The U.S. Department of Labor announced that its Employee Benefits Security Administration is seeking nominations to fill five, three-year vacancies on the Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans, known as the ERISA Advisory Council. The deadline to submit nominations is Oct. 23, 2023.
The 15-member council provides advice on policies and regulations affecting employee benefit plans governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. The Secretary of Labor appoints council members to represent specified groups and fields involved in employee benefits. Three members are representatives of employee organizations (at least one of whom represents an organization whose members are participants in a multiemployer plan). Three members are representatives of employers (at least one of whom represents employers maintaining or contributing to multiemployer plans). Three members are representatives of the general public. There is one representative each from the fields of insurance, corporate trust, actuarial counseling, investment counseling, investment management, and accounting.
Nominations are being accepted for one vacancy each in the fields of employee organizations, employers, the general public, corporate trust and investment management. Interested persons or organizations may nominate qualified individuals for membership.
The council holds at least four meetings each year—which are open to the public—and makes recommendations to the Secretary regarding functions carried out under ERISA. Attendance and participation in the council’s meetings and other work has historically resulted in a commitment of at least 20 days per year.
Members must be qualified to appraise the programs instituted under ERISA. Members are appointed for staggered three-year terms with five terms expiring on December 31 of each year.
Members of the 2023 ERISA Advisory Council (and their terms) include:
• Shaun C. O’Brien (2022-2024), Policy Director, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Washington DC, representing Employee Organizations, Advisory Council Chair
• Megan Broderick (2021-2023), Retired, Senior Director for Global Retirement Plans and Financial Wellbeing, PepsiCo, Purchase, NY, representing Employers, Advisory Council Vice Chair
• Mark DeBofsky (2023-2025), Principal Member, DeBofsky Law, Ltd., Chicago, IL, representing the General Public
• Dave Gray (2021-2023), Head of Workplace Retirement Platforms, Workplace Investing, Fidelity Investments, Boston, MA, representing Corporate Trust
• Beth Halberstadt (2022-2024), Senior Partner and U.S. Defined Contribution Investment Solutions Leader, Aon Investments USA Inc., Waltham, MA, representing Investment Counseling
• Marcelle J. Henry (2022-2023), Partner and Chairperson of the ERISA/Employee Benefits Group, Pitta LLP, New York, NY, representing Employee Organizations
• Mercedes D. Ikard (2021-2023), Director, Integrated Benefits Operations, The Walt Disney Company, Charlotte, NC, representing the General Public
• Jeffrey Lewis (2022-2024), Partner, Keller Rohrback LLP, Oakland, CA representing the General Public
• Tonya Manning (2022-2024), U.S. Wealth Practice Leader and Chief Actuary, Buck Global, LLC, Winston-Salem, NC, representing Actuarial Counseling
• Gwen Mazzola (2023-2025), Partner and ERISA Practice Leader, HoganTaylor LLP, Fayetteville, AR, representing Accounting
• Mayoung Nham (2023-2025), Principal, Slevin & Hart, PC, Washington, DC, representing Employee Organizations
• Alice Palmer (2023-2025), Vice President, Chief Counsel, Retirement Plan Service, Lincoln Financial Group, Radnor, PA, representing Insurance
• Edward A. Schwartz (2021-2023), President, Schwartz & Co., Bloomfield Hills, MI, representing Investment Management
• John M. (Jack) Towarnicky (2023-2025), Of Counsel, Koehler Fitzgerald, LLC and member, aequum, LLC, Powell, OH, representing Employers
• Holly Verdeyen (2022-2024), Partner and U.S. Defined Contribution Leader, Mercer, Chicago, IL, representing Employers
How to apply
Nominations should be submitted to Christine Donahue, Council Executive Secretary, as e-mail attachments to donahue.christine@dol.gov or by mail to U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave., NW, Suite N-5623, Washington, DC 20210.
Nominations should briefly describe the candidate’s qualifications to serve on the council, the position—group or field—for which the candidate is being nominated and should state that the candidate will accept appointment to the council if offered. Nominations should also include the full name, work affiliation, mailing address, phone number and email address of the both the candidate and the nominator. Nominations must be submitted by letter, resolution or petition and signed by the person or, in the case of a nomination by an organization, by the group’s representative making the recommendation.
Additional information about the ERISA Advisory Council and the appointment process can be found on the council web page.
SEE ALSO:
• Most ERISA Excessive Fee Cases Surviving Motions to Dismiss
• DOL Needs 5 More Members for 2023 ERISA Advisory Council
Veteran financial services industry journalist Brian Anderson joined 401(k) Specialist as Managing Editor in January 2019. He has led editorial content for a variety of well-known properties including Insurance Forums, Life Insurance Selling, National Underwriter Life & Health, and Senior Market Advisor. He has always maintained a focus on providing readers with timely, useful information intended to help them build their business.
