Anstaett, Gannon plan retirements in mid-year 2017

Both the executive director and director of governmental affairs at the Kansas Press Association have announced their upcoming retirements from the association.

Doug Anstaett and Richard Gannon plan to retire in the summer of 2017.

Anstaett joined the KPA as executive director in early January of 2004; Gannon had joined the association about a month earlier.

"I'll be full retirement age in July 2017," Anstaett said, "and I wanted to give the KPA board plenty of notice to help facilitate a smooth transition, especially since there would be two of us leaving at about the same time."

Gannon and his wife, Martha, have built a new home near Alma, Colo., and will be moving there following next year's legislative session. Anstaett and his wife, Lucinda, plan to remain in Topeka.

The KPA board has appointed a transition committee to take a close look at how the association operates and how to staff it once the transition takes place.

Sarah Kessinger, the new KPA president, will chair the committee, composed of current members of the board and two past presidents.