More than 648,000 members including current state and local government employees and retirees look to the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) to help provide for their retirement. The State of Wisconsin Investment Board (SWIB) is the independent state agency responsible for investing the assets of the retirement system.
Edwin Denson joined SWIB in 2018 as managing director, asset and risk allocation. He was appointed executive director/chief investment officer in April 2021. Before joining SWIB, Edwin was managing director, strategic tilting, at Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB). Prior to joining CPPIB in 2013, Edwin spent 13 years in asset allocation, currency, and risk management as a portfolio manager at William Blair & Company, managing member at Singer Partners LLC, and managing director and head of asset allocation at UBS Global Asset Management. Earlier in his career, Edwin was an economist at Lehman Brothers, Primark Decision Economics, and Putnam Investments, and he also briefly managed a commodity trading adviser and a quantitative equity strategy. Edwin holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Cornell University and a PhD in economics from Northwestern University.
Rochelle Klaskin, Deputy Executive Director and Chief Administrative Officer, joined SWIB in 2015 as its chief legal counsel before becoming deputy executive director/chief administrative officer. Throughout her more than 20-year career, she has led and advised organizations on board governance and legal matters, daily operations, and strategic transitions and planning. Prior to joining SWIB, she was a shareholder in the corporate practice group at the law firm Godfrey & Kahn, S.C., and she served as the managing partner of the firm’s Madison office. She earned her law degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law and a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communication from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.
The Wisconsin Department of Employee Trust Funds (ETF) is the state agency administering retirement, insurance, and other benefit programs for active state and local employees and for retirees participating in the WRS.
John Voelker, ETF Secretary, will discuss the importance of providing a dependable retirement system, including maintaining its fully funded status, financing of annuity adjustments, and ensuring resources are available to support member services.
Mr. Voelker was appointed Deputy Secretary of the Department of Employee Trust Funds in July 2014, and has more than 35 years of public service experience. Immediately prior to his appointment the served 11 years as the Wisconsin Director of State Courts. During his 22 years with the court system, Mr. Voelker also served as the Assistant to the Chief Justice and as a Senior Policy Analyst. A native of Menasha, Wisconsin, he holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.
This presentation will be videotaped.
If you have preliminary questions for the speaker, please send to Program Coordinators Millard Susman at msusman@wisc.edu and Mel Morgenbesser at mmorgenb@wisc.edu by Thursday, April 6.
Food Pantry Contributions:
Checks payable to UW-Foundation, with "Open Seat" on the memo line may be mailed to UWRA, 21 North Park Street, Room 7205, Madison, WI 53715-1218.
Registration Deadline: Monday, April 10.
Registration:
Advance registration is required. You are encouraged to register online. To register by phone or email, call the Association office. If you or your guest registered for this seminar but cannot attend, please cancel your registration online, or email/call the UWRA office.
NOTE: The weblink and virtual call information will be included in the meeting reminders registrants receive.
UW-Madison Retirement Association
21 N Park St, Room 7205
Madison WI 53715-1218
608-262-0641
retireassn@mailplus.wisc.edu
