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
- Term expires January 2025
- Appointed by the Governor
- From Overland Park, KS
- Committees: Investment, Personnel
Ron Johnson Vice-Chairperson
- Retired President and CEO of Community National Bank in Seneca
- Board member since July 2019
- Current term expires June 2023
- Appointed by the Speaker of the House
- From Seneca, KS
- Committees: Audit (Chairperson), Investment, Personnel (Vice-Chairperson)
Ernie Claudel
- Retired Teacher and Administrator
- Board member since July 2013
- Term expires January 2025
- Elected Member - School
- From Olathe, KS
- Committees: Deferred Compensation, Investment, Personnel (Chairperson)
Emily Hill
- Partner, Bowersock Capital Partners
- Board member since July 2019
- Term expires January 2023
- Appointed by the Governor
- From Lawrence, KS
- Committees: Deferred Compensation, Investment (Chairperson), Personnel
Steven Johnson
- Kansas State Treasurer
- Board member since January 2023
- Term expires January 2027
- Statutory Member
- From Assaria, KS
- Committees: Investment, Personnel
Brad Statton
- President and CEO, Overland Park Wealth Management
- Board member since November 2019
- Current term expires January 2023
- Appointed by the Governor
- From Overland Park, KS
- Committees: Audit, Deferred Compensation, Investment (Vice-Chairperson), 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: Audit (Vice-Chairperson), Deferred Compensation (Chairperson), Investment, Personnel
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 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 | |
| January 2023 | 19 | Audit Committee | Agenda |
| 19 | Investment Committee | Agenda | |
| 20 | Personnel Committee | Agenda | |
| 20 | Full Board | Agenda | |
| March 2023 | 23 | Deferred Compensation Committee | |
| 23 | Investment Committee | ||
| 24 | Audit Committee | ||
| 24 | Personnel Committee | ||
| 24 | Full Board | ||
| May 2023 | 18 | Deferred Compensation Committee | |
| 18 | Investment Committee | ||
| 19 | Personnel Committee | ||
| 19 | Full board |
FY 2022
| Month | Day | Committee | Agenda & Approved Minutes |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 2021 | 23 | Full Board | Agenda | Minutes |
| 22 | Audit Committee | Agenda | |
| 22 | Investment Committee | Agenda | |
| 23 | Personnel Committee | Agenda | |
| September 2021 | 17 | Full Board | Agenda | Minutes |
| 17 | Personnel Committee | Agenda | |
| 16 | Deferred Compensation Committee | Agenda | |
| 16 | Investment Committee | Agenda | |
| October 2021 | 28 & 29 | Board Educational & Planning Meeting | Agenda | Minutes |
| Meeting will be held in Overland Park, KS | |||
| November 2021 | 19 | Full Board | Agenda | Minutes |
| 19 | Audit Committee | Agenda | |
| 18 | Deferred Compensation Committee | Agenda | |
| 18 | Investment Committee | Agenda | |
| January 2022 | 21 | Full Board | Agenda | Minutes |
| 20 | Audit Committee | Agenda | |
| 20 | Investment Committee | Agenda | |
| 21 | Personnel Committee | Agenda | |
| March 2022 | 25 | Full Board | Agenda | Minutes |
| 25 | Audit Committee | Agenda | |
| 24 | Personnel Committee | Agenda | |
| 24 | Deferred Compensation Committee | Agenda | |
| 24 | Investment Committee | Agenda | |
| April 2022 | 22 | Full Board | Agenda | Minutes |
| May 2022 | 20 | Full Board | Agenda |
| 19 | Audit Committe | ||
| 20 | Personnel Committee | ||
| 19 | Deferred Compensation Committee | Agenda | |
| 19 | Investment Committee | Agenda |
Committee Descriptions & Chairpersons
Investments
Ryan Trader (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
Ron Johnson (Chairperson) & Ryan Trader (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) & Ron Johnson (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.