the mid 1960s, leaders motivated by these priorities put in place the foundation for the Johnson County Community College campus. This institution has grown to be a major economic, educational and cultural asset in our community. Almost every Johnson County resident has a connection with the college through a child, friend, class, cultural event or community outreach program.
A little more than three years ago the community reaffirmed this educational priority with the passage of the Johnson County Educational Research Triangle (JCERT) legislation. This farsighted plan will continuously reinvest in the KU Edwards Campus, the K-State Innovation Campus and the KU Clinical Trials Facility for many years to come, enhancing post secondary educational opportunities for our community.
So the Johnson County difference—the uniqueness, if you will, of our community—that I searched for when writing this really isn’t a difference after all. It is an approach and priority, putting children, families and education first. If you want tangible evidence of this priority and feeling of community spirit, just visit the Deanna Rose Farmstead facility on a sunny Saturday afternoon. Families enjoying the product of the priorities our community has established as its golden standard will surround you.
