Govenor signs executive order to combine oversight of retirement systems

On Tuesday, Gov. Rick Snyder issued an executive order creating the State of Michigan Retirement Board, which will consolidate the administration and oversight of the State Employees' Retirement System Board, the Judges' Retirement System Board, and the Military Retirement Provisions.

Gov. Snyder signed Executive Order 2015-13 which locates the new consolidated board under the supervision of the Department of Technology, Management and Budget (DTMB), through its Office of Retirement Services. The board will provide oversight of the three systems that service nearly 88,000 active and retired employees.

"This action will help ensure the most coordinated and efficient management of these functions and provide the best service for members of the retirement systems while streamlining government," Snyder said.

The order takes effect Jan. 1, 2016. The board will consist of nine members to include:

- Molly Jason, Attorney General's designee.

- Robert Brackenbury, State Treasurer's designee.

- Craig Murray, Legislative Auditor General's designee.

- John Gnodtke, State Personnel Director's designee.

- Mark Boonstra was appointed to the Michigan Court of Appeals in 2012 and previously served as senior principal for Miller, Canfield, Paddock, and Stone PLC. Boonstra works with the State Bar of Michigan, Michigan Supreme Court Committee on Model Civil Jury Instructions, Federal Bar Association, and the Washtenaw County Bar Association. He earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Michigan State University, a master's degree in applied economics and a law degree from the University of Michigan. He will represent the general public.

- Diane D'Agostini was elected to the Oakland County 48th District Court in 2000, with jurisdiction over the townships of Bloomfield and West Bloomfield and the cities of Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Keego Harbor, Orchard Lake Village, and Sylvan Lake. Re-elected in 2006, she continues to serve as chief district judge by appointment of the Michigan Supreme Court. She previously worked as assistant prosecutor for Oakland County. D'Agostini earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from Wayne State University and her law degree from the Michigan State University - Detroit College of Law, as it was called at the time. She will represent the Judges' Retirement System.

- Matt Fedorchuk is the deputy director of the Michigan Civil Service Commission. He serves on the Michigan Corrections Officers Training Council and is an executive board member with the National Association of State Personnel Executives. Fedorchuk earned both a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in public administration from Michigan State University. He will represent the State Employees' Retirement System.

- Laurie Hill recently retired as assistant director of the Michigan Office of Retirement Services, serving the State of Michigan for over 34 years. She will represent a retiree member of the State Employees' Retirement System.

- John Wojcik is general counsel for the Michigan National Guard. He is also an adjunct professor at Wayne State University Thomas Cooley Law School. Wojcik has served in private practice and has served as a task force peacekeeper staff judge advocate while serving in Afghanistan. He earned a bachelor's degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, a law degree from Thomas Cooley Law School in Lansing, and is currently a master's candidate at the U.S. Army War College in Pennsylvania. John will represent a member or retiree under the Military Retirement Provisions board.

Fedorchuk serves a one-year term expiring Dec. 31, 2016. D'Agostini serves a two-year term expiring Dec. 31, 2017. Wojcik serves a three-year term expiring Dec. 31, 2018. Both Hill and Boonstra serve four-year terms expiring Dec. 31, 2019. Their appointments are not subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.

Executive Order 2015-13 is available at www.michigan.gov/snyder.

Published: Thu, Oct 29, 2015