Speaker Bios
KEYNOTE SPEAKER:
As Co-CEO, Mellody is responsible for management, strategic planning and growth for all areas of Ariel. Additionally, she chairs the board of Ariel Investments’ publicly traded mutual funds. Prior to being named Co-CEO, Mellody spent nearly two decades as Ariel’s President. In 2025, she founded Project Level® to change the game in women’s sports. Mellody co-founded Ariel Alternatives, LLC in 2021 and its inaugural private equity fund, Project Black® to scale minority-owned businesses. Beyond Ariel, she is the former chairman of Starbucks Corporation and its current lead independent director. Mellody also serves as a director of JPMorgan Chase. She was a long-standing board member of the Estée Lauder Companies and chairman of the board of DreamWorks Animation until the company’s sale in 2016.
Mellody is a well-recognized financial literacy advocate. She wrote a New York Times bestselling children’s book, Priceless Facts about Money, to demystify money for young readers. Her community outreach includes her role as chairman of After School Matters, a Chicago non-profit that provides area teens with high-quality after-school and summer programs. Mellody is also co-chair of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art and a board member of Bloomberg Philanthropies, the George Lucas Educational Foundation, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the Center for Strategic & International Studies. She is a member of the Executive Committee of the Investment Company Institute, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the LA28 Olympic Games and past chair of the Economic Club of Chicago.
Mellody earned her AB from Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs. In 2019, she was awarded the Woodrow Wilson Award, the university’s highest honor presented annually to a Princeton graduate whose career embodies a commitment to national service. Mellody has also received honorary doctorate degrees from Howard University, Johns Hopkins University, St. Mary’s College and the University of Southern California. In 2015, Time Magazine named her one of the “100 Most Influential People” in the world.
SPEAKERS & MODERATORS:
Ramsey Alwin, President & CEO, The National Council on Aging
Ramsey Alwin is President and CEO of NCOA. She is a thought leader and policy advocate who is leading a nationwide movement to ensure all Americans can age with health and economic well-being.
Rob Austin, Vice President, Alight Solutions
Rob Austin is a Vice President in Alight’s Value Engineering group, where he specializes in analyzing and optimizing clients’ benefit systems to maximize their value and deliver an exceptional benefits experience. Rob is a sought-after industry expert and often appears in top media outlets including Wall Street Journal, NPR, New York Times, Bloomberg, Forbes, US News and World Report, CNN Money, USA Today, ABC News, CBS News, Yahoo Finance, and P&I. He is also a frequent speaker at industry events and conferences. – – Rob previously served as an actuary, consultant, and retirement thought leader. During that time, he led retirement research efforts and partnered with clients to understand the relationship between retirement plan designs and participant behavior. He was responsible for developing and publishing critical industry reports to outline his team’s findings. Rob holds degrees in mathematics from American University (BS), and the University of Virginia (M.Ed.).
Sandy Blair, Chief, Administrator, California Savings Plus
Sandy Blair is the Chief Administrator for the California Savings Plus Program, which offers pretax and Roth options in their 457(b) and 401(k) plans. Under her leadership, the program serves over 250,000 participants and manages assets exceeding $24 billion. Since joining in 2022, Sandy has overseen daily operations and field outreach teams, ensuring effective retirement savings options for California State Employees.
Previously, Sandy served as the Director of Retirement Readiness at CalSTRS, where she led the Client Outreach and Guidance office and administered the CalSTRS Pension2® plan, benefiting over 10,000 participants.
Sandy holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a focus on Finance from California State University, Sacramento. Her extensive experience in consumer banking, finance, and tax preparation has been instrumental in her success, making her a leader in retirement savings. Notably, she has also served as the President of the National Association of Government Defined Contribution Administrators (NAGDCA) on two occasions, further advancing the retirement industry.
David Blanchett, PhD, CFA, CFP, Head of Retirement Research, PGIM
David Blanchett, PhD, CFA, CFP®, is a Managing Director and Head of Retirement Research for PGIM DC Solutions. In this role, he develops research and innovative solutions to help improve retirement outcomes for investors. Prior to joining PGIM DC Solutions, David was the Head of Retirement Research for Morningstar Investment Management LLC. He is currently an adjunct professor of wealth management at The American College of Financial Services and was formerly a member of the executive committee for the Defined Contribution Institutional Investment Association (DCIIA) and the ERISA Advisory Council (2018-2020).
David has published over 100 papers in a variety of industry and academic journals. His research has received awards from the Academy of Financial Services, the CFP Board, the Financial Analysts Journal, the Financial Planning Association, the International Centre for Pension Management, the Journal of Financial Planning, and the Retirement Management Journal.
Emily Boesen, 
Public Information Officer, Indiana State Comptroller
A born and raised Hoosier, Emily has nearly 20 years of experience working within communications and marketing for the State of Indiana. She kick started her career working for the state legislature as a press secretary where she discovered her passion for public service. She continued her service helping three major agencies through crisis, rebranding and outreach (to name a few challenges) and landed in the Office of State Comptroller three years ago. She has hit the ground running to utilize her communication skills and knowledge of state employees to help drastically boost the engagement amongst participants.
Judy Boyette, Partner, Hanson Bridgett
Judy is a partner in the California law firm, Hanson Bridgett LLP. She has advised employers and employee benefit plans on all aspects of employee benefits including tax, regulatory, fiduciary responsibility, financing, and organizational integrity issues for more than 25 years. Currently the majority of her practice is focused on governmental plans and entities.
Judy has unique experience as both a lawyer and an administrator with experience running large, complex employee benefit programs. Formerly, she was directly responsible for all human resources issues for the University of California system, including managing a $40 billion pension system covering 100,000 members and three large defined contribution plans.
Most recently, Judy was appointed by the Secretary of Treasury for a 3-year term on the IRS Advisory Committee on Tax Exempt and Government Entities (ACT) as a representative in the employee plans area, advising IRS leadership on operational policy and procedural improvements.
Stephen Budinsky, Consultant, RVK Inc
Stephen Budinsky joined RVK in 2017 and is located in the New York office. Stephen leads and provides specialist support to RVK’s defined contribution (DC) client teams, while also supporting the firm’s Defined Contribution Solutions Group (DCSG) and Investment Operations Solutions Group (IOSG). As a member of the DCSG, Stephen provides research and best practice support for RVK’s DC plan clients. His primary responsibilities include providing expertise on DC legislative & regulatory matters and plan design and administration and working on special client projects. For IOSG, Stephen supports DC operational service provider research and due diligence, leads search and evaluation projects for recordkeeping, trust/custody, and other DC service providers, and provides additional operational consulting support. Prior to joining RVK, Stephen worked in the benefits outsourcing division of Aon Hewitt (now Alight Solutions). Stephen graduated from Rutgers University (New Brunswick) with a BA degree in History and Economics along with a minor in Spanish.
Robert Butler, CFA, PRM, Investment Risk & Compliance Officer, Arizona State Retirement System
Mr. Butler is the Investment Risk & Compliance Officer for the Arizona State Retirement System where he has worked since 2021. He is a tenured Investment professional with a focus on alternative investments and risk management with an interest in cyber security and geopolitics.
Mr. Butler earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Arizona with a double major in Finance and Accounting. He also earned the CFA designation in 2004 and the PRM certification in 2012 and also holds the CFM & CMA designations from the Institute of Management Accountants.
Previously, Mr. Butler served on the board of the CFA Society of DFW, the Dallas Area Young Bankruptcy Lawyers, Turnaround Management Association Central Texas Chapter, and University of Arizona Alumni Chapters in Austin, Houston & DFW.
Kyle Caffey, VP Innovation Lab, Empower
Kyle Caffey is the Vice President of the Technology Innovation Lab for Empower. In his role, he is responsible for leading a team of talented and creative innovators who will explore, experiment, and validate new ideas and solutions that can help Empower grow and differentiate itself in the market. He collaborates with various stakeholders across the organization to identify opportunities, prioritize initiatives, and deliver value-added outcomes. His team also fosters a culture of innovation and learning within the lab and beyond. Kyle joined Empower in 2024 and has 15 years of experience in technology innovation delivering and scaling solutions across industries. Prior to joining Empower, he spent eight years at Charles Schwab, where he led the firm’s innovation program, which helped incubate and fast-track digital solutions to market. Kyle led the creation of Schwab’s Conversational Artificial Intelligence (AI) ecosystem, scaling the client-facing Schwab Assistant capability to millions of clients across digital channels. He also helped jumpstart the strategy and implementation of Generative AI capabilities for Schwab.
Kyle held a variety of digital leadership and entrepreneurial roles prior to his career at Schwab. He spent time leading product development at a startup that provided enterprise software solutions in the energy industry. He also founded his own venture innovating in the ecommerce space. Kyle stays plugged into the technology and startup ecosystem by coaching entrepreneurs and participating in industry events, such as serving as a judge and mentor in a globally renowned innovation competition.
Joe Carter, CPFA, Institutional Advisor, Mariner Institutional
Joe has over a decade of experience working with Public Plans to deliver investment and administrative solutions. Joe is familiar with the product offerings, administrative platforms, technology, and pricing for most of the nationally recognized service providers as he regularly performs Request for Proposals (RFPs) and Fee Benchmarking Projects on behalf of clients.
Craig Chaikin, CFA, Senior Vice President, Callan LLC
Craig Chaikin, CFA, is a senior vice president and consultant in Callan’s Denver consulting office. His responsibilities include client education, strategic planning and implementation, portfolio and fee reviews, investment policy development, and fulfilling client requests. He is a member of Callan’s Defined Contribution Committee. Craig brings nearly two decades of industry and investment consulting expertise, working with a wide range of institutional clients.
Prior to joining Callan in 2022, he was a vice president with Segal Marco Advisors where he advised Taft-Hartley, public funds, and corporations on their defined contribution, defined benefit, and other benefit plans. Prior to his 14 years with Segal, he was a relationship manager with Fifth Third Asset Management and a financial advisor with American Express (formerly Ameriprise).
Michael Conrath, CFP, CPRC, Chief Retirement Strategist & Head of Retirement Insights Strategy Team, J.P. Morgan Asset Management
Michael Conrath, CFP, CPRC, is the Chief Retirement Strategist and Head of the Retirement Insights Strategy Team for J.P. Morgan Asset Management. In this role, Michael is responsible for researching and delivering timely retirement-related insights to clients and financial professionals. Michael has over 25 years of investment and wealth management experience and focuses on identifying themes to improve retirement savings and deliver better retirement income outcomes for individuals across the wealth spectrum.
Michael formerly was the Head of Education Savings for J.P. Morgan Asset Management and was responsible for the firm’s 529 plan strategy, product solutions and distribution efforts across client relationships.
Michael earned an M.B.A. with a dual concentration in Finance and Taxation from Fordham University and a B.A. in English Literature and Rhetoric from Binghamton University. He is a Certified Financial Planner®, Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor and holds the Series 7, 6 and 63 licenses.
Marybeth Daubenspeck, Vice President, Empower
Bio coming soon!
Rasch Cousineau, Senior Principal, Executive Director, Fiduciary Consulting Group
Rasch Cousineau is a senior principal for the Fiduciary Consulting Group at Morgan Stanley, focusing on the firm’s retirement plan sponsor clients. With over 28 years of experience in the public sector retirement services industry, he offers clients a rich perspective on investment portfolio construction, retirement plan design, vendor management, plan governance, fee negotiation, RFP management, and fiduciary training.
Prior to joining the Fiduciary Consulting Group, formerly Hyas Group, Rasch served as national vice president, defined contribution markets for an industry-leading recordkeeper. This experience enables him to provide clients with a unique understanding of how recordkeepers evaluate, administer, and price relationships. He helps clients monitor plan costs and renegotiate favorable contracts4. Rasch has spoken at conferences and worked with industry organizations such as CPAAC, CCMF, OMFOA, CPPC, IPMA, CSMFO, CalPELRA, NFOP, ICMA, and GFOA5. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in public relations/marketing from Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York.
Christopher Dillon, CFA, Investment Specialist, T. Rowe Price
Chris Dillon is an investment specialist in the Global Fixed Income Division. He is a vice president of T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., and T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. Chris’s investment experience began in 1993, and he has been with T. Rowe Price since 2006, beginning in the Fixed Income Division as a global fixed income specialist with dedicated responsibility for the firm’s municipal bond, emerging market debt, and international fixed income teams. Chris also worked in the Multi-Asset Division, where he was responsible for articulating a market view for the firm. Most recently, Chris returned to the Global Fixed Income Division, where he expresses the investment views for the overall division. Chris earned a B.A., cum laude, in history/economics from the University of Delaware and an M.B.A. from Wilmington University. Chris also has earned the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation. CFA® and Chartered Financial Analyst® are registered trademarks owned by CFA Institute.
Yongo Ding, Associate, Morgan Lewis
Yongo Ding advises banks and other financial services firms on ERISA fiduciary and prohibited transaction issues associated with the investment of employee benefit plan assets, including through stable value funds and collective investment trusts (CITs). He also regularly advises employers on the design, operation, and compliance of tax-qualified retirement plans, nonqualified deferred compensation plans, and incentive and equity arrangements.
Wendy Dominguez, President, Co-Founder, & Principal, Innovest
Wendy is the President and Co-Founder of Innovest Portfolio Solutions. She has more than 30 years of experience in the investment consulting profession. Her clients include some of the largest retirement plans in the United States. She leads Innovest’s Retirement Plan Practice Group, a specialized team that identifies best practices and implements process improvements to maximize efficiencies for our retirement plan clients. Wendy has been named one of the 20 Most Influential Women in Benefit Advising in the nation by Employee Benefit Adviser. Finally, Wendy has been designated as one of the Financial Times’ Top 100 Women Financial Advisors.
Christina Elliott, Deputy Executive Director, State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio
Christina is a dynamic and forward-thinking pension executive with nearly 20 years of leadership experience in strategic planning, financial management, stakeholder communications, and organizational development. Her career has been dedicated to the public sector, where she served in senior roles at some of the largest public pensions in country. She is recognized for her ability to craft and executive targeted communication strategies that align with organizational goals and engage divers stakeholder groups. Her executive leadership drives trust, transparency, and informed decision making for both DC participants and DB members. A champion of collaborative cultures, Christina excels in building and leading high-performing teams that thrive in mission-driven environments. Christina is an alumni of the University of Southern California, where she earned her MPA; and she enjoys life in Dublin, Ohio with her husband, their two daughters, her parents, their dog Milo and their axolotl Chanel: It’s a full house!
Vinay Gidwaney, Chief Product Officer, OneDigital
Vinay Gidwaney is the Chief Product Officer at OneDigital, a national insurance, employee benefits, HR, and financial services company. He leads the technology strategy, driving innovation in the insurance and wealth management industries. Previously, Vinay played a key role in CIC Health’s COVID-19 vaccination efforts, administering 1.2 million vaccinations in seven months. He co-founded Maxwell Health, simplifying employee benefits and raising over $70 million in capital. Vinay also contributed to neuroscience research at MIT Media Lab and co-founded Control-F1, later acquired by CA. He serves on several startup boards and is active in non-profit work, including Design for Change USA and InnSure. Vinay is also an Emergency Medical Technician in Massachusetts. He was recognized as one of MIT Technology Review’s Top 100 Innovators Under 35 in 2002 and is a proud father to Leela, Niam, and Kayvion.
Michael Gorman, Partner, Morgan Lewis
Michael Gorman advises multiemployer benefit funds, public and private companies, tax-exempt organizations, and governmental employers on the design, governance, operation, and compliance of qualified and nonqualified retirement plans and welfare benefit plans. A trusted advisor, Mike handles legal issues arising under ERISA, the Internal Revenue Code, the Affordable Care Act, the Multiemployer Pension Protection Act, the Pension Protection Act, the Multiemployer Pension Reform Act, HIPAA, and COBRA. As a co-leader of Morgan Lewis’s employee benefits cybersecurity initiative, Mike counsels clients dealing with high-profile identity theft, data breach, and ransomware events and clients undergoing DOL audits of their cybersecurity practices.
Matt Gray, VP Employer Markets, Allianz Life Insurance Company
With more than 20 years in the financial services industry, Gray has broad experience in guaranteed solutions that can help consumers protect and improve their retirement outcomes. Since 2019, Gray has led the company’s expansion into employer markets to serve a broader range of consumers.
Weiyen M. “Ann” Jonas, Vice President & Associate General Counsel, Fidelity
Ann Jonas serves as in-house legal counsel at Fidelity Investments. Ann has over 25 years of experience providing legal advice and compliance guidance related to the retirement plans of tax-exempt and governmental employers, including 403(b), 457 and 401(a)/(k) plans. She received her J.D. from Harvard Law School and earned a B.S. in Business Administration from Georgetown University.
Melissa Kahn, Managing Director and Retirement Policy Strategist, State Street Global Advisors
Melissa Kahn is a Managing Director and Retirement Policy Strategist with State Street Global Advisors (SSGA). She is tasked with strengthening SSGA’s position as an advocate supporting retirement and pension related issues. She is focused on increasing SSGA’s engagement with key policy makers and leveraging these connections to inform future research projects.
Melissa is an attorney with extensive experience in developing and implementing policy and strategies on domestic and international employee benefits legislation and regulation, as well as Social Security reform. Prior to joining State Street Global Advisors, Melissa was a principal with MJKAHN Associates, LLC, an employee benefits consulting firm. The firm provides strategic planning, policy analysis, and advocacy work on a variety of issues including retirement, long-term care, Social Security and global employee benefits.
Prior to establishing MJKAHN Associates, LLC, Melissa was a vice president with MetLife for 12 years. She was based in MetLife’s Washington, DC Government Relations office. Additionally Melissa has worked for Retirement Strategies Group, the American Council of Life Insurance and the Equitable Life Assurance Society of America. She is a member of the DCIIA Executive Committee and is Chair of the DCIIA Public Policy Committee.
Melissa holds a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and B.A. from Cornell University.
Jeremy Kish, Co-Head of U.S. DC Institutional Client Business, BlackRock
Jeremy Kish, CAIA, Managing Director, is Co-head of the Defined Contribution Institutional Client Business within BlackRock’s Americas Client Business. The team is responsible for developing and maintaining relationships with institutional defined contribution investors, providing thought leadership on industry trends, and acting as collaborative partners to clients and consultants.
Mr. Kish joined BlackRock in 2017 from TeamCo Advisers, where he spent nine years leading business development and investor relations.
Mr. Kish earned a BA in economics from Bucknell University and MBA degrees from both Columbia Business School and the University of California Berkeley Haas School of Business. He is also a Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) charterholder.
Marla Kreindler, Partner, Morgan Lewis
Marla J. Kreindler advises clients on a broad range of fiduciary governance, regulatory, and investment matters affecting sponsors, fiduciaries, and service providers to US tax-qualified retirement plans. Marla represents and counsels corporate, nonprofit, and governmental plan sponsors on their institutional retirement plans, as well as major recordkeepers, consulting and investment management firms, insurance companies, banks, and financial firms on managing and investing employee benefit plan assets and tax-qualified retirement plans.
Michael Kreps, Principal | Retirement Services Chair, Groom Law Group
Michael Kreps is chair of Groom’s Retirement Services group, and he works with a wide variety of clients on complex retirement and health plan issues. His firsthand experience with the legislative and regulatory process gives him a perspective that is often instrumental in helping clients develop and implement effective compliance and advocacy strategies.
Michael advises many of the country’s largest benefit plans and service providers on issues related to plan governance, administration, funding, and restructuring. Michael is an expert on benefit plan recordkeeping and the development of complex financial and insurance products. He also serves as fund counsel to some of the largest benefit plans in the country, including public retirement systems and VEBAs. Michael helps clients address complex pension funding challenges for both single employer and Taft-Hartley (multiemployer) plans, and he has been involved in over a dozen distress terminations before the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC).
As a zealous advocate, Michael routinely represents clients before regulators and Congress. He has successfully navigated dozens of Department of Labor (DOL) investigations, including a large number of service provider “book of business” audits. Michael also has secured federal legislation on behalf of clients to, among other things, change the pension funding rules for community newspapers, facilitate retirement plan participation by homecare workers, and provide pension funding relief to a national non-profit.
From the 111th through the 114th Congresses, Michael served as the Senior Pensions and Employment Counsel for the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. He managed all aspects of the Committee’s retirement agenda and had primary staff responsibility for pension legislation, including the pension investment provisions of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the funding stabilization and Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation reform provisions of the MAP-21 Act of 2012, the Pension Relief Act of 2010, and the CSEC Pension Flexibility Act. He also led the Committee’s oversight of regulatory activities involving employee benefit plans.
Michael serves as external general counsel for the Committee on Investment of Employee Benefit Assets (CIEBA) and is on the Executive Committee of the Defined Contribution Institutional Investment Association (DCIIA). He is a graduate of the George Washington University Law School (JD with honors), the University of Colorado (with distinction), and the Sorensen Institute Political Leaders Program.
David Levine, Principal, Groom Law Group
David Levine advises plan sponsors, advisors, and other service providers on a wide range of employee benefits matters, from retirement and executive compensation to health and welfare plan matters.
David advises on the design and redesign of complex retirement, executive, and health and welfare plans; ongoing, day-to-day counseling of plan sponsors; in-depth compliance reviews of corporate and governmental benefit programs; alternative products and assets, including venture capital, private equity, and cryptocurrency, for IRA, HSAs, and 401(k) plan service providers; products and compliance for retirement and health service providers, and representation of tax-exempt organizations with respect to issues involving corporate governance, executive compensation, and unrelated business income tax liability.
David was previously the Chair of the IRS Advisory Committee on Tax Exempt and Government Entities (2011-2013) and is currently a member of the Executive Committee of the Defined Contribution Institutional Investment Association and serves in a number of leadership roles in the American Bar Association Tax Section’s Employee Benefits Committee. David regularly speaks on plan design, fiduciary governance, and legislative issues and contributes a recurring column to NAPA Net — The Magazine. He is recognized in the Chambers USA guide for Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation.
Zhikun Liu, Ph.D., CFP®, Vice President, Head of MissionSquare Research Institute
Zhikun Liu, Ph.D., CFP®, is an experienced financial planning research director specializing in retirement planning, behavioral economics, and wealth management. He currently serves as Vice President and Head of the MissionSquare Research Institute at MissionSquare. Dr. Liu’s prior career includes research director roles at Empower Retirement and Employee Benefit Research Institute, where he made significant contributions to the retirement and financial planning industry. A prolific author, his work has been featured in numerous academic and industry journals. He is also a sought-after speaker, regularly presenting at financial services conferences, and his insights are frequently cited by the media. Zhikun received his Ph.D. in Personal Financial Planning from Texas Tech University. In addition, he holds four master’s and two bachelor’s degrees in six different majors from four universities, including Mathematics, Economics, Finance, Personal Financial Planning, Information Technology, Computer Science, and English. Zhikun is also a Certified Financial Planner® and a second-degree black belt in Taekwondo
Jennifer Mausolf, Customer Strategies Director, MERS of Michigan
Jennifer serves as the Customer Strategies Director at the Municipal Employees Retirement System (MERS) of Michigan, where she oversees outreach, marketing, and public relations for retirement programs that support over 1,000 municipalities statewide. With over 20 years of dedicated service at MERS, Jennifer has spearheaded numerous impactful initiatives to raise awareness about the importance of financial security in retirement. She is also the architect of MERS’ financial wellness strategy, which positively influences the lives of more than 100,000 public employees across Michigan.
A proud graduate of Michigan State University, Jennifer earned her Bachelor of Arts degree and is a Certified Financial Education Instructor. Her leadership reflects a deep commitment to empowering communities through education and actionable strategies for long-term financial stability. Jennifer resides in Lansing, Michigan, where she enjoys spending time with her family and contributing to her local community.
Rachel Molina, Marketing Director, Government and Taft-Hartley Markets, Empower
Rachel Molina is Marketing Director, Government and Taft-Hartley markets, for Empower. In her role, she is responsible for developing and implementing B2B marketing programs and end-to-end strategies that share the Empower value proposition, brand story, and product offering in the Government and Taft-Hartley markets.
Rachel joined the organization in 2013 and has also worked for Prudential in various marketing roles. She has 19 years of experience in the financial services industry.
Rachel has been an active member of industry groups, including the National Association of Government Defined Contribution Administrators, Inc. (NAGDCA) and the Defined Contribution Institutional Investment Association (DCIIA), which recognized her with its 2023 Rising Star award. Rachel holds a bachelor’s degree in communication from William Paterson University. She currently maintains the FINRA Series 6 registration sponsored by Empower.
Dan Morrison, Head of Government Markets, Empower
Dan Morrison is Senior Vice President of Government Markets for Empower. In his role, he leads the firm’s government segment, overseeing sales, client retention and financial results. The government business comprises nearly 5,000 plans and 3.7 million government workers. As such, Empower is a top provider of 457 plans by assets and participants, and its customers include 30 state 457 programs.
Dan joined the organization in 2004. He’s held increasingly responsible sales and service positions, including Sales Director and Managing Director. In the latter role, he led 70 directors and relationship managers. Most recently, Dan served as Vice President and Practice Leader for Empower’s not-for-profit segment, where he was responsible for overall sales and retention in the company’s growing book of healthcare, education, faith-based and other not-for-profit plan sponsors.
Dan holds bachelor’s degrees in mathematics and English from the University of Vermont.
George Nichols III, CAP®, President & CEO, The American College of Financial Services
George Nichols III, CAP®, currently serves as the 10th president and CEO in the storied history of The American College of Financial Services. Nichols joined The College after a 17-year stint at New York Life, where he held principal roles in sales, P&L, strategic initiatives, and public policy. In 2007, Nichols was named to the company’s executive management committee. He also served as executive vice president in the Office of Governmental Affairs.
Before joining New York Life, Nichols was the State of Kentucky’s first Black insurance commissioner, leading regulation of the state’s $10 billion insurance industry through his expertise in health insurance reform and financial services integration. He gained this knowledge through stints as the executive director of the Kentucky Health Policy Board, vice president of marketing for Athena of North America, executive director of product development with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kentucky, CEO of Central State Hospital in Louisville, and executive assistant to the Commissioner of the Kentucky Department for Mental Health Services.
Nichols has been acclaimed for his efforts to drive transformative change in diversity, equity, and inclusion in the financial services profession and elsewhere. Savoy, a leading Black business and lifestyle magazine, named him among the “Most Influential Black Corporate Executives” twice: in 2012 and 2018; and among the “Most Influential Black Corporate Directors” in 2021. He was named to Forbes’ inaugural 2021 edition of “The Culture 50 Champions.” Nichols was honored as one of “The Ten to Watch in 2021” by WealthManagement.com, and in 2022, he won a ThinkAdvisor LUMINARIES award for Executive Leadership, followed by InvestmentNews’ recognition in 2023 for the year’s See It, Be It role model. Additionally, Nichols is the inaugural recipient of the Alonzo Herndon Award by Business Insurance Magazine.
Nichols received his associate degree from Alice Lloyd College, his bachelor’s degree from Western Kentucky University, and his master’s degree from the University of Louisville. Nichols earned the Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® designation in 2023.
Chris Nikolich, Head of Glide Path Strategies, AllianceBernstein
Christopher Nikolich joined AB in 1994 and is the Head of Glide Path Strategies (US) in the Multi-Asset Solutions business, leading research efforts relating to the design and management of effective target-date and lifetime income fund solutions. He is the author of defined contribution (DC)-related research, such as Designing the Future of Target-Date Funds: A New Blueprint for Improving Retirement Outcomes. In addition, Nikolich has authored thought leadership focused on topics such as plan design, asset allocation, inflation and the design and evaluation of retirement income solutions. Nikolich also works closely with clients in the implementation of AB’s research to structure their customized target-date and lifetime income funds. He holds a BA in finance from Rider University, an MBA in finance from New York University, is the Vice Chair of Rider University’s Investment Subcommittee and is a member of the Executive Committee of the Defined Contribution Institutional Investment Association.
Mikaylee O’Connor, Principal, Head of DC Solutions, NEPC
Mikaylee joined NEPC in 2024 as Principal, Head of Defined Contribution (DC) Solutions. Mikaylee is responsible for leading the way NEPC’s DC practice delivers innovative and creative solutions to clients. In addition to serving clients, Mikaylee oversees NEPC’s DC plan trends research and data analytics, guiding strategic initiatives related to target date funds, managed accounts, retirement income solutions, and other investments that are vital to the retirement outcomes of participants.
Before joining NEPC, Mikaylee was Principal, Senior Defined Contribution Strategist within PGIM DC Solutions team. She provided thought leadership to DC plans on investment issues, plan design, investment structure and implementation, the implications of regulatory changes, and industry best practices. Prior to that, Mikaylee spearheaded RVK, Inc.’s DC practice as their Head of DC Solutions overseeing strategic direction and growth of the practice. She advised several client relationships including corporate, multiple-employer, and public DC plans, working directly with them on developing investment policies, investment menu design, plan fee reviews, target-date fund evaluations, white-label fund implementation and trustee education.
Mikaylee frequently speaks at industry conferences and is a quoted expert by many publications, including Pensions & Investments, PLANADVISER, and PLANSPONSOR. She has co-authored many white papers, including a recent piece “Reimagining Managed Accounts for Defined Contribution Plans”. She is actively involved with several industry organizations, including the Defined Contribution Institutional Investment Association (DCIIA), where she serves as the Treasurer, and is a member of the Operating Committee and Executive Committee, and the National Association of Government Defined Contribution Administrators, Inc. (NAGDCA), where she is a member of the Legislative Committee.
Mikaylee earned her BA degree in finance from Portland State University.
Matt Petersen, Executive Director, NAGDCA
Matt Petersen joined NAGDCA as the association’s first full time dedicated staff resource in the summer of 2017. In his role as Executive Director he works directly with the Executive Board and staff to develop strategies to help the organization achieve its mission and vision. Prior to joining NAGDCA Matt spent 13 years on active duty in the US Air Force as a C-17 evaluator pilot and air drop specialist, and served three deployments in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Matt is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy. He also has a Master’s in Social Sciences from the Maxwell School of Public Affairs at Syracuse University, and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
Gene Robison, Director, Bureau of Communications and Counseling, PA Public School Employees’ Retirement System
Gene Robison is the Director of the Bureau of Communications and Counseling for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Public School Employees’ Retirement System (PSERS). In this capacity he oversees member intake and demographics, the member and employer communications including reporting from public school employers, multiple call centers, publications, employer training, and agency websites. He is also responsible for all participant communications regarding the defined contribution plan, the management of the seven regional field offices around the state, and the counseling services for members that these offices provide. PSERS has more than 500,000 active and retired members, and 760+ employer reporting units.
Prior to his time with PSERS, for ten years he served as the Director of Communications for the Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees which is a non-profit, grassroots membership organization established to help serve the needs of Pennsylvania’s retired school employees.
Kristi Rodriguez, Senior Vice President, Nationwide Retirement Institute
Kristi Martin Rodriguez serves as Senior Vice President of the Nationwide Retirement Institute for Nationwide Financial, leading the teams responsible for advocating for and educating members, partners and industry leaders on issues impacting their ability to have a secure financial future.
Kristi has over 20 years of extensive experience in business-to-business and direct-consumer strategies and building high-performing teams. She has a bachelor’s degree in finance from Hampton University and holds her Series 6 and 26 securities registrations.
She is also an active member of the community, working with several non-profit and social organizations that aid unserved communities. Kristi is the Founder and Board Chair of the FARE (a 501(c)6 organization dedicated to increasing representation within the financial services industry), a founding member of the Ohio chapter of The National Association of Securities Professionals, and a member of the American College of Financial Services.
Brenda Sanne, Total Rewards Manager, Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD)
As a long-term employee of Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD), Brenda spent more than 20 years in Corporate Communication managing employee and customer communication projects, plans and initiatives. In 2018, she transitioned to Human Resources, playing a pivotal role in consolidating NPPD’s governmental 401(k) and 457(b) Plans from two separate recordkeepers into a single provider and new fund portfolios. As Total Rewards Manager, Brenda designs business and communication strategies to optimize employee and retiree benefits while also overseeing payroll, policy and compensation functions. By collaborating with NPPD’s Benefits Team and recordkeeper, she helps drive participant engagement of teammates located across Nebraska through methods such as open dialogue, webinars/workshops, on-site and virtual one-on-one sessions with retirement plan advisors, and access to online resources. These efforts contributed to participation in NPPD’s 457(b) Plan doubling within the past five years while maintaining greater than a 99% participation rate in the 401(k) Plan.
Jake Sours, CFP®, ChFC®, CRC®, Executive Program Director, Nationwide
Jake Sours has been a dedicated member of Nationwide for 14 years, specializing in helping public sector employees prepare for and enjoy their retirement. As the Executive Program Director, Jake currently partners with the State of California to enhance education outreach efforts, marketing strategies, and operational efficiencies related to the 457 and 401k plans. In his previous roles, he collaborated with cities, counties, and special districts in California on similar initiatives.
Jake holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from The Ohio State University and has earned several professional designations, including CFP, ChFC, and CRC. His extensive experience in retirement planning and public sector employee benefits has been instrumental in supporting various initiatives.
Outside of his professional life, Jake is a devoted husband and father to three young children, all under the age of four, who keep him busy and bring joy to his everyday life.
Melanie Walker, Senior Vice President, Segal
Melanie Walker is a Senior Vice President in Segal’s National Compliance Practice, based in the firm’s Denver office. She has provided ongoing and special project compliance services for employee benefit plans for 20 years. Her primary area of expertise is with public sector retirement plans, and she serves as a national resource for Segal in this area. Ms. Walker received a BA in Political Science and International Affairs with an area of concentration in the former Soviet Union at the University of Colorado at Boulder and a JD from the University of Colorado School of Law.
Ms. Walker is an active member of the National Association of Public Pension Attorneys (NAPPA), where she serves on the tax committee. She is also a member of the National Association of Government Defined Contribution Administrators (NAGDCA) where she currently serves on the legislative committee.
Sue Walton, SVP, Senior Retirement Strategist, Capital Group | American Funds
Sue Walton is a senior retirement strategist at Capital Group, home of American Funds. She has 26 years of industry experience and has been with Capital Group for eight years. Prior to joining Capital, Sue was a director at Towers Watson Investment Services. Before that, she was an investment consultant at Mercer Investment Consulting and Ellwood Associates.
She holds an MBA from DePaul University with a concentration in finance and a bachelor’s degree in business administration, economics and international business from Marquette University. Sue is based in Chicago.
Chip Weule, Chief Benefits Officer, Fire and Police Pension Association of Colorado
Chip is the Chief Benefits Officer for the Fire & Police Pension Association of Colorado. In this role, he is responsible for the Benefit Administration, Relationship Management, and the Publication and Content Teams. He is also the chair of both the Death & Disability Review Committee and the Self-Directed Plans Committee and co-leads FPPA’s legislative team. Chip is a member of the DC Institute’s Advisory Board and is an officer for Colorado’s chapter of the International Association of Strategy Professionals
Chip has 20+ years of pension industry experience working with small, medium, and large clients. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Statistics from the University of Miami of Ohio and an MBA from Regis University. Chip loves traveling and watching baseball. He’s been to 36 Major League Baseball Stadiums (needs two more to see all the current stadiums).
Alison Wright, Partner, Hanson Bridgett
Alison practices employee benefits law and focuses on the tax, securities, and ERISA aspects of executive and equity compensation – including nonqualified deferred compensation plans, stock compensation plans, employee stock purchase plans, and change in control plans as well as perquisite programs, executive employment, and severance agreements. For more than two decades, she has been advising clients regarding their traditional employee benefit plans – including 401(k) and other retirement plans, health and welfare plans, and cafeteria plans.
In addition, Alison has significant experience in assisting clients with compensation and benefits issues raised in mergers and acquisitions, consisting of golden parachute payments, COBRA responsibilities, and due diligence review. She is a member of the Board of Directors and is chair of the Brown Bag Lunch committee for the San Francisco Chapter’s Western Pension & Benefits Council, and also a member of the Board of Directors of the National Center for Employee Ownership.
Jamie Yagodnik, Defined Contribution Coordinator, City of Phoenix
Bio coming soon!
Holly Zaches, Head of Product – Commingled Funds, Institutional Retirement, North America, BNY Investments
Holly Zaches is Head of Product of BNY Investments for the BNY Commingled Funds and Private Funds. She oversees the product launch and maintenance of the Collective Investment Trust Funds and Common Funds that are offered through BNY’s Retirement channel, which consists of Taft Hartley, Defined Contribution, and Defined Benefit Plan Sponsors, as well as Consultant Relations.
She also oversees the establishment and provides ongoing support for BNY’s Private Funds. Holly works closely with the diverse Investment Management firms across BNY Investments to bring key strategy initiatives to fruition and oversees the integrity of over $200B in Fund assets spanning Active Equity, Fixed Income, Index, Alternative and Cash/Liquidity strategies across 185 Funds. Holly joined BNY Investments in 2000. She has over 25 years of experience in the asset management industry, including the launch of over 150 Multi-Asset, Active, and Index Collective Funds and Private Placements (Hedge Funds) for Mellon Investments Corp.
Prior to joining BNY, Holly worked at Berstein Private Wealth Management in multiple relationship management roles across product and client service. She began her career at Mercer Global Advisors developing various sales and client service initiatives for small businesses across the country. Holly earned two Bachelor of Arts degrees in Political Science and History and a Master of Arts degree in Political Science: Comparative Development from the University of California at Santa Barbara, graduating Summa Cum Laude. She is involved in her community as Treasurer for the First Presbyterian Church of Alameda, has served as Fund Raising Event Chair for Blossom Garden Alameda for UCSF Benioff Oakland Children’s Hospital, and has received the President’s Volunteer Service Award. She is a certified Les Mills International instructor and the proud mother of triplets.