NASRA Names New Executive Director

June 9, 2011 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - The National Association of State Retirement Administrators has selected Linda R. Savitsky to serve as executive director effective August 1, 2011.

 

According to a press release, with more than 35 years of public finance experience, Savitsky will lead the organization, which “promotes sound public retirement system policies and administration through its research, government relations, membership and education initiatives”. She will succeed Glenda Chambers, who is retiring following nine years of service.

“The Board of Directors has selected a proven and respected leader with deep experience in governmental finance and public retirement plans,” said Michael Williamson, president of NASRA and deputy director of the District of Columbia Retirement Board. “Linda is uniquely positioned to increase NASRA’s outreach to policymakers and key stakeholders across the nation regarding the public pension system. Her role is all the more critical given increased attention on public pensions, much of which is rooted in a lack of understanding of the structure and strengths of these retirement plans. Importantly, Linda also has association management experience, which will serve our members well,” Williamson added.

Savitsky spent her career in public service predominately in finance-related positions within the State of Connecticut. Beginning as finance director for multiple municipalities, she then served in the state’s Office of Policy and Management in Hartford as the lead staff member handling municipal retirement systems until her retirement in 2003. Since then, according to the announcement, she has consulted for regional and municipal governments throughout New England relating to various aspects of defined benefit plans. She has also held various leadership roles with the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) and represented GFOA on the Public Pension Coordinating Council.

She has a bachelor’s degree in government from Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts where she currently serves as a member of its Board of Trustees.

“Linda is the right leader at a pivotal time for the public pension community. She understands the full range of critical issues: funding practices, benefit levels, and investments. She also has extensive member outreach experience, as well as a commitment to serving on boards and commissions in the U.S. and abroad. We look forward to supporting her vision for NASRA and its members and know she will be a strong advocate and spokesperson for the public retirement systems,” stated Donna M. Mueller, chief executive officer of the Iowa Public Employees’ Retirement System and a member of NASRA’s executive director search committee.

Chambers, who formerly was the director of the Louisiana State Employees’ Retirement System, was named as Executive Director of NASRA in 2002. According to the announcement, she has led NASRA to “a more prominent position in the pension community by establishing an internal research office, building the membership of both public plan and industry service providers, and organizing annual educational meetings among other activities”. She announced in October of 2010 her plans to retire in 2011.

The National Association of State Retirement Administrators is a nonprofit, nonpartisan association for the directors of the nation’s largest public retirement systems. NASRA members oversee systems holding over $2 trillion in assets to fund pension and other benefits for nearly two-thirds of the state and local government workforce.  More information is available at http://www.nasra.org

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