Kennedy Berkley Attorney Lance Cochran Named Professional Advisor of the Year

Oct 27

6 min read

Greater Salina Community Foundation recognizes Cochran for his work in charitable giving, estate planning, and community development—and the family, team, and connections that make it all possible.

Kennedy Berkley is proud to announce that attorney Lance H. Cochran was named Professional Advisor of the Year at the Greater Salina Community Foundation's Make Your Mark Awards, held Thursday, October 8, 2026, at The Soliven in Salina, Kansas.

The Make Your Mark Awards recognize individuals whose contributions are helping strengthen communities and create lasting opportunities for future generations. Cochran was honored for his work helping individuals, families, and businesses incorporate charitable giving into their long-term plans, as well as his personal commitment to improving the Salina community.

But for Cochran, this recognition represents something greater than an individual accomplishment. It's a reflection of the people, relationships, and opportunities that have shaped his career and his life.

And, as it turns out, the timing of the award offered a particularly memorable reminder of just how important those connections can be.

Helping Clients Build Legacies Beyond Their Lifetimes

A Salina native and longtime Kennedy Berkley attorney, Cochran focuses his practice on agribusiness, estate planning, business succession, and banking law. Throughout his career, he has worked with individuals, families, farmers, ranchers, and business owners to protect their assets, plan for future generations, and preserve the legacies they have worked to build.

An important part of that work involves helping clients consider how their estate plans can benefit not only their families but also the communities and organizations that have played meaningful roles in their lives.

His experience in agribusiness, estate planning, and real estate provides valuable insight into the unique considerations involved when agricultural land becomes part of a charitable legacy.

Through Kennedy Berkley, Cochran also supports the Give Back 5 Community Giving Pledge, which encourages individuals to consider leaving a portion of their estates to support their local communities.

For Cochran, charitable giving is about recognizing the people, places, and organizations that have contributed to a person's success and finding meaningful ways to carry that impact forward.

He also recognizes the important role organizations like the Greater Salina Community Foundation play in connecting individuals and families with opportunities to make a lasting difference.

A Commitment to Community That Extends Beyond the Office

Cochran's commitment to strengthening Central Kansas extends well beyond his legal practice.

In 2005, Cochran, in partnership with the Salina Housing Authority, founded the Community Housing Development Corporation of Central Kansas (CHDO), a nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing housing challenges and expanding access to affordable housing in the region.

What began as a long-term vision has grown into an organization making a tangible difference for families throughout the community.

Through its work, CHDO now provides rental housing for 45 families and has refurbished 12 homes that have gone on to new, young families in the community.

Reflecting on the recognition and the years of persistence behind those accomplishments, Cochran shared:

"I cannot thank the Greater Salina Community Foundation enough for this recognition. It represents years of work and dedication. The Community Housing Development Corporation of Central Kansas took years to get off the ground, but with persistence, anything can be accomplished. It is personally satisfying to know we are providing housing for 45 families through our rental units and have refurbished 12 homes that have gone on to young families in our community."

For Cochran, community involvement and professional service are closely connected. Whether helping a family develop a charitable estate plan, advising a farmer on succession planning, or supporting affordable housing initiatives, his work reflects a commitment to helping Central Kansas communities remain strong for future generations.

And much like the relationships he has developed throughout his legal career, some of the most meaningful opportunities in his personal life have come from connections built along the way.

A Bucket-List Hunt and a Lesson in Connections

While the Greater Salina Community Foundation was preparing to recognize Cochran at its annual awards ceremony, he was more than a thousand miles away in New Mexico, pursuing a dream he'd held since he was just 12 years old.

An avid outdoorsman, Cochran had long hoped to experience an elk hunt in New Mexico. This fall, that bucket-list opportunity finally became a reality.

The opportunity came through his relationship with Corey Powell, a friend and connection through Farm Bureau. It was another reminder of something Cochran has come to appreciate throughout his career: meaningful relationships can lead to opportunities you might never have imagined.

The hunt itself required patience, preparation, and confidence. After watching a particular bull elk for more than an hour, Cochran faced a challenging shot of more than 400 yards in a crosswind.

Rather than rushing the moment, he relied on preparation, focus, and a mindset rooted in believing he could accomplish what he had set out to do. And he did. Cochran successfully harvested a bull elk, completing an experience he had dreamed about for decades.

While the hunt was a personal milestone, the opportunity to experience it also reinforced something he values deeply: none of us accomplish the things that matter most entirely on our own.

Behind that bucket-list moment was a friendship that opened the door, a family that supported the adventure, and a team back home that made it possible for him to step away.

Family, Team, and the People Behind the Recognition

Although Cochran was unable to attend the October 8th awards ceremony because of his previously planned hunting trip, he was well represented by the people who have played an important role in his life and career.

His wife, Kim Cochran, and son, Cade Cochran, accepted the Professional Advisor of the Year award on his behalf. Cochran's parents also attended the celebration, along with Kennedy Berkley legal assistants Jennifer Dauer and Angie Cabral.

For Cochran, having his family and colleagues there in his absence was especially meaningful. Although, as he was quick to point out, the timing of the celebration worked out rather perfectly.

"I cannot thank my family and the Kennedy Berkley team enough for attending the ceremony in my absence. However, any guilt I might have felt was quickly forgotten when I realized I was harvesting my bull elk at the very same time they were accepting my award! In all seriousness, I am incredibly grateful for everything they do for me every day. This was just one example of the countless ways they support me and keep me going."

Behind the humor is a genuine appreciation for the people who make both his professional and personal accomplishments possible.

Cochran is particularly grateful for the Kennedy Berkley team, whose dedication and willingness to support one another allow attorneys to serve their clients while also making time for their families, personal interests, and important life experiences.

His New Mexico adventure was a perfect example.

While Cochran was fulfilling a lifelong dream, his colleagues continued caring for clients, managing responsibilities, and representing the firm back home. And when the time came to accept his award, his family and members of that same team were there.

It's a reminder that professional achievements rarely belong to one person alone.

They are built on years of encouragement, collaboration, relationships, and people willing to show up for one another.

The Power of Connections

If there's one common thread connecting Cochran's professional accomplishments, his community involvement, and even his recent adventure in New Mexico, it's the importance of relationships.

Connections with clients who trust him to help protect their families' futures. Connections with colleagues who work together to serve those clients. Connections with organizations like the Greater Salina Community Foundation, which help translate generosity into meaningful community impact. And connections with friends and family who create opportunities, offer support, and make life's biggest moments worth celebrating.

For Cochran, those relationships are more than a professional network. They're a reminder that success is rarely just about what one person accomplishes. It's also about the people who help make those accomplishments possible and the impact those relationships can have on others.

Whether he's helping a Kansas family plan for future generations, supporting a local community initiative, or finally checking a decades-old dream off his bucket list, the same principles remain: preparation matters, relationships matter, and the people surrounding you matter most.

Kennedy Berkley congratulates Lance on this well-deserved recognition and extends its appreciation to the Greater Salina Community Foundation for celebrating individuals who are making a difference across Central Kansas.

About Kennedy Berkley

Kennedy Berkley is a Kansas law firm with offices in Salina, Hays, Garden City, and Dodge City. The firm's attorneys serve individuals, families, businesses, financial institutions, and agricultural operations across Kansas and beyond, providing legal counsel in estate planning, business and corporate law, agricultural law, banking, litigation, and other practice areas.