Board of Trustees

The KPERS Board of Trustees has an important role in the Retirement System, overseeing operations and safeguarding Trust Fund assets.

The KPERS Board of Trustees is comprised of nine members. Four are appointed by the Governor, two are appointed by legislative leaders, two are elected by Retirement System members, and one is the elected State Treasurer. All serve four-year terms.

James Zakoura Chairperson

Special Counsel, Foulston Siefkin LLP
Board member since March 2018
Current term expires January 2025
Appointed by the Governor
From Overland Park, KS
Committees: Investment, Personnel

Brad Stratton Vice-Chairperson

President and CEO, Overland Park Wealth Management
Board member since November 2019
Current term expires January 2027
Appointed by the Governor
From Overland Park, KS
Committees: Audit, Deferred Compensation (Vice-Chairperson), Investment (Vice-Chairperson), Personnel

Ernie Claudel

Retired Teacher and Administrator
Board member since July 2013
Current term expires June 2025
Elected Member - School
From Olathe, KS
Committees: Audit, Deferred Compensation, Investment, Personnel (Chairperson)

Emily Hill

Partner, Bowersock Capital Partners
Board member since July 2019
Current term expires January 2027
Appointed by the Governor
From Lawrence, KS
Committees: Investment (Chairperson), Personnel

Steven Johnson

Kansas State Treasurer
Board member since January 2023
Current term expires January 2027
Statutory Member
From Assaria, KS
Committees: Investment, Personnel

Derek Kreifels

Co-founder and CEO of State Financial Officers Foundation
Board member since 2023
Current term expires January 2027
Appointed by the Speaker of the House
From Shawnee, KS
Committees: Audit, Deferred Compensation, Investment, Personnel

Ryan Trader

Firefighter/Paramedic, Olathe Fire Department
Board member since July 2017
Current term expires June 2025
Elected Member - Non-School
From Olathe, KS
Committees: Deferred Compensation (Chairperson), Investment, Personnel (Vice-Chairperson)

Sam Williams

Retired CFO and Managing Partner for Sullivan, Higdon, and Sink Agency, former CPA and State of Kansas Secretary of Revenue
Board member since July 2021
Current term expires June 2025
Appointed by the President of the Senate
From Wichita, KS
Committees: Audit, Investment, Personnel

Jo Yun

Vice President of Finance/Operations and Chief Financial Officer, Reach Healthcare Foundation in Kansas City
Board member since October 2021
Current term expires January 2025
Appointed by the Governor
From Prairie Village, KS
Committees: Audit, Deferred Compensation, Investment, Personnel

Board Duties

Reviews and adopts actuarial assumptions and reviews employer contribution rates.
Determines an appropriate asset allocation mix.
Establishes and follows investment policies and guidelines.
Hires and monitors the performance of investment managers.
Hires and monitors the performance of various other service providers, including actuaries, consultants, advisors and custodians.
Hires and monitors the performance of the executive director (chief executive officer).

Board Meetings & Minutes

FY 2024

Month	Day	Committee	Agenda & Approved Minutes
July 2023	20	Audit Committee	Agenda
	20	Investment Committee	Agenda
	21	Personnel Committee	Agenda
	21	Full Board	Agenda
September 2023	21	Deferred Compensation Committee	Agenda
	21	Investment Committee	Agenda
	22	Personnel Committee	Agenda
	22	Full Board	Agenda
October 2023	19 & 20	Board Educational & Planning Meeting
		Meeting will be held in Overland Park, KS
November 2023	16	Deferred Compensation Committee	Agenda
	16	Investment Committee	Agenda
	17	Audit Committee	Agenda
	17	Full Board	Agenda
January 2024	18	Audit Committee	Agenda
	18	Investment Committee	Agenda
	19	Personnel Committee
	19	Full Board	Agenda \| Minutes
March 2024	21	Deferred Compensation Committee	Agenda
	21	Investment Committee	Agenda
	22	Audit Committee	Agenda
	22	Personnel Committee	Agenda
	22	Full Board	Agenda
May 2024	16	Deferred Compensation Committee
	16	Investment Committee
	17	Personnel Committee
	17	Full Board

FY 2023

Month	Day	Committee	Agenda & Approved Minutes
July 2022	21	Audit Committee	Agenda
	21	Investment Committee	Agenda
	22	Personnel Committee	Agenda
	22	Full Board	Agenda \| Minutes
September 2022	29	Personnel Committee	Agenda
	29	Deferred Compensation Committee	Agenda
	29	Investment Committee	Agenda
	30	Full Board	Agenda \| Minutes
October 2022	20 & 21	Board Educational & Planning Meeting	Agenda \| Minutes
		Meeting will be held in Overland Park, KS
November 2022	17	Deferred Compensation Committee	Agenda
	17	Investment Committee	Agenda
	18	Audit Committee	Agenda
	18	Full Board	Agenda \| Minutes
January 2023	19	Audit Committee	Agenda
	19	Investment Committee	Agenda
	20	Personnel Committee	Agenda
	20	Full Board	Agenda \| Minutes
March 2023	23	Deferred Compensation Committee	Agenda
	23	Investment Committee	Agenda
	24	Audit Committee	Agenda
	24	Personnel Committee	Agenda
	24	Full Board	Agenda \| Minutes
April 2023	27	Special Board Meeting	Agenda \| Minutes
May 2023	25	Deferred Compensation Committee	Agenda
	25	Investment Committee	Agenda
	26	Personnel Committee	Agenda
	26	Full board	Agenda \| Minutes
June 2023	6	Special Board Meeting	Agenda \| Minutes

Committee Descriptions & Chairpersons

Investments

Emily Hill (Chairperson) & Brad Stratton (Vice-Chairperson)

Provides broad oversight for all System investments and investment processes.
Reviews the Statement of Investment Policy, Objectives and Guidelines.
Through periodic meetings, provides oversight, including organizational and performance reviews, for external managers, consultants and investment service providers.
Reviews real estate portfolio activity and opportunities.
Reviews alternative investment opportunities and strategies.
Gathers information regarding future trends, opportunities and investment-related developments and considers their potential System use.
Prepares summaries and recommendations for consideration by the Board.
Meets the day before each regular Board meeting.

Audit

Jo Yun (Chairperson) & Sam Williams (Vice-Chairperson)

Monitors the System's financial reporting and auditing processes.
Meets with internal auditor to review work plans and reports.
Meets with auditor on all completed external audits.
Reviews changes in accounting standards.
Makes recommendations and reports to the Board.
Meets quarterly.

Deferred Compensation Plan

Ryan Trader (Chairperson) & Brad Stratton (Vice-Chairperson)

Provides broad oversight of the Kansas Public Employees Deferred Compensation Plan.
Considers and recommends strategic goals and benchmarks for the plan and its integration with the defined benefit plans to ensure a comprehensive retirement program.
Reviews investment performance and makes recommendations regarding changes in fund line-up.
Monitors and evaluates performance of deferred compensation provider.
Monitors and evaluates consultant services and other contractual services for the plan.
Makes recommendations and reports to the Board.
Meets quarterly.

Personnel

Ernie Claudel (Chairperson) & Ryan Trader (Vice-Chairperson)

Evaluates the performance of the Executive Director.
Reviews and makes recommendations with regard to the management incentive compensation plan for investment staff to the Board.
Reviews and recommends compensation levels of unclassified staff to the Board.
Reviews and recommends the creation of new positions or significant changes in current unclassified positions to the Board.
Meets as necessary.