The Organization
Introduction
Since 1942, the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS) has helped public employees prepare for retirement. The System’s contributing members include teachers, state, county, and municipal employees, legislators, judges, and those who work for other public entities. In addition to our active members, many public sector retirees and their beneficiaries receive monthly benefits from retirement plans offered by MainePERS. The System also administers Disability Retirement, Group Life Insurance, and MaineSTART, a tax-deferred retirement savings program. Administration of these programs includes financial administration, investment administration, recordkeeping of members’ work and compensation data, and administration of retirement-related services provided to members, employers and retirees.
Senior Administrative Staff
Sandra J. Matheson
Executive Director
Michael J. Colleran
General Counsel
James E. Dusch
Deputy Executive Director – Service Programs
Rebecca A. Grant
Deputy Executive Director – Administration
James Bennett
Chief Investment Officer
Valerie Scott
Associate Deputy Director
Sherry T. Vandrell
Director of Finance
Administration
The Executive Director is responsible for the administration of MainePERS. This includes working with the Board of Trustees so that they can perform their policy and oversight role, working with the public to provide information or answer questions about MainePERS, and managing the day-to-day operations of the organization. The day-to-day operations include managing the retirement plans and the investments that help fund them, serving members and retirees of the plans, and overseeing the business operations and data security.
Managing a large financial organization requires both in-house and external expertise. MainePERS professional staff carry out all of these functions, assisted by our actuaries, investment consultant, security consultants and others where needed.
The MainePERS Chief Investment Officer and investment staff manage the investments in the trust fund within the guidance of Board of Trustee policy and asset allocation.
The Department of Service Programs administers the service and disability retirement programs, MaineSTART defined contribution plans, employer programs, survivor benefit and group life insurance programs, and payrolls administration. The Department is the System’s primary contact for members, participating employers, and benefit recipients.
The Department of Administration is responsible for administrative and support functions, including information technology and support, communications, facilities, and human resources.
