2026 Executive Board Member-at-Large Election
Voting closes Wednesday, August 12.
NAGDCA received four nominations for the Member-at-Large position. We’re pleased to have such talented individuals interested in serving the NAGDCA membership as a volunteer Executive Board member. Please click below to meet the candidates and cast your vote.
Please note, only one vote is allowed per organization. Thank you in advance for participating!
Meet the Candidates
Karla Kirkling, Executive Director, Healthcare & Benefits
Chicago Public Schools 403(b) and 457(b) Tax-Deferred Compensation Plans
Karla has more than 20 years of experience in K–12 public education with Chicago Public Schools. She oversees employee health and wellness benefits, including the District’s $2.5 billion defined contribution retirement plans. Karla has led strategic initiatives to enhance the participant experience, improve retirement outcomes, and strengthen financial well-being. She is passionate about advancing holistic wellness and creating lasting, positive impact for CPS employees and the communities they serve.
How long have you been in your current position and how does it relate to the defined contribution industry?
I have more than 15 years of leadership experience overseeing employee health and wellness benefits for Chicago Public Schools. For the past seven years, I have also led the administration and governance of our 403(b) and 457(b) defined contribution plans, one of the nation’s largest public-sector retirement programs. In this role, I have worked closely with industry key stakeholders to address complex plan issues, strengthen governance, policy advocacy, and implement participant-focused retirement outcomes.
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 oversee our DC plans and chair the Oversight Committee, partnering with a broad group of stakeholders to ensure strong governance and fiduciary oversight. I also served on the Advisory Board for Pensions & Investments annual conferences, collaborating with industry leaders to develop educational programming for plan sponsors and next generational leaders. As a member of the Plan Sponsor Institute Executive Committee, I work alongside peers to share research, exchange best practices, and advance strategies that improve retirement and financial security. I regularly collaborate with industry stakeholders on legislative and policy initiatives that influence plan design and enhance the participant experience.
What special skills or training do you possess that would benefit the association?
I bring practical experience leading defined contribution plans in one of the nation’s largest public school districts. My work has included strategic vendor consolidation, investment lineup enhancements, and governance improvements that strengthen participant outcomes. I have built consensus among fiduciaries, union leaders, consultants, recordkeepers, legal counsel, and policymakers to implement meaningful change in complex environments. My leadership has been recognized with the 2022 NAGDCA Leadership Recognition Award, the 2022 DCIIA Excellence & Innovation Award, and the 2024 P&I Eddy Award. I would bring this experience, collaborative leadership, and a commitment to advancing best practices in support of NAGDCA’s mission.
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 became involved with NAGDCA in 2022 after receiving its Leadership Recognition Award for Plan Design & Administration. Since then, I have been an active government member, attending annual conferences and collaborating with peers to strengthen public sector defined contribution plans. Beyond NAGDCA, I serve on the DCIIA Plan Sponsor Institute Executive Committee and engage with Pensions & Investments and other nonprofit organizations focused on improving retirement outcomes. I also contribute to industry dialogue through presentations and panel discussions on plan governance, participant outcomes, and innovative strategies that advance retirement plan design and long-term retirement security.
Why do you want to be Board Member? What are your goals for NAGDCA and how can your involvement contribute to execution of the strategic plan?
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.
Sharon Lukacs, Executive Director
New York State Deferred Compensation Plan
Sharon Lukacs is the Executive Director of the New York State Deferred Compensation Plan. She has been with the Plan for over 23 years serving in various roles, with the promotion to Executive Director in 2023. Prior to working the NYSDCP, Sharon worked for both private and non-profit employers in the field of Employee Benefits. She holds a CEBS – Certified Employee Benefits Specialist designation. Sharon resides in Guilderland, NY with her husband Tom and dog Dakota.
How long have you been in your current position and how does it relate to the defined contribution industry?
I have been Executive Director for NYSDCP for a little over 3 years. I started with the Plan in 2003 and was promoted to positions with increasing responsibility with my final appointment as Executive Director. As Executive Director, I am responsible for the overall management of the Plan with the ultimate decision making residing with our 3-member Board.
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?
Deputy Director and Executive Director for the NYS Deferred Compensation Plan (from 2017 through present).
What special skills or training do you possess that would benefit the association?
Leadership of a $48 Billion 457b plan. Experience with public procurements. Well known among peers managing large 457b plans. Served on panels for Pensions & Investments.
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 became a member of NAGDCA back in 2004 (or 2005 – I cannot recall for certain). I served on one committee — the National Save For Retirement Month committee. That committee service was prior to COVID.
Why do you want to be Board Member? What are your goals for NAGDCA and how can your involvement contribute to execution of the strategic plan?
I would like to be a Board Member to bond with my peers and share ideas of how we can improve our plans. Being one of the largest 457b plans in the nation, I believe I could assist with shaping legislation if needed. I could assist smaller plans on the implementation of policies and share information they may not currently be aware of that could improve their plans.
Marc Pierce, Plan Administrator
Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System – Defined Contributions Plans
Marc Pierce believes every public employee deserves to retire with dignity and has spent 25 years building toward that goal. He has served the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System for 13 years, with the last 5 in his current role as Plan Administrator for the DC Plans, overseeing 457(b) and 401(a) plans for 55,000 participants and over $2 billion in assets. He also spent 12 years with Empower, giving him both plan sponsor and recordkeeper experience. Marc serves on the NAGDCA Legislative Committee, holds CRPC and CEBS designations and undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Oklahoma.
How long have you been in your current position and how does it relate to the defined contribution industry?
I have served as Plan Administrator for the DC Plans at the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System since October 2020, overseeing the state’s 457(b) and 401(a) plans for approximately 55,000 participants and over $2 billion in assets. Prior to OPERS, I spent 12 years with Empower as a Retirement Plan Counselor. That experience on the recordkeeper side, working directly with participants, helped shape how I approach plan administration today. Combined, I bring 25 years in the defined contribution industry, with firsthand perspective from both sides of the table.
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?
At OPERS, I lead the DC department, presenting regularly to the Board of Trustees on plan details and delivering retirement education statewide to HR professionals and plan participants. Within NAGDCA, I serve on the Legislative Committee, contributed to the yet to be published Investment Guide, and participate actively in Peer-to-Peer calls. A recent example of leadership with measurable results: I led the addition of Roth contributions to the state’s 457(b) plans in February 2024. Within 15 months, 8% of eligible employees were contributing, a direct result of intentional plan design and participant communication.
What special skills or training do you possess that would benefit the association?
The skill I value most is perspective, understanding a challenge from multiple angles because I have lived it from multiple sides. Thirteen years with a state retirement system, five as plan administrator, and twelve years with a recordkeeper give me insight into where industry gaps exist and what participants need. I hold CRPC and CEBS designations and bring practical experience in strategic planning, legislative compliance, vendor and participant engagement. My statewide education work, presenting to trustees, HR professionals, and plan participants, means I can represent NAGDCA’s interests clearly across any audience.
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 am grateful for what NAGDCA provides to plan administrators and I am ready to give back. I began attending the annual conference in 2019, serve on the Legislative Committee, contributed to the Investment Guide, and participate in monthly Peer-to-Peer calls. Those calls have been valuable parts of my involvement, a unique space where peers speak openly about what is working and what is not. That honest, practical exchange is exactly what I hope to help strengthen from the Board level.
Why do you want to be Board Member? What are your goals for NAGDCA and how can your involvement contribute to execution of the strategic plan?
I am grateful to be in a position where my work directly affects whether public employees retire with the security they have earned. I want to extend that impact nationally. As more public employees depend on DC plans as their primary retirement vehicle, the industry must respond, with improved plan design, stronger income replacement options, and practical resources plan sponsors can use. My 25 years of experience, spanning both plan administration and recordkeeping, positions me to contribute to that work in a meaningful way.
Michael Scott, Investment Officer
Virginia Retirement System
Michael Scott is an Investment Officer with more than 13 years of experience overseeing public sector defined contribution retirement plans. He specializes in DC investment menu design, alternatives, retirement income solutions, and ESG-related considerations. He is both CPA and CFA charterholder.
He lives on the Southside of Richmond with his wife, three daughters (7, 10, and 13), a senior silky terrier, and a Siberian kitten. He is also a proud Costco Executive member, where he occasionally escapes for a little peace and quiet from the same crew. He also a frequent fan of The Office reruns :).
How long have you been in your current position and how does it relate to the defined contribution industry?
I have been in my current role for approximately 13 years, with primary responsibility for oversight and management of defined contribution retirement plans. My work is directly focused on deferred compensation and DC plan design, investment menu construction and monitoring, governance practices, and participant outcomes. Throughout my tenure, I have worked extensively on DC investment menus, including core options, target date funds, alternatives (including unitized DB option), retirement income solutions, and ESG-related considerations. This experience has provided me with a deep understanding of the policy, fiduciary, and operational challenges facing public sector 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?
In my role as an Investment Officer within a public defined contribution program, I lead evaluation, selection, and oversight of the investment menu. I work closely with internal stakeholders and external managers on target-date design, due diligence, fee analysis, and aligning investments with participant outcomes. I engage with committees to translate complex topics such as glidepaths, risk, and implementation trade-offs into clear, actionable decisions. I also support cross-functional initiatives spanning plan design, communications, and policy, collaborating with legal, legislative, and administrative partners to ensure investment decisions align with broader plan governance and drive consistent, disciplined investment outcomes.
What special skills or training do you possess that would benefit the association?
I hold both the CPA and CFA designations, providing a strong foundation in accounting, investment analysis, risk management, and fiduciary oversight. My technical expertise spans DC investment structures, performance evaluation, alternatives, retirement income solutions, and ESG considerations. I bring an analytical, governance-focused perspective and a practical understanding of how policy, regulation, and plan design decisions affect real-world participant outcomes.
This combination of technical skill and public plan experience would support NAGDCA’s educational, policy, and strategic initiatives.
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 have been an active member of NAGDCA for several years. During that time, I have served on both the Publications and Benchmarking Committee and currently serve on the Legislative Board. Through these roles, I have contributed to member education, policy discussions, and internal collaboration supporting NAGDCA’s mission. My continued involvement reflects a strong commitment to the organization and its role in advancing excellence in public sector DC plans.
Why do you want to be Board Member? What are your goals for NAGDCA and how can your involvement contribute to execution of the strategic plan?
I am seeking an at-large Board position to deepen my service to NAGDCA and contribute directly to its strategic direction from an investment practitioner’s perspective. As a CFA charterholder working within an investment department, I focus on portfolio construction, manager oversight, and aligning investment design with participant outcomes in public DC plans. As a Board member, I would aim to strengthen investment governance, particularly in custom target-date solutions, thoughtful use of alternatives in DC frameworks, and the evolution of retirement income strategies, while bringing a hands-on, analytical perspective and supporting strong execution for long-term participant benefit outcomes.
