Benefits May 26, 2026

NCPERS Recognizes Public Pension Funds, Service Providers for Advancing Fiduciary Education

The awards were presented during the organization’s 2026 Annual Conference and Exhibition.

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The National Conference on Public Employee Retirement Systems honored three public pension funds and three service providers last week with awards recognizing their efforts in advancing fiduciary education. Winners of the Champions Award and Pension Partners of the Year Award were recognized at NCPERS’ 2026 annual conference on May 19.

“Organizations that prioritize education, invest in their teams, and engage with the broader pension community are better positioned to navigate risk, strengthen governance, and deliver long-term retirement security,” NCPERS CEO Hank Kim said in a statement. “These award recipients demonstrate how ongoing engagement and collaboration can translate into stronger, more resilient pension systems.”

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Public Pension Funds

The Champions Awards recognizes public pension funds that demonstrate exceptional commitment to ongoing education and leadership development for trustees and staff. Awards are presented in categories based on the pension funds’ assets under management—less than $1 billion, between $1 billion and $50 billion, and more than $50 billion.

The award recipients were:

  • West Palm Beach General Employees’ Pension Fund – less than $1 billion;
  • Orange County Employees’ Retirement System – between $1 billion and $50 billion; and
  • Colorado Public Employees’ Retirement Association – more than $50 billion.

The honorees also were evaluated based on their attendance of and participation in NCPERS educational programs in 2025, including conferences, forums, summits and training initiatives.

Service Providers

The Pension Partners of the Year are service providers recognized for advancing industry education through conference participation, thought leadership and support of professional development programs.

The 2026 winners were:

  • Ice Miller LLP;
  • J.P. Morgan Asset Management; and
  • The Segal Group.

The firms were awarded for delivering technical expertise and practical insights to pension boards and staff in 2025, particularly as systems adapted to changing financial and regulatory environments.

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