Strategies for Tomorrow, Delivered Today | March 2-4, 2026
2026 Communications & Member Services Summit
Strategies for Tomorrow, Delivered Today
Key Takeaways from the 2026 Communications & Member Services Summit
The 2026 summit brought more than 200 public pension communicators and member services professionals to San Diego for three days of collaboration, strategy, and innovation. Attendees explored best practices in participant engagement, education, and technology through tailored learning tracks, peer discussions, and meaningful networking opportunities.
NCPERS Public Pension Communicator of the Year Award
Each year at the Communications & Member Services Summit, we're honored to present the NCPERS Public Pension Communicator of the Year Award to outstanding members of our community. These awards were created in recognition of the importance of the member experience, and in celebration of the industry professionals leading the way.
The Public Pension Communicator of the Year Award honors staff members at public pensions who have demonstrated exceptional leadership skills; shown superior innovation and creativity; and created a positive impact with their communications or member services work in the preceding year.
Congratulations to the 2026 winners:
- Ryan Woodhouse, Fire & Police Pension Association of Colorado
- Renee Garcia, New Mexico Educational Retirement Board
- Beth Hallmark, Teacher Retirement System of Texas
- Jalel Braden, San Bernardino County Employees’ Retirement Association
- Kate Chandler, Maine Public Employees Retirement System
If you would like to nominate someone for next year's award, please review our process and frequently asked questions here.
“It was one of the best pension related conferences that I have been to because it was targeted directly to the needs of pension communications professionals. Also, the connections that were made throughout are priceless and I know will help us all propel our agency efforts.” – Winston Buckley, Director of Communications & Outreach, Teachers Retirement System of Georgia (TRSGA)
“ The Summit brought together a diverse and dynamic group of communicators, and the exchange of ideas and experiences was truly inspiring. I am thankful for the chance to contribute to the conversation around best practices in communication and learn from my fellow communicators who are doing fantastic work across the country.” –Mehrin Rahman, Communications Director, City of Austin Employees' Retirement System (COAERS)
Relive the Moment: NCPERS Communications & Member Services Summit Photos
Inside the 2026 Communications & Member Services Summit: Agenda Recap
At this year's summit, we were excited to provide the perfect mix of general sessions, concurrent breakouts, facilitated discussions, and networking events, allowing attendees to walk away with new ideas and new connections. A summary of this year's agenda can be found below.
Beyond the Summit: Stay Connected with NCPERS Pension Fund Roundtables
NCPERS Roundtables bring together public pension professionals from across the country to exchange ideas, crowdsource solutions, and stay ahead of emerging challenges. Participation is free for staff at NCPERS member pension funds.
Communications Roundtable
Communications professionals at public pensions meet on a bi-monthly (every other month) basis via Zoom. The Communications Roundtable currently has 150 participants representing nearly 100 systems.
Member Services Roundtable
Member Services directors and chiefs meet on a quarterly basis via Zoom. The Member Services Roundtable currently has more than 100 participants representing 73 systems.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
Interested in becoming a sponsor? Sponsoring the Summit offers meaningful visibility with pension communicators and member services leaders, who make up 99% of attendees.