Board of Trustees

PERA Board of Trustees

PERA is governed by its Board of Trustees. The Board approves the operating budget, decides legislative policy and priorities, and hires the executive director. In addition, the Trustees establish the policies and procedures that govern operations at PERA, hear and rule on appeal matters of disabilitants, retirees, and members, and direct the dissemination of information to PERA’s members.

The Board consists of eleven members. The State Auditor is a member by statute, five trustees are appointed by the Governor to represent cities, counties, school boards, retirees and the public, respectively, and the remaining five members are elected by the PERA membership at large to represent the general active membership, Police & Fire plan members and all benefit recipients. All elected and appointed Board members serve four-year terms. The State Attorney General’s office provides legal counsel to the Association.

BOARD MEMBERS

Meet our Board of Trustees

BECOMING A TRUSTEE

Board of Trustees Election Process

Five PERA members are elected to serve on the Board for four-year terms. Three of the seats are filled by active (presently working) members of the Association’s three largest defined benefit plans. The fourth seat is specifically designated to be occupied by an active member of the Police & Fire Plan. The fifth seat is designated to be filled by a former member of PERA who is either receiving a retirement annuity or disability benefit.

All five trustees are elected at large by the retirees, benefit recipients, and active members of PERA’s General, Police & Fire Plans, and Correctional Plans. Defined Contribution Plan participants who do not also belong to one of the Association’s defined benefit plans cannot vote.

The next Board of Trustees election is in January 2027.

Open Appointment Process

The Governor appoints five trustees to represent Minnesota cities, counties, school boards, retired annuitants, and the general public. The Trustees appointed to these positions also serve a four-year term.

There are currently two openings available:
– City Representative
– County Representative

Open positions are posted on this website with further information on the Secretary of State’s website. Individuals can apply online through the Office of the Secretary of State’s website, sos.state.mn.us, under Boards and Commissions-> Open Positions.

Openings for all state councils, boards, task forces, and commissions, along with application forms, and facts and questions (FAQ’s) can be found on the Secretary of State’s website under Open Appointments

BOARD MEETINGS

The Board generally meets on the second Thursday of February, March, April, May, June, August, October and December. Meetings are held in the Retirement Systems of Minnesota Building at 60 Empire Drive in St. Paul, Minnesota. Meetings usually begin at 9:30 a.m. and are approximately two to three hours in length. Meetings are open to the public and subject to the Minnesota Open Meeting Law. Occasionally a special board meeting may be necessary. The date and time will be posted on this website in advance of the meeting.

2024 Meeting Schedule

February 8, 2024
March 14, 2024
April 11, 2024
May 9, 2024
June 13, 2024
August 8, 2024
October 10, 2024 (Meeting and Planning Workshop)
December 12, 2024

2025 Meeting Schedule

February 13, 2025
March 13, 2025
April 10, 2025
May 8, 2025
June 12, 2025
August 14, 2025
October 9, 2025 (Meeting and Planning Workshop)
December 11, 2025

NEWS

Board Elects General Membership Representative

Jenni Konigsburg, a Senior Accountant in the Office of Budget and Finance at Hennepin County, is a resident of Hennepin County. Her responsibilities at the County include developing and implementing the accounting structure for federal grants, particularly the countywide accounting, reconciling, and reporting of American Rescue Plan Act State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds. She also assist in the preparation of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report and prepares the Annual Financial Reporting Form for the Office of the State Auditor.

Konigsburg was elected to fill the remainder of the term of Thomas Rupp on PERA’s Board of Trustees. The action was taken Thursday, February 8, during the meeting of the Board.

PERA Board of Trustees names Board President and Vice President

The PERA Board of Trustees voted unanimously at their February 8, meeting to elect Thomas Stanley as President and Dennis Flaherty as Vice President of the Board.

Thomas Stanley, active General and Correctional Plan representative, first appointed to fill a vacant board seat in March 2013. Tom is a senior attorney with the St. Louis County Attorney’s office since 2003. He has served as president of AFSCME Local 3761, director for Grandma’s Marathon, former president of the 11th District Bar Association, and serves on numerous non-profit and community boards. Tom brings experience, dedication, integrity, and depth and breadth of knowledge to the PERA Board as a trustee. Tom has served as the president since 2019.

Dennis Flaherty, elected to represent Retired, Disabled and Survivor members, grew up in Saint Paul and began his career as a police officer in the City of Brooklyn Center in 1974. He became the Executive Director of the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association (MPPOA) in 1986 and later left the Executive Director position to become Deputy Mayor of the City of Saint Paul in 2002. Dennis returned to his role as Executive Director of the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association in 2008. Dennis has been an advocate for law enforcement officers in Minnesota and an ambassador for Minnesota’s law enforcement community to all Minnesotans. He has served as a Trustee since 2023.

MINUTE ARCHIVE

GOVERNANCE

Board of Trustees Long Term Positions

Statutes

Board of Trustees

PERA Board of Trustees

Board of Trustees Election Process

Open Appointment Process

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017