In the fall of 1986, Michael J. Baker, then Assistant Dean at the University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Law with responsibility for continuing legal education, was eager to expand the law school’s CLE offerings. Mike shared the idea for establishing an annual employee benefits symposium with John Utz at the Spencer, Fane, Britt & Browne law firm. John, in turn, met with Tom Graves (Morrison, Hecker, Curtis, Kuder & Parrish), Al Martin (Shook, Hardy & Bacon), and Myron Sildon (Sildon and Kroeker), at the Kansas City Club to plot the future of what became The Employee Benefits Institute.

Following their initial meeting, they expanded their group to form a steering committee comprising Eric DeFrain (DeFrain Mayer, Inc.), Chuck Johnson (Butler Manufacturing Company), Jerry Kenefake (Hallmark Cards, Inc.), Bob Reiter (United Missouri Bank of Kansas City, n.a.), and Charlie Schutte (PriceWaterhouse).

The first program was held on Friday, June 5, 1987, at the Hyatt Regency. Approximately 120 individuals attended. Later EBI added additional workshops and events, expanding geographically as well as expanding in services to the benefits community.