2026 Industry Committee Election
Voting closes Friday, August 21.
NAGDCA received three nominations for two open Member-at-Large positions on the Industry Committee. We’re pleased to have such talented individuals interested in serving the NAGDCA membership as volunteer leaders! This year, two candidates will be elected to fill the available positions, including one vacancy created by the recent resignation of a committee member following a move to a new company. The top two vote-getters will be elected. Results will be announced in early September.
Please review the candidate profiles below and cast your vote. Important: Only one vote per company is permitted. If multiple ballots are submitted from the same company, none of that company’s votes will be counted.
Thank you for participating in the election!
Meet the Candidates
Joe Carter, Senior Institutional Advisor, Mariner
Joe serves as a senior institutional advisor at Mariner, where he owns ultimate responsibility for client relationships and acts as the primary contact. With more than 14 years of financial services experience, he specializes in designing, evaluating, and servicing complex retirement plans. Joe provides robust governance and fiduciary oversight, managing everything from investment policy guidelines and manager due diligence to plan compliance, vendor selection, and participant education strategies. Prior to joining the firm through its acquisition in 2017, he honed his technical expertise as an Investment Consultant and Research Analyst at Bidart & Ross. Outside of the office, Joe loves spending time with his family and staying active outdoors fishing, hiking, and golfing.
How long have you been in your current position and how does it relate to the defined contribution industry?
My total career in the institutional advisory industry has been 14 years, so far. I have been an Institutional Advisor for the last four years. Prior to that I worked as a Retirement Plan Consultant with AndCo for five years, and five years before that started my career with Bidart & Ross working as a general investment consultant.
My whole career has been spent working with institutional retirement plans. Assisting clients with every need they may have from establishing their committees to developing an investment framework. My current focus has been working with Governmental DC and Taft Hartley DC Plans.
What leadership positions have you held within the deferred compensation/defined contribution community, as well as with other organizations (professional or volunteer), that have bearing on potential NAGDCA leadership responsibilities?
My leadership positions have been limited. My focus has been on my clients and leading them through the transformation of their plans and policies. I have spoken at other finance and human resource conferences in the past.
What special skills or training do you possess that would benefit the association?
Working with Governmental Plans Sponsors, Recordkeepers, and Investment Managers for over 14 years, I have experienced and helped Plan Sponsors modernize their Plans and Processes. I have led municipalities through committee constructions, service provider reviews, committee charter creation, investment policy creation, recordkeeper consolidation, and continue to provide oversight. In the last 12 years, I have produced and delivered over 90 recordkeeper RFPs to various institutions across the country. I have a balanced view of recordkeeping and investment management.
What has been your previous experience with NAGDCA? (First year of participation, specific contributions to association such as newsletter articles, committee service, conference presentations, etc.).
Currently, I am on the Awards Committee and have spoken at two previous conferences for NAGDCA. In 2024, I spoke on Effective Governance and Fiduciary Excellence in Public Sector DC Plans at the Phoenix conference. In 2025, I was able to get a Plan Sponsor to moderate a panel and spoke on Fee Benchmarking of Service Providers & Investments.
Association volunteer leadership can be a time-consuming activity. Election to the Industry Committee results in monthly (and sometimes weekly) interaction. How would you approach and manage such volunteer leadership requirements?
Time management is important. As an advisor, I have complete control over my schedule and would be able to find time to work with the Industry Committee. Mariner typically meets with our clients quarterly and client meetings would be my only conflict.
Why do you want to serve on the Industry Committee? What are your goals for NAGDCA and what do you feel you can bring to the association?
My experience leading one of the nation’s largest public school district DC plans, combined with my collaborative leadership across the retirement industry, positions me to help advance NAGDCA’s strategic priorities. I am passionate about increasing participation, simplifying retirement communications, and improving financial security for a diverse, multigenerational workforce. My focus is on closing participation and wealth gaps by advancing innovative plan design, accessible education, and strategies that help participants build long-term financial wellness and generational wealth. I will bring a practical plan sponsor perspective, strong industry partnerships, and a commitment to developing solutions that improve outcomes for members and participants.
Sheldon Jackson, Senior Product Consultant, Vice President, MissionSquare
Throughout his 26-year career in retirement services, Sheldon Jackson has remained focused on a simple purpose: helping employees retire with dignity. While participants may never see the work that happens behind the scenes, he believes every product enhancement, strategic initiative, and educational opportunity contributes to helping individuals achieve a more secure retirement.
Sheldon currently serves as Senior Product Consultant, Vice President, partnering with consultants, financial advisors, and plan sponsors to position retirement solutions, provide technical guidance, and support governmental and nonprofit retirement plans. Previously, as VP, Head of Retirement Products, he led the strategy, development, and lifecycle management of retirement plan solutions, including 457(b), 401(a), 403(b), HRA, IRA, and guaranteed income offerings.
His experience spans product strategy, consultant relations, sales leadership, operations, implementation, and client service, providing a broad perspective on the opportunities and challenges facing the public sector defined contribution industry. Throughout his career, Sheldon has been passionate about education, collaboration, mentorship, and bringing people together to improve retirement outcomes.
How long have you been in your current position and how does it relate to the defined contribution industry?
As of December 2025, I’ve served as Senior Product Consultant, Vice President after previously servicing as VP, Head of Retirement Products. Together with earlier leadership roles in consultant relations, sales, operations, implementation, and client service, I have spent more than 26 years serving the private and public sector defined contribution retirement industry.
In my current role, I partner with financial advisors, consultants, and plan sponsors to help them understand retirement solutions, evaluate plan design considerations, and navigate increasingly complex products. My previous product leadership experience included developing strategy, evaluating market opportunities, driving product innovation, and bringing new retirement solutions to market.
Working across multiple disciplines has given me a broad perspective on the needs of our industry and reinforced my belief that the strongest solutions are built through teamwork, thoughtful innovation, and a shared commitment to improving retirement outcomes for public employees.
What leadership positions have you held within the deferred compensation/defined contribution community, as well as with other organizations (professional or volunteer), that have bearing on potential NAGDCA leadership responsibilities?
I have had the privilege of serving in leadership positions across several areas of the retirement industry, including VP, Head of Retirement Products, VP, Consultant Relations, Senior Product Solutions Consultant, and Senior Manager, Internal Sales Desk. These roles have provided opportunities to lead cross-functional teams, develop product strategy, build industry relationships, mentor colleagues, and collaborate with advisors, consultants, plan sponsors, and business partners in support of governmental and nonprofit retirement plans.
Beyond formal leadership roles, I have consistently sought opportunities to lead through service. Whether mentoring teammates, coaching presentation teams, sharing product knowledge, or helping colleagues navigate complex challenges, I have found the greatest satisfaction in helping others succeed.
I believe effective leadership begins with listening, encouraging collaboration, and creating an environment where diverse perspectives lead to better outcomes. Those are the principles I would bring to the NAGDCA Industry Committee.
What special skills or training do you possess that would benefit the association?
My career has provided experience across nearly every aspect of the retirement plan services sector, giving me a broad perspective on the public sector retirement industry and the ability to build consensus across diverse stakeholders. I bring expertise in product strategy, lifecycle management, retirement plan design, sales enablement, market analysis and industry education, supported by the Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF®) designation and industry securities licenses.
Most importantly, I enjoy translating complex retirement concepts into practical guidance that helps advisors, consultants, plan sponsors, and colleagues make informed decisions and ultimately improve participant outcomes.
What has been your previous experience with NAGDCA? (First year of participation, specific contributions to association such as newsletter articles, committee service, conference presentations, etc.).
I first became involved with NAGDCA by attending the Annual Conference in 2022. It didn’t take long to recognize the unique role the association plays in bringing together public plan sponsors and industry partners to exchange ideas, share best practices and work together on the issues shaping our industry. I left the conference with a deeper appreciation for the openness, professionalism, and spirit of cooperation that define the NAGDCA community.
Although I have not yet served in a formal leadership role within the association, I have continued to benefit from the relationships, educational opportunities, and industry insights NAGDCA provides. Those experiences, combined with my professional background, have prepared me to contribute as a thoughtful and engaged volunteer leader committed to supporting NAGDCA’s mission and its members.
Association volunteer leadership can be a time-consuming activity. Election to the Industry Committee results in monthly (and sometimes weekly) interaction. How would you approach and manage such volunteer leadership requirements?
I would approach my volunteer leadership responsibilities with the same level of preparation, accountability, and professionalism that I bring to my career. Meaningful volunteer leadership requires more than attending meetings – it requires listening carefully, following through on commitments, encouraging cooperation, and representing the broader interests of the association.
Throughout my career, I have successfully balanced leadership responsibilities while managing demanding business priorities. If elected, I would make NAGDCA a priority by being prepared, attentive, and dependable, while actively seeking opportunities to contribute wherever I can add value.
I also believe volunteer leadership is rooted in service. My role would not be to advocate for a single perspective, but to listen, build consensus, and help move the association forward in way that benefits our entire industry.
Why do you want to serve on the Industry Committee? What are your goals for NAGDCA and what do you feel you can bring to the association?
Over my career, I’ve believed that our work extends far beyond retirement plans-it helps people retire with dignity. That purpose has kept me passionate about the public sector retirement industry for many years and shaped my leadership philosophy. Some of the most rewarding moments in my career have come from mentoring colleagues, sharing knowledge, solving complex challenges, and helping others succeed.
I am seeking the opportunity to serve on the NAGDCA Industry Committee because I believe the best way to improve participant outcomes is by strengthening the industry that serves them. NAGDCA plays a vital role in bringing together public plan sponsors and industry partners to share ideas, advance education, and prepare for the future of public sector retirement.
If elected, I will listen, build consensus, encourage collaboration, mentor emerging leaders, and contribute my broad industry experience to help strengthen our profession and improve retirement outcomes for the public employees we serve.
Ed Malone, Associate Vice President – Protected Retirement, Nationwide
Ed Malone serves as AVP, Protected Retirement — Nationwide Retirement Solutions, where he advances the company’s lifetime income strategy and leads distribution of its suite of solutions across government and corporate retirement plan sectors. He partners closely with consultants, advisors, plan sponsors, and third-party recordkeepers to drive meaningful outcomes for plan sponsors and participants. With nearly 30 years of experience in financial services — all with Nationwide since 1997 — Ed has held a range of sales and leadership roles, including positions with a dedicated focus on government retirement plans. This tenure has given him deep experience serving public-sector plan sponsors and a genuine commitment to supporting participant retirement readiness.
How long have you been in your current position and how does it relate to the defined contribution industry?
I have led Nationwide’s Protected Retirement distribution efforts for five years, since shortly after SECURE Act 1.0 opened the door for lifetime income solutions within retirement plans. As American workers increasingly shoulder not only the responsibility of saving for retirement but also the challenge of executing sound withdrawal strategies, my work is directly and meaningfully connected to the public-sector deferred compensation and defined contribution industry. Helping participants navigate that transition — from accumulation to sustainable income — is at the heart of what I do every day.
What leadership positions have you held within the deferred compensation/defined contribution community, as well as with other organizations (professional or volunteer), that have bearing on potential NAGDCA leadership responsibilities?
Alongside my current role, examples of positions that benefit NAGDCA include:
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- Internal Program Director – In this role, my team provided retirement education services through innovative (at the time) methods that advanced overall retirement readiness and sponsor satisfaction. Our team interacted with hundreds plans and thousands of participants yearly via telephone and in later years via virtual conferencing methods to provide services similar to local representatives.
- Program Director – A field leadership role focused on driving participant retirement readiness, supporting plan sponsor satisfaction, and helping position Nationwide as a trusted partner in the retirement plan industry. The role includes coaching and managing field representatives to ensure they are provided timely and impactful retirement education and partnering with plan sponsors to develop comprehensive education and communication strategies that support plan growth around increased plan enrollment and contribution increases, improved asset allocation and other items important to our sponsors.
What special skills or training do you possess that would benefit the association?
I bring NAGDCA a combination of deep public-sector retirement plan experience, expertise in modernizing DC plans, and long-standing industry relationships built over nearly three decades with Nationwide. That tenure, including many years focused specifically on government retirement plans, has given me practical insight into the opportunities and challenges facing deferred compensation and defined contribution plans today. I have worked closely with public-sector plan sponsors, consultants, advisors, and recordkeepers to support plan growth, participant retirement readiness, and overall plan satisfaction. I also bring experience building strategic partnerships, educating stakeholders, and helping expand retirement solution adoption at throughout the country.
What has been your previous experience with NAGDCA? (First year of participation, specific contributions to association such as newsletter articles, committee service, conference presentations, etc.).
I began working with NAGDCA in 2013, representing Nationwide at many of NAGDCA conferences since then. At these conferences I have attended, in tandem with numerous government sector clients, numerous sessions that provided meaningful action-oriented ideas and options that were implemented in plans that I served as the primary relationship manager. Examples of such idea generation was to promote an EZ Enrollment approach and a Save Today campaign in Fresno County, CA which has led to the County receiving recognition by NAGDCA for these efforts last year.
Association volunteer leadership can be a time-consuming activity. Election to the Industry Committee results in monthly (and sometimes weekly) interaction. How would you approach and manage such volunteer leadership requirements?
I would approach NAGDCA volunteer leadership with the same discipline, responsiveness, and accountability I bring to my day-to-day work. Meaningful committee service requires consistent engagement, thoughtful preparation, and reliable follow-through — and I would treat those responsibilities as a genuine priority, not an afterthought. My goal would be to show up prepared, contribute substantively, and manage my time in a way that allows me to add real value to the group.
Why do you want to serve on the Industry Committee? What are your goals for NAGDCA and what do you feel you can bring to the association?
I believe deeply in the role NAGDCA plays in supporting the public-sector retirement industry and fostering the kind of collaboration that leads to better outcomes for participants. I believe many Americans are facing a retirement savings crisis…even those with access to a pension, may receive less than they expect due to shorter workforce tenure, etc. I want to make a difference by helping to ensure that Americans have access to workplace benefits that allow them to live a dignified and meaningful retirement, and I believe I can advance this joint-mission with NAGDCA My goal would be to advance thoughtful industry dialogue, support the continued growth and relevance of the association, and contribute a grounded, practical perspective on the opportunities and challenges facing public-sector plans.
