2024 NPEA Conference: Full Schedule

Susan is the director of communications for the Public School and Education Employee Retirement Systems of Missouri (PSRS/PEERS) and is responsible for overseeing the daily activities of the communications department. She joined PSRS/PEERS in 2010. Susan oversees a staff comprised... Read More →

Monday October 14, 2024 8:00am - 8:15am EDT
Regency C

8:15am EDT

Keynote: This Sh!t Works: A No-Nonsense Guide to Networking Your Way to More Friends, More Adventures and More Success

Monday October 14, 2024 8:15am - 9:15am EDT

Regency C

Discover the power of networking with Julie Brown! Business leaders globally emphasize that strong relationships forged through networking are crucial for personal and professional success. Yet, only 25% of professionals actively network and a mere 24% of companies have a strategy for cultivating these connections.

Enter Julie Brown, a dynamic speaker who not only inspires but sparks transformation. Julie demystifies networking, guiding you from understanding the “why” to navigating the “how,” leaving you eager to embrace networking. Join us for a journey that will equip you with the tools to conquer any networking challenge!

Speakers

Julie Brown

Julie Brown is a sought-after speaker, networking expert, business strategist, life of every networking party, Author of This Sh!t Works: A No-Nonsense Guide to Networking Your Way to More Friends, More Adventures, and More Success, as well as the host of the This Sh!t Works podcast... Read More →

Monday October 14, 2024 8:15am - 9:15am EDT
Regency C

9:15am EDT

Break

Monday October 14, 2024 9:15am - 9:35am EDT

9:35am EDT

Sponsor Spotlight

Monday October 14, 2024 9:35am - 10:15am EDT

Regency C

Monday October 14, 2024 9:35am - 10:15am EDT
Regency C

10:15am EDT

Break

Monday October 14, 2024 10:15am - 10:30am EDT

10:30am EDT

An Overview of Resources Available to You from NIRS

Monday October 14, 2024 10:30am - 11:30am EDT

Regency C

This session will provide an overview of the data available to you from the National Institute on Retirement Security (NIRS), including the most popular NIRS reports, Pensionomics and Better Bang for the Buck.

Speakers

Dan Doonan

Executive Director, National Institute on Retirement Security

Dan Doonan is the executive director of the National Institute on Retirement Security. With the Board of Directors, Doonan leads the organization’s strategic planning, retirement research, and education initiatives.Doonan has more than 20 years of experience working on retirement... Read More →

Monday October 14, 2024 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
Regency C

11:30am EDT

Lunch

Monday October 14, 2024 11:30am - 1:00pm EDT

Regency A-B

Monday October 14, 2024 11:30am - 1:00pm EDT
Regency A-B

1:00pm EDT

Breakout 1: Communicating Across Generations

Monday October 14, 2024 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT

Regency D-E

Attend the Communicating Across Generations breakout session to discover innovative strategies for bridging the gap in pension benefit communication across diverse workplace demographics. In an age where various generations have distinct preferences for information consumption, mastering effective communication is key. Melissa Harris, Chief of Communications at the Employees’ Retirement Fund of Dallas, will unveil how their organization tackles this challenge by blending traditional and contemporary communication channels. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain insights on engaging both seasoned and newer employees.

Speakers

Melissa Harris

Chief of Communications, Employees Retirement Fund of the City of Dallas

Melissa is a Communications professional with over 25 years of award-winning experience in print, video production and marketing communications. Currently, Melissa serves as Chief of Communications for ERF. Before ERF, she served as Online Producer for Air Force Television (AFTV... Read More →

Monday October 14, 2024 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
Regency D-E

1:00pm EDT

Breakout 2: Staff Training Panel

Monday October 14, 2024 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT

Redbud

Join us for an engaging and informative panel discussion designed to enhance staff training and foster professional growth. Expert industry panelists from pension systems will share their insights on various topics, including effective communication, leadership development, and time management. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and gain practical tips to apply in their work.

Speakers

Denise Weeks

Programs Manager, North Dakota Retirement & Investment Office

After five years of teaching Business in a North Dakota Public School and six months of working at the North Dakota Public Employees Retirement System, Ms. Weeks started working for North Dakota Teachers’ Fund For Retirement in 2000. She received the Certified Retirement Counselor... Read More →

Suzanne Mayer

Executive Director, State Universities Retirement System of Illinois

Suzanne Mayer was named executive director of SURS in December of 2021. Prior to being named executive director, she served for 10 months as both interim executive director and chief benefits officer.Mayer has been with the SURS since 2002 and served as a retirement counselor, counseling... Read More →

Sonya Kinley

Chief Human Resources Officer, Teachers Retirement System of Georgia

Sonya Kinley is the Chief Human Resources Officer for the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia (TRS). She is responsible for leading the human resources division, with a focus on achieving recruiting, employee relations, and training and development initiatives that represent the... Read More →

Monday October 14, 2024 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
Redbud

1:00pm EDT

Breakout 3: Data Analytics Panel

Monday October 14, 2024 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT

Regency F

Discover how pension systems are adapting to the data explosion and leveraging data analytics to better serve their members and employers. Panel speakers from pension systems and industry experts will share their experiences working with data and the resulting benefits. Our sponsors will talk about the importance of the accuracy of the data being used for those analytics.

Speakers

Rob Rust

Vice President, Data Sales, Linea Solutions

Rob has 38 years working in the public pension arena. Twenty-three years working for the Public School & Education Employee Retirement Systems of MO as Director of Member Services and Asst. Executive Director, and 15 years with Icon Integration & Design (2009 – 2024) and Linea Solutions... Read More →

Nicholas Rea

Director of IT Services, South Dakota Retirement System

Nick is the Director of IT Services at the South Dakota Retirement System (SDRS). Prior to his current role, he was the first data analyst at SDRS. As an analyst and in his current role, he has worked to establish data services by developing reporting solutions, automating manual... Read More →

Jonathan O'Reilly

Director of Operations Audit and Business Intelligence, Texas Teachers Retirement System

Data Analytics Panel: Jonathan O’Reilly is the Director of Operations Audit and Business Intelligence at Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS). Before joining TRS in 2023, he led analytics teams at Care.com, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, and Texas Health and Human Services... Read More →

Laurie Mitchell

Senior Business Consultant, Tegrit

Laurie Mitchell has worked in the pension industry since 2003, when she joined the Michigan Office of Retirement Services. There, she served in many roles, including leading portions of their pension replacement project, and served eight years as their Customer Service Director. After... Read More →

Monday October 14, 2024 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
Regency F

2:15pm EDT

Breakout 1: Communicating Across Generations

Monday October 14, 2024 2:15pm - 3:15pm EDT

Regency D-E

Speakers

Melissa Harris

Chief of Communications, Employees Retirement Fund of the City of Dallas

Monday October 14, 2024 2:15pm - 3:15pm EDT
Regency D-E

2:15pm EDT

Breakout 2: Artificial Intelligence Panel

Monday October 14, 2024 2:15pm - 3:15pm EDT

Redbud

Leveraging AI to Better Serve Your Members
In this panel discussion, panelists will discuss the various ways artificial intelligence can be leveraged to enhance the service provided to your members and participating employers. The intent is for the panel discussion to be interactive, so come ready to share and discuss some of your own professional experiences. The discussion will start with an overview of what AI is today and some common misconceptions. Since organizations are at different places on their AI journey, a summary discussion will take place to discuss the initial steps in establishing an AI mindset in your organization. Whether it be knowing the right tools for the right purposes, establishing proper governance, or data security, the panelists will provide insights into how to build a successful AI culture within your organization. The final half of the panel aims for participants to share their own experiences using AI and discuss the multiple use cases and opportunities AI can provide to better serve your members.

Speakers

Vincent Houle

Associate Principal Consultant, Linea

Vincent is an Associate Principal Consultant at Linea Solutions and has been in the Pension and Benefits administration industry for nearly 20 years. He has been a strategic partner for a variety of funds, large and small, in North America, guiding them through their modernization... Read More →

Amy Timmons

Sr VP & Sr Consultant, Administration & Technology Consulting, Segal

Amy S. Timmons, FSA, MAAA, EA, CFA, PMP Senior Vice President and Senior Consultant, Administration and Technology Consulting Amy is a Senior Vice President and Senior Consultant in Segal’s Administration and Technology Consulting Practice (ATC). Amy is an efficiency expert assisting... Read More →

Monday October 14, 2024 2:15pm - 3:15pm EDT
Redbud