Linda L. (Howard) Brantner ’74/90 was one of those key Wichita people almost everyone knew. In 2012, Ingram’s named her one of 50 Kansans You Should Know. That same year, the Wichita Business Journal recognized her with its Women in Business Award, and the WSUAA honored her with the WSU Alumni Achievement Award a year later.
Prior to her retirement, Brantner served as president and CEO of Delta Dental of Kansas. In her 25 years with the company, revenues grew from $7 million in 1988 to $250 million in 2012. Under her executive leadership in 2008, Delta Dental was presented the state’s highest quality award, the Kansas Excellence Award.
And she led Delta Dental into Hall of Fame status. Brantner had served first as Delta Dental’s director of operations and then as COO. She also put in several stints as interim CEO before being tagged for the permanent position in 2006.
Described as intelligent, motivated, compassionate and as having a flair for the artistic and theatrical, Brantner forged connections to many community, cultural and WSU organizations. Her penchant for creating elaborate Halloween costumes was surely an offshoot of her own artistic talent. More than an arts lover, she was an artist.
Before she painted such a successful portrait of herself as a business executive, she earned a bachelor’s degree in art education at WSU, only later receiving a master’s degree in business administration.
Linda Brantner died Dec. 18, 2016 in Wichita.
