October 21, 2014
Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2014
LANSING, Mich. – Appointments to the investment committees of the General Retirement System and the Police and Fire Retirement System of the City of Detroit were named today. The boards of both pension systems and the state collaborated and agreed upon all members below.
Among other responsibilities, the investment committees will develop each retirement system’s respective investment goals, and are charged with the selection and removal of investment managers and the chief investment officer under the terms of the proposed Plan of Adjustment for the city of Detroit and the “Grand Bargain” legislation, specifically Public Act 185 of 2014.
"These committees are an essential part of ensuring a brighter future for Detroit," Gov. Rick Snyder said. “Each of these appointees has a wide variety of experience and brings a strong commitment to protecting the investments of Detroit retirees.”
Appointments to the General Retirement System’s Investment Committee:
Kerrie Vanden Bosch, of Lansing, is director of the Plan Development and Compliance Division for Michigan’s Office of Retirement Services, where she has worked since 2003. Vanden Bosch earned a bachelor’s degree from Calvin College and a master’s degree from Michigan State University. She also completed the Wharton School’s Retirement Plan Associate Certification. Vanden Bosch is appointed to a six-year term.
Doris Ewing, of Detroit, is owner of Madison Ewing LLC, where she provides investment-related support services to pension and retirement plans and organizations. Prior to founding Madison Ewing, she was a partner and senior consultant with NEPC LLC. Ewing has nearly three decades of investment experience and earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois and an MBA from DePaul University. She is also a designated chartered alternative investment analyst. Ewing is appointed to a five-year term.
Robert Rietz, of North Carolina, retired as director in the Detroit office of Deloitte Consulting LLP. He was the company’s chief pension actuary from 2006 to 2009, and has more than 30 years of experience in the employee benefits consulting arena. Rietz is a member of the American Academy of Actuaries and the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries. Rietz served on the board of the Michigan Public School Employees Retirement System from 1995 to 2001. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University. Rietz is appointed to a four-year term.
David Sowerby, of Bloomfield Hills, is a portfolio manager of Loomis, Sayles & Co. He was also a senior portfolio manager for Beacon Investment Management Co. in Ann Arbor. Sowerby was appointed to the Michigan Economic Development Corp. executive committee in 2012. He also served 10 years as chairman on the investment advisory committee for the state of Michigan’s $50 billion pension fund. Sowerby earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Wayne State University. He holds a CFA designation. Sowerby is appointed to a three-year term.
Ken Whipple, of Bloomfield Hills, is chairman of the board of Korn/Ferry International, the world's largest executive search firm. Before joining Korn/Ferry, Whipple was chairman of the board for CMS Energy after serving as CEO of CMS and Consumers Energy. Whipple retired from Ford Motor Co. in 1999 following a 40-year career with the automaker. Whipple earned a bachelor's degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is appointed to a two-year term.
Appointments to the Police and Fire Retirement System’s Investment Committee:
Woodrow Tyler, of Dexter, retired as managing director of public equities at UAW Retiree Medical Benefit Trust. Tyler worked with the state of Michigan Pension Fund from 1995-2009, most recently serving as deputy chief investment officer. Tyler earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and an MBA from Michigan State University. He holds a CFA designation. Woodrow was appointed to a six-year term.
McCullough Williams, of Ohio, is president and CEO of FIS Group, an asset management and investment advisory firm. Williams has 18 years of investment experience and 17 years of state government experience. Williams also served as deputy state auditor in Ohio. Williams earned a bachelor’s degree from Miami University (Oxford, Ohio) and a law degree from Case Western University. McCullough is appointed to a five-year term.
Robert Smith, of Ohio, is chairman and CEO of Spero-Smith Investment Adviser Inc. He also worked as chief investment officer for an investment advisory firm he co-founded in 1988. In 2013, Smith was appointed to the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System as an investment expert. Smith earned a bachelor’s degree from Ohio Northern University and an MBA from Duquesne University. He is a member of the CFA Institute and the Cleveland CFA Society. Smith is appointed to a four-year term.
Joseph Bogdahn, of Florida, is chairman of The Bogdahn Group, an independent Registered Investment Advisory firm providing investment consulting. Bogdahn is past president of Rotary and has served on the board of the Citrus Center Boys & Girls Club for more than 20 years. Bogdahn earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Mississippi and received his Certified Investment Management Analyst designation from the IMCA program at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. Bogdahn is appointed to a three-year term.
Rebecca Sorenson, of Birmingham, is an institutional consultant, senior vice president of investments, and wealth adviser with UBS Financial Services. Sorenson earned a bachelor’s degree from Walsh College. Sorenson is a CPA, certified financial planner, and certified investment management analyst. She has also completed the Wharton School’s IMCA program on Alternative Investments. Sorenson is appointed to a two-year term.
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