Nevin E. Adams

Editor in Chief

PLANSPONSOR

Nevin is Editor-in-Chief of  PLANSPONSOR magazine, its Web counterpart, PLANSPONSOR.com, the nation’s leading authority on pension and retirement issues, as well as PLANADVISER magazine, launched in the fall of 2006.  He is also the creator, writer and publisher of PLANSPONSOR.com’s NewsDash, the industry’s leading daily source for information focused on the critical issues impacting benefits industry professionals – currently read each business day by more than 51,000 readers worldwide.     

In 2004, he oversaw the introduction of PLANSPONSOR’s Retirement Plan Adviser of the Year, and continues to serve as a judge for this prestigious award, which was expanded to include adviser teams in 2007. 
  
In 2005 he launched the PLANSPONSOR Institute (PSI), the education arm of PLANSPONSOR.  He currently serves as Dean of the PSI, which oversees the PLANSPONSOR Retirement Professional (PRP) designation, currently held by nearly 350 financial advisers. 

He joined PLANSPONSOR in 1999 as Executive Editor, and was promoted to his current position the next year.  A frequent and popular speaker at industry and trade conferences, he graduated magna cum laude with a BS in Finance from DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois.  In 1988 he received his JD, also from DePaul University. 

He has twice been awarded (2002 and 2004) NAGDCA’s (National Association of Government Defined Contribution Administrators) Media Recognition Award for outstanding coverage of pension and retirement issues, and has been named one of the 401(k) Industry’s 50 Most Influential by readers of the 401(k) Wire for three years in a row.

Lynn Avitabile

Managing Director Global Multi Asset Group

JPMorgan Asset Management

Lynn Avitabile, Managing Director, JPMorgan Asset Management, is a portfolio manager in the Global Multi-Asset Group. Lynn has spent 20 of her 25 years within Human Resources. She headed HR for JPM Global Investment Management from 2002-2007 as a member of the investment company's senior leadership group responsible for merger/acquisition integration, risk, talent and succession management, compensation, leadership and development. Lynn spent 1992-1997 in Australia and Singapore, where she was the local office HR head for both offices respectively, and a director to Australian office employee Superannuation plan. Lynn earned her B.S. from Quinnipiac College and M.B.A. from Duke.

Dan Beckman

Vice President

Fidelity Investments

Dan Beckman is vice president of Product Management for Fidelity Investments Institutional Services (FIIS), a division of Fidelity Investments. He joined FIIS in 2006 and is responsible for the development and management of retirement income and asset allocation investment products. He joined Fidelity in 1996. Previously, Mr. Beckman was chief operating officer of Banc One New Hampshire Asset Management, was a managing associate at Coopers & Lybrand Consulting, and began his career at U.S. Trust. He received a BA, magna cum laude, from Hobart College and an MBA from Northeastern University. He holds NASD Series 7, 63 and 24 licenses.

Scott Dauenhauer

President

Meridian Wealth Management

Scott Dauenhauer, CFP, MSFP, AIF is an Independent Fiduciary and is the consultant for the California State Teachers Retirement System 403(b) and 457(b) programs. Scott helped CalSTRS develop an innovative Target Date strategy that proved successful during the 2008 downturn. Scott is also the co-author of The 403(b) Wise Guide along with 403bwise founder, Dan Otter.

Julia Durand

Deferred Compensation Administrator

CalSTRS

Bio Forthcoming.

Mel Fleeman

Benefits and Pension Manager

Ameron International Corporation

Bio Forthcoming.

Eric Freedman

Chief Investment Officer

CAPTRUST Financial Advisors

Eric is CAPTRUST's Chief Investment Officer, a member of CAPTRUST's Executive Committee and oversees the Consulting Research Group. Eric is charged with asset allocation research and directing CAPTRUST’s investment vehicle selection efforts. Prior to joining CAPTRUST, Eric worked for Franklin Street Partners as a Senior Portfolio Manager and the Goldman Sachs Group as a Vice President in Goldman’s Equity Derivatives and International Equities businesses. Eric earned his BA in Economics from Colgate University, magna cum laude and has an MBA in Finance and Management from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

William Bill Heestand

Advisor

NRPThe Heestand Company

Bill brings 25 years of hands on experience helping companies create competitive health, welfare and retirement benefits packages. Over the years he has fine-tuned a unique perspective when assisting employers with benefits analysis, design, and funding alternatives.

Warren Howe

Managing Sales Director - Stable Value

MetLife

Warren C. Howe Managing Sales Director – Stable Value Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Warren joined MetLife in 2005 and is currently a Managing Sales Director in the Corporate Benefit Funding area of MetLife’s Institutional business. He is responsible for sales and client management for MetLife’s Stable Value and Funding Agreement businesses. Prior to joining MetLife, Warren spent 16 years with The Travelers Insurance Company in a variety of roles within the Asset Management & Pension Services business. Warren is a member of the Board of Directors for the Stable Value Investment Association. He is also a current member of the LIMRA Marketing Officers Roundtable.

Shawn Kersjes

Associate Director - Investments

Oppenheimer Co. Inc.

As an Associate Vice President – Investments with Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., Shawn Kersjes currently advises, along with the PearlStreet Team, over 43 corporations in the management of their defined contribution and defined benefit retirement plans, overseeing more than $1.6 billion in assets. A Hillsdale College graduate and licensed in the securities industry since 2002, Shawn has earned and continues to maintain an Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF®) designation from the Center for Fiduciary Studies, Wharton School of Business. This designation signifies that Shawn continues to demonstrate an ability to manage an investment process to a defined Fiduciary Standard of Care.

Tess Malone

Practice Leader

Blue Prairie Group LLC

Bio Forthcoming.

Thomas Ming

President

Tower Rock Advisors Inc

Thomas D. Ming is president of Tower Rock Advisors, Inc., an independent Registered Investment Advisor firm and Risk Transfer Advisors. Thomas D. Ming assists in the management and oversight of defined contribution and defined benefit plans. Thomas also helps investment committees reduce the time and liability of managing ERISA and NON-ERISA plans. He consults regularly with business owners from a variety of fields to help create retirement plan solutions to meet today’s benefit needs. Thomas Ming also is managing partner of Strategic Benefits, LLC a Third Party Administration firm focused on simplified company retirement plan benefit administration needs.

Joe Nagengast

Principal

Target Date Analytics LLC

Mr. Nagengast is a a co-founder of Target Date Analytics LLC and a principal consultant with MJM401k. He is the director of the series of research reports, Popping the Hood: An Analysis of Major Target Date Fund Families. He is widely quoted in investment publications and is a regular speaker and writer on topics related to retirement plans and institutional investments. Mr. Nagengast recently offered testimony before the Department of Labor and Security Exchange Commission during hearings related to target date funds.

Al Otto

CEO

OneFiduciary Group

Al Otto, Founder and CEO of OneFiduciary Group, an independent, fee-only registered investment advisor in Atlanta, GA. He is a nationally recognized thought leader in the retirement industry. Recognized as one of the Industry’s 100 Most Influential Individuals, he is a champion of full disclosure, a true advocates for clients and champion for participant retirement readiness. A frequent speaker on retirement plan issues, he recently authored “Fee Disclosure Forensics”, Will ‘Default’ Turn into ‘Your Fault?’, The Pros and Cons of Target Date Funds, and “401(k) Plan Fee Disclosure for Dummies,” Al’s success is built on integrity; stewardship, and prudent guidance.

Fred Reish

Managing Director

Reish Reicher

Bio Forthcoming.

Jill Shea

Principal

Shea Retirement Services

Jill Shea is a Principal with the firm Shea Retirement Services, Inc. in Irvine, California. The firm was founded in 2006 and is a member firm of National Retirement Partners. Jill began her career in 1992 focusing on client development in the 403(b)/401(k) hospital market. From 2001 to 2006 she managed the Newport Beach DC Advisors practice for Mercer. Jill assists Southern California Plan Sponsors with plan design and compliance, fiduciary reviews, investment monitoring, vendor searches, and participant education.

Laurie Tillinghast

Senior Consultant

NEPC

Ms. Tillinghast joined NEPC in 2009 with over 30 years of investment, defined contribution and financial services experience. Prior to joining NEPC, she was Senior Vice President and head of the investment only-defined contribution business at ING Investment Management where she was responsible for institutional DC product and business development. She worked extensively on target date product design, customized strategies and structures and also served on the asset allocation team. Before that, Laurie spent ten years building and leading a team of research analysts who selected, reviewed and approved all investment managers for the ING Defined Contribution administrative platform. Over this time, she developed a sub-advised family of mutual funds and established due diligence processes and guidelines for the DC business. She also worked with large plan sponsors on investment policy guidelines and investment advice services. Prior to joining Aetna/ING, Ms. Tillinghast spent sixteen years with CIGNA International Investments and CIGNA Financial Services in various product development and analyst positions. Laurie holds a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Hartford and a B. A. cum laude from Hobart and William Smith Colleges.

Rick Unser

Partner

Lockton Investment Advisors LL

Rick is accountable for all aspects of retirement services in our three Southern California offices. He has over 12 years of experience serving clients with complex needs in the areas of qualified and nonqualified plan management. Rick specializes in defining and understanding the needs of his clients in the oversight and management of their corporate retirement plans. With his unique expertise he works side by side with companies to develop and implement a strong fiduciary oversight process, investment monitoring parameters, vendor management benchmarks, plan design guidance, and targeted participant education campaigns.