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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.


KPERS Trustee James Zakoura (Chairperson) KPERS Trustee James Zakoura (Chairperson)

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
KPERS Trustee Ernie Claudel KPERS Trustee Ernie Claudel

Ernie Claudel Vice-Chairperson

  • 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)
KPERS Trustee Emily Hill KPERS Trustee Emily Hill

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
KPERS Trustee Steven Johnson KPERS Trustee Steven Johnson

Steven Johnson

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

Brad Stratton

  • 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
KPERS Trustee Ryan Trader KPERS Trustee Ryan Trader

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)
KPERS Trustee Sam Williams KPERS Trustee Sam Williams

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
KPERS Trustee Jo Yun KPERS Trustee Jo Yun

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 2025

Month Day Committee Agenda & Approved Minutes
July 2024 25 Audit Committee Agenda | Minutes
  25 Investment Committee Agenda
  26 Personnel Committee Agenda
  26 Full Board Agenda
September 2024 12 Deferred Compensation Committee Agenda
  12 Investment Committee Agenda
  13 Personnel Committee Agenda
  13 Full Board Agenda
October 2024 17 & 18 Board Educational & Planning Meeting
  Meeting will be held in Overland Park, KS
November 2024 21 Deferred Compensation Committee
  21 Investment Committee
  22 Audit Committee  
  22 Full Board
January 2025 16 Audit Committee
  16 Investment Committee
  17 Personnel Committee
  17 Full Board
March 2025 27 Deferred Compensation Committee
  27 Investment Committee
  28 Audit Committee
  28 Personnel Committee
  28 Full Board
May 2024 15 Deferred Compensation Committee
  15 Investment Committee
  16 Personnel Committee
  16 Full Board

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 | Minutes
September 2023 21 Deferred Compensation Committee Agenda
21 Investment Committee Agenda
22 Personnel Committee Agenda
  22 Full Board Agenda | Minutes
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 | Minutes
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 | Minutes
May 2024 16 Deferred Compensation Committee Agenda
  16 Investment Committee Agenda
  17 Personnel Committee Agenda
  17 Full Board 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.