SEF 2019 Frisco€¦ · Summer Educational Forum Aug. 18-20 in Frisco, Texas. Members of TEXPERS will come from all over the State of Texas and the U.S., to learn, network, and discuss

BOARD OFDIRECTORS

PRESIDENT

FIRST VICE PRESIDENT

SECOND VICE PRESIDENT

SECRETARY

TREASURER

BOARD MEMBERS

Paul R. Brown/Big Spring Firemen's Relief and Retirement Fund

Jim Smith/San Antonio Fire & Police Pension Fund

John Jenkins/Dallas Employees Retirement Fund

Sherry Mose/Houston Municipal Employees Pension System

Larry Reed/San Antonio Fire & Police Pension Fund

Carla Brewer/Dallas Employees Retirement Fund

Jose Cavazos/Dallas Area Rapid Transit

Tyler Grossman/El Paso Fire & Police Pension Fund

Larry Knott/Dallas Area Rapid Transit

Billy Samuel/Fort Worth Employees' Retirement Fund

David Stacy/Midland Firemen's Relief & Retirement Fund

© 2019 TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF PUBLIC EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT SYSTEMS

Houston Office: 13111 Northwest Freeway, Suite 100, Houston, TX 77040Austin Office: 1504 San Antonio St., Suite 206, Austin, TX 78601

ADMINISTRATIONDIRECTOR OF CONFERENCES & MEMBER RELATIONS

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR FOR PROGRAMS & TRAINING

MEMBERSHIP & FINANCIAL SUPERVISOR

COMMUNICATIONS & PUBLIC RELATIONS MANAGER

MEMBER SERVICES SPECIALIST

Carolyn Butterworth, CMP

Barbara Zlatnik, CAE

Lena Terell, CAP

Allen Jones

Samantha Polsgrove

ADVANCE WELCOME

04

TEXPERS president explains whyyou should register for the

Summer Educational Forum.

THE DEETS

08

The Omni Hotel is located at TheStar, the headquarters of the

Dallas Cowboys.

THINGS TO DO

12

While in Frisco, take some time tofind out why it's often referred to

as Sports City, U.S.A.

THANK YOU

15

The Summer Educational Forumcouldn't be possible without the

help of our sponsors.

OVERVIEW

06

From training to networking, thisyear's event has a little

something for everyone.

THE SCHEDULE

09

Turn here for a look at thepreliminary program we'vearranged for our members.

NETWORKING TIPS

14

A leader of a Frisco professionalnetworking group offers

relationship-building advice.

CONTENTS

Welcome, in advance, to TEXEPERS' 2019Summer Educational Forum Aug. 18-20 inFrisco, Texas. Members of TEXPERS willcome from all over the State of Texas andthe U.S., to learn, network, and discussissues pertinent to their pension systems. This year, we are gathering at the OmniHotel at The Star, the world headquartersof the Dallas Cowboys. You'll notice inphotos of the hotel or see for yourself at

the event that the football team's star logois emblazoned on the team's practicearena, Ford Center at The Star. Like theteam it represents, that logo, a single star,packs a punch. It is representative of theLone Star State, and so much more. Stars are often used to symbolize heavenlybodies and good luck. In dreams, a shootingstar is a sign of self-fulfillment andadvancement in life. Stars can signify asignificant change or turning point in aperson's life. The star is a perfect motivational symbolfor administrators, trustees andinvestment professionals of public pensionsystems. At TEXPERS, we see the star as asymbol of the fulfillment of our mission:assuring the promised benefits of publicemployees. It is the goal we strive to attain.It is why the star is featured in our logo and

REACH FOR THE

STARS DURING

TEXPERS' SUMMER

EDUCATIONAL

FORUM IN FRISCO

BY PAUL R. BROWN, TEXPERS PRESIDENT

is referenced in this year's forum theme -Secure Retirement: Reach for the Stars. We want to help you reach your goals.TEXPERS focuses on helping its membersbecome more valuable to their funds andstakeholders. Each year, through programssuch as the Summer Educational Forum,TEXPERS members become moresuccessful professionally by contributingpeer-based support, participating ineducational programs, taking leadershiproles within and outside of the association,and by promoting the highest standards ofprofessional competence and ethics. Having completed a well-attended AnnualConference in Austin in April, completewith a legislative tone, the SummerEducational Forum in August will be arelaxing, informative event in North Texas.During the Annual Conference, wecelebrated the 30th anniversary ofTEXPERS. The association has spent threedecades providing high-quality training forour members, expanding awareness ofpublic pension issues, and advocating forthe promised benefits of public employees.We continue to achieve our educational,advocacy, and membership-building goals. The membership of TEXPERS continues togrow. More affiliates from outside thestate have increased interest in TEXPERSbecause of the service and education theorganization provides. After everyconference, people contact our staff andboard about joining the organization andattending our next event. TEXPERS is an advocate for all publicemployees and public employee pension

systems in Texas. At the state level, wework with our members, coalitions, andcommittees to identify legislation thatdirectly impacts public employee pensionsystems. An overview of Texas’ recentlegislative session will be available to themembers at this summer forum. The staff and our contractors at TEXPERSwork on your behalf to identify issues thatcontinue to impact the work you do toprovide the best benefits possible.TEXPERS will continue to provide researchand publications related to public pensionplans in Texas. Our staff continues toprovide online news and social mediaposts that are of interest to our members. Our peers recognize TEXPERS as theleading provider of education and trainingin Texas. TEXPERS provides the mandatorytraining and continuing education that isrequired by the State Pension ReviewBoard.  We continue to provide basictrustee training and advanced trusteetraining, both of which are set for Aug. 17,the day before the summer forum. You canregister for the forum along with thetraining or just for training online atwww.texpers.org.  TEXPERS also iscurrently in the process of planning aspecial education event in conjunction withour state affiliates. Thank you for being a member of TEXPERS.Continue reaching for the stars.

FORUM OFFERS EDUCATION, TRAINING AND

NETWORKING TO PENSION STAKEHOLDERS

BY BARBARA ZLATNIK, TEXPERS ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR FORPROGRAMS & TRAINING

TEXPERS' conferences bring Texas' keypension stakeholders together foreducation, training and networking. Thenext time they will be together is May2020 for the TEXPERS Annual Conference,so those with a stake in the success of thestate's retirement systems should notmiss the association's Summer EducationalForum this August.

The forum starts off with pre-conferencetraining on Saturday, Aug. 17. TEXPERSoffers Basic Trustee Training andAdvanced Trustee Training. Basic Trustee Training is for new trusteesand provides seven hours of training overseven content areas. The class will beconducted from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at theOmni Frisco. The registration fee is $225for TEXPERS member retirement systemsand employee group members and is $325for non-member retirement systems.

Advanced Trustee Training isfor more seasoned trusteesthat have taken Basic TrusteeTraining or another trainingthat covers the same content.Advanced Trustee Training isdifferent every time it is heldand will take a deep dive intovarious topics. The Aug. 17class has several topics setso far. A Pension Trustee’s Guide tothe Actuarial Valuation willbe taught by LeslieThompson, Gabriel RoederSmith and Pam Feely of theFire and Police PensionAssociation of Colorado. This"back-to-basics" session isfor trustees who’d like arefresher on the actuarialvaluation. From the valuation,assumptions, costs andliabilities through to thepolicy and decision making,the entire valuation processis reviewed. This seminar is intended toprovide trustees insights andtools to understand the moveforward with theirresponsibilities for thefunding of their retirementplan.  Also, on the agenda is a deepdive into Real Estate investingpresented by instructors fromthe CFAs of Texas.

Members will pay $150 forAdvanced Trustee Training;nonmembers pay $250. Bothclasses provide credittowards the PRB’s minimumeducation and trainingrequirements. The TEXPERS SummerEducational Forum officiallykicks off Sunday, Aug. 18.There is a pre-conferenceworkshop that morning(subject to be determined),registration opens in theafternoon, and an excitingevening party is planned.Attendees will be transportedto Strikz for an evening offood, beverages, bowling,billiards, arcade games andeven Laser Tag. The educational programbegins Monday morning, Aug.19. Monday’s generalsessions feature an updatefrom the Pension ReviewBoard from its ExecutiveDirector Anumeha Kumar andthe new board chairperson,Stephanie Liebe. Also on theagenda, “InvestmentPerformance – What’s thesecret sauce for results?” willhighlight the thoughts andexperiences from staff atsome of TEXPERS’ bestperforming funds. Thekeynote luncheon speaker,Ryan “Birdman” Parrott

discusses The Spark andwhat motivates to be elite. In the afternoon, attendeeswill have their choice ofvarious breakout sessions oninvestment and non-investment topics. EricAtwater, Aon, leads adiscussion of “What theydon’t tell you about DROP.”There will also be a sessionon “Medicare Must Knows.”Attendees will learn thingsabout Medicare that couldthreaten their retirement. Tuesday, Aug. 20, willhighlight non-investmenttopics, including “DefendingPublic Pensions” with HankKim, NCPERS ExecutiveDirector. On Tuesday, RoundTable Discussions offer afree-flowing discussion of“what keeps you up at night”on a variety of differenttopics, from which retirementsystem attendees can choosewhich to attend. This is just a peek at what’son the program for theForum. There’s no moreaffordable or convenient wayto access education, training,subject matter experts, andretirement systemcolleagues then the TEXPERSsummer forum. Visitwww.texpers.org to register.

VENUE

INFORMATIONTEXPERS' 2019 Summer Educational Forum willbe held at the Omni Hotel, 11 Cowboys Way inFrisco, which is roughly a 35 minute drive fromdowntown Dallas. TEXPERS members who reserve a room at theOmni Frisco Hotel by July 26 gain access to aspecial rate during their stay. After registeringfor the forum online at www.texpers.org, aconfirmation email will include a link that willallow you to make your reservation at the OmniFrisco Hotel. Discounted parking also isavailable at the hotel. Upon arrival, tell hotelstaff you are with the TEXPERS Summer

Educational Forum to get the best availableparking rate. On-site valet parking is available. Pre-forum trustee training and forumprogramming take place on the hotel's second-level. Signs will be posted. The 16-story hotel is the cornerstone of TheStar, the headquarters of the Dallas Cowboys.The Star also features the 12,000-seat FordCenter stadium plus a shopping, dining andentertainment district. The venue is located about 25 minutes awayfrom either Dallas Fort Worth InternationalAirport and Dallas Love Field Airport.

Register online at

www.texpers.org.

THINGS TO DO WHILE VISITING

SPORTS CITY, U.S.A.B Y J E F F C H E N E Y , C I T Y O F F R I S C O M A Y O R

makes this ‘Hall of Fame’ a first of its kind.Being built into the southern end ofToyota Stadium also gives it uniquecharacter – another first for stadiums,nationwide. The National Soccer Hall ofFame fuses sports and history, past andpresent – while Major League Soccer’s FCDallas plays on the home pitch below. FC Dallas is one of the several ‘pro’ teamswhich practice or play in state-of-the-artvenues and inspired us to stake claim tothe moniker, Sports City, U.S.A. The Dallas Cowboys train at Ford Centerat The Star. The state-of-the-art indoorstadium can convert into a concert venueor special event setting. It's surroundedby an entertainment district lined withpatio and destination dining, specialtyshops, and even some history stops.

Editor's Note: There are plenty ofopportunities to check out the City ofFrisco while in town for TEXPERS' SummerEducational Forum. You are encouraged tograb a few peers and explore the city onan evening excursion. Or, considerextending your stay. TEXPERS invitedFrisco's mayor, Jeff Cheney, to explainwhy Money magazine (2018) named hiscity the No. 1 Best Place it Live in America. From sports to shopping – from arts andculture to destination dining -- there areso many fun, hip places to experiencewhile you’re here for TEXPERS’ 2019Summer Educational Forum. In fact, the new National Soccer Hall ofFame (pictured above) is the ultimateinteractive experience versus a typicalmuseum.  Facial recognition technology

Frisco’s public art collection includes morethan 150 pieces citywide. For more artfulsights, head to Hall Park, home of thelargest outdoor sculpture collection inTexas. For boutique shopping and dining,head downtown to ‘The Rail District’ whereyou’ll find food trucks, live music, plusunique shops and restaurants. But art, shopping and sports aren’t the onlygames in town. Check out the NationalVideogame Museum (pictured below),featuring an interactive collection and an1980s arcade. Science and history buffs willenjoy Sci-Tech Discovery Center, FriscoHeritage Museum and the Museum of theAmerican Railroad, which also presentsTrainTopia – a model train exhibit. I could go on – and on about what makesFrisco special, how we became adestination for tournaments and events,including two collegiate marque games --NCAA Div. 1 Football Championship and theFrisco Bowl. I invite you to experience ourcity first-hand and discover why Frisco isnot only the #1 Best Place to Live inAmerica, but also the best place to meet,play and visit.

The Ring of Honor Walk, a nod to legendaryplayers, leads to Cowboys Plaza, where justabout any day or night you'll find 'kids of allages' channeling their inner Staubach,Aikman or Prescott. Ford Center is alsohome field for the newest members of oursports roster, the Dallas Rattlers, a MajorLeague Lacrosse team. Don’t stop there, catch a baseball game atthe Dr Pepper Ballpark, home of the FriscoRoughRiders, a Texas Rangers’ AA affiliate.A short walk away, discover ComericaCenter, where you can see NHL’s DallasStars train. Comerica Center is also homecourt for the Texas Legends, G-League forthe Dallas Mavericks. If shopping is more your sport, check outmore than nine million square feet of retailand restaurants anchored by IKEA, Centre atPreston Ridge and Stonebriar Centre. Making its U.S. debut, KidZania opens itsdoors at Stonebriar Centre in fall 2019. KidZania is an interactive city where kidsget to ‘try out’ what they want to be whenthey grow up. Children choose from morethan 100 role-playing, career adventures.

NETWORKING PRO TIPS

During TEXPERS’ Summer EducationalForum, retirement system trustees,administrators and financialprofessionals have plenty of opportunityto network with each other. In the lobbybetween program sessions, at thebreakfast table, on the golf course, andduring a game of bowling at theMember’s Dinner Party, you have severalchances to chat with pension industrypeers. TEXPERS reached out to MichaelSimmons, the host and leader of FriscoBusiness Connection, a monthly mixerfor area professionals, to obtain somenetworking tips to help you take fulladvantage of your time at the forum. ForSimmons, networking is about buildingrelationships, not selling something. "Networking, for me, is makingconnections with others andunderstanding what they offer and whothey are looking to be connected with tohelp build their business. [Renownauthor, salesman, and motivationalspeaker] Zig Ziglar often said, ‘You willget all you want in life if you help enoughother people get what they want.’” Simmons runs a financial servicespractice through New York Life.Networking allows him to form a list ofprofessionals he can refer to his clients.And when those professionals help his

clients, he looks like a hero to his clients. Heoffers the following tips to help you makethe most of the networking opportunities atTEXPERS’ Summer Educational Forum:

Ask questions and listen. For mostpeople, networking doesn't come easy.When you meet someone, ask what theydo and where they are from. People loveto talk about themselves, so let them.While they are sharing their story, atsome point, there will be something youconnect with.Don’t monopolize time. Try not to spendmore than 20 minutes with any individual.You want to meet others. Politely endconversations, ask for their card, andexpress interest in continuing theconversation later. After the event, sendeach person you met an email tellingthem you enjoyed meeting them andsuggest an opportunity to meet again.Avoid the familiar. It is easy to gravitateto those that you work with daily. You canalways talk to your co-workers. So, avoidhanging out with those that you know andseek out people you don’t know.

Refer to the forum’s preliminary scheduleprinted in this magazine to find out some ofthe best opportunities to network. “Remember, networking is the fine art ofconnecting to others that you might be ableto help someday and that might be able tohelp you someday,” Simmons says.

B Y A L L E N J O N E S , T E X P E R S C O M M U N I C A T I O N S M A N A G E R

THESE STARS HELP MAKE THE SUMMER

EDUCATIONAL FORUM POSSIBLE

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