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(615) 255-8400Take your learning to the next level with NCPERS Fiduciary in Focus Workshop (formerly known as Program for Advanced Trustee Studies, or PATS).

NCPERS UNIVERSITY

2026 Fiduciary in Focus Workshop

Each fall, public pension trustees and plan staff dive deep into two timely, high-impact topics. Through collaborative discussions and real-world strategies, you’ll build the expertise needed to tackle emerging fiduciary challenges.

What You'll Learn | FAQs | Sign Up to Learn More
October 24-25, 2026 — Nashville, TN
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About NCPERS Fiduciary in Focus Workshop (formerly known as PATS)

Take your learning to the next level with NCPERS Fiduciary in Focus Workshop (formerly known as Program for Advanced Trustee Studies, or PATS). Hands-on exercises, collaborative discussions, and expert guidance in a small classroom setting help prepare trustees and pension staff to tackle today’s most pressing fiduciary challenges with a deep dive into two timely topics:

  • Oversight of Benefits Administration: Delivering the Pension Promise
  • Private Equity Landscape: Where It’s Been and Where It’s Going

We look forward to welcoming the public pension community to Nashville on October 24-25, 2026. To keep classroom sizes small, please note that registration for NCPERS 2026 Fiduciary in Focus Workshop closed on October 7. Sign up here to be notified when registration opens for next year, and explore our upcoming event calendar.

Sign Up to Learn More View the Agenda Hotel Information

Who Should Attend NCPERS Fiduciary in Focus Workshop? 

This workshop is ideal for public pension trustees, administrators, and staff who want to expand their fiduciary knowledge beyond the basics: 

  • Trustees - (1+ years of experience) – after building your foundational knowledge with NCPERS Trustee Essentials Training, take your learning to the next level.
  • Plan Administrators – stay informed about the latest fiduciary challenges to lead with confidence in an increasingly complex pension landscape.  
  • Pension Staff – find practical strategies from peers and industry experts to make informed decisions as you navigate emerging issues.

Please note: Your organization must be a current member of NCPERS to participate. To verify your status, please contact membership@ncpers.org.

About NCPERS UniversityAbout NCPERS MembershipFind Answers to FAQs

Continuing Education: What Will I Learn at the Fiduciary in Focus Workshop?  

By attending the Fiduciary in Focus Workshop, you’ll find practical insights and valuable connections to help you excel long after the program ends. Plus, you can earn Continuing Education (CE) hours with NCPERS.

Each year, our program focuses on two dynamic topics, ensuring that you stay ahead of the curve and well-versed in the latest industry trends. This year, the Fiduciary in Focus Workshop will cover:

  • Day 1 (October 24) – Oversight of Benefits Administration: Delivering the Pension Promise
  • Day 2 (October 25) – Private Equity Landscape: Where It’s Been and Where It’s Going
Sign Up to Learn MoreAbout NCPERS Continuing Education

Agenda

6:45 AM – 3:00 PM

Registration | Container Bar (level 1)

7:00 AM – 8:00 AM

Breakfast | Broadway Ballroom 1 (level 1)

8:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Day I: Governing Public Safety Pension Benefits | Sobro (level 1)

8:00 AM – 8:15 AM

Welcome and Introduction

Speaker: Hank Kim, Chief Executive Officer, NCPERS

8:15 AM – 9:30 AM

Policy, Plan Changes, and Administration: What Belongs Before the Board?

Speaker: Nicole Giambarrese, Ice Miller

Using public safety pension examples, this session explores how laws, plan provisions, board policies, and staff procedures guide benefits administration. Attendees will gain a clearer understanding of which matters require board consideration and which fall within staff’s responsibilities. They will also learn questions to ask when benefits or administrative practices change and how to support effective implementation through board oversight.

9:30 AM – 10:15 AM

Delivering the Pension Promise: From Member Experience to Board Oversight

Speakers: Renee Ostrander, Chief Executive Officer, SJCERA; Hank Kim, Chief Executive Officer, NCPERS

A member’s experience brings the pension system’s mission to life. Drawing on Renee Ostrander’s experience attending a member’s funeral and speaking with the family, this opening session highlights the value of helping police officers, firefighters, and their families understand retirement, disability, and survivor benefits.

Attendees will explore how trustees and staff work together to support benefits administration and member service. They will leave with a clearer understanding of the board’s oversight role, staff’s operational responsibilities, and the information that helps trustees ask informed questions and support the system’s mission.

10:15 AM – 10:30 AM

Refreshment Break | Broadway Ballroom 1 (level 1)

10:30 AM – 11:15 AM

Disability and Survivor Benefits: The Trustee’s Role

Speaker: Renee Ostrander, Chief Executive Officer, SJCERA

Disability and survivor benefits provide critical support for injured police officers, firefighters, and surviving families. Using practical examples, this session will explore eligibility, documentation, plan interpretation, and complex beneficiary circumstances.

Attendees will learn how to respond when members bring concerns directly to them and help members navigate established processes. The discussion will also clarify the board’s formal decision-making and appeal responsibilities, where applicable, and help trustees recognize when recurring concerns may point to a need for broader policy or member service improvements.

11:15 AM – 12:00 PM

Member Education as a Board Priority

Speakers: Jason Hoy, Executive Director, Kansas City Police Employees’ Retirement System; Renee Ostrander, Chief Executive Officer, SJCERA

Helping police officers, firefighters, and their families understand their benefits is an important part of delivering the pension promise. This session will explore how boards can make member education a priority while supporting staff’s work to develop and deliver effective programs. Speakers will share practical examples of common misunderstandings, ways to reach members at different stages of their careers, and approaches to explaining retirement, disability, and survivor benefits.

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

Networking Lunch | Broadway Ballroom 1 (level 1)

1:15 PM – 2:00 PM

Could It Happen Here? Applying Trustee Oversight to Real-World Challenges

Facilitators: Hank Kim, Chief Executive Officer, NCPERS; Renee Ostrander, Chief Executive Officer, SJCERA

Working together, trustees will examine public safety pension scenarios that connect plan changes, disability and survivor benefits, member education, and administrative risk. Participants will identify appropriate board action, questions for staff, and ways to evaluate whether the issue has been resolved.

2:00 PM – 2:45 PM

Fiduciary Jeopardy: Putting the Day’s Learning into Practice

Facilitators: Hank Kim, Chief Executive Officer, NCPERS; Renee Ostrander, Chief Executive Officer, SJCERA

This interactive, Jeopardy-style session brings the day’s topics together through friendly competition and practical public safety pension scenarios. Categories include Board or Staff, Policy or Procedure, Disability and Survivor Benefits, Member Education, and Could It Happen Here. Attendees will apply what they’ve learned, compare approaches with fellow trustees, and leave with a clearer understanding of how to put the day’s lessons into practice.

4:00 PM – 5:00 PM

University Programs Networking Reception | Broadway Ballroom 1

7:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Registration | Container Bar (level 1)

7:00 AM – 8:00 AM

Breakfast | Broadway Ballroom 1 (level 1)

8:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Day II – Private Equity Landscape: Where It’s Been and Where It’s Going | Sobro (level 1)

8:00 AM – 8:05 AM

Opening Remarks

Speaker: Hank Kim, NCPERS

8:00 AM – 8:30 AM

Introduction & Overview: The Private Equity Landscape

Speaker: Bruce Ingram, Aon

Private equity has evolved significantly over time and continues to play an important role in public pension portfolios. This opening session will explore how the industry has changed, highlight key shifts in the private equity landscape, and introduce the forces shaping where the market may be headed.

8:30 AM – 9:15 AM

Building and Governing a Private Equity Program

Speaker: Rosemary Guillette, Segal Marco Advisors

A successful private equity program requires thoughtful planning, clear responsibilities, and ongoing oversight. This session will explore how private equity fits within a pension system’s broader investment portfolio and supports its long-term objectives. Topics will include diversification, commitment pacing, vintage year exposure, and cash flow management.

Attendees will gain a clearer understanding of the roles of trustees, investment staff, consultants, and managers in developing and monitoring a private equity program. They will also learn what information to review and which questions to ask to help keep the program aligned with investment objectives, risk tolerance, and fiduciary responsibilities.

9:15 AM – 10:00 AM

Private Equity Today: Market Realities and Fiduciary Considerations

Speaker: Edward McQuiston, Siguler Guff & Company, LP

The private equity environment presents different challenges from the conditions that supported the industry’s growth over the past decade. This session will examine trends in fundraising, distributions, exit activity, secondaries, continuation vehicles, and liquidity management. The discussion will also explore how interest rates, changing market conditions, and evolving return expectations affect private equity portfolios.

10:00 AM – 10:15 AM

Refreshment Break | Broadway Ballroom 1 (level 1)

10:15 AM – 11:00 AM

AI in Action: How Private Equity Firms and Portfolio Companies Are Using AI

Speaker: Jake Schultz, Calamos Investments LLC

Artificial intelligence is changing how private equity firms evaluate investments and work with portfolio companies. This session will explore how firms are using AI in sourcing, due diligence, portfolio monitoring, and decision-making. It will also examine how portfolio companies are applying AI to improve operations, productivity, growth, and value creation.

Attendees will consider where managers see meaningful results and where expectations may be getting ahead of practical application. They will leave with a clearer understanding of the risks and governance questions trustees should ask as AI becomes more integrated into private equity firms and their portfolio companies.

11:00 AM – 11:45 AM

Investing in AI: The Private Equity and Venture Capital Perspective

Speaker: Samantha Wang, RPS Ventures

As AI reshapes industries, private equity and venture capital managers are evaluating opportunities to invest in the growing AI economy. This session will explore the investment considerations associated with AI, including valuations, competition, concentration, and rapidly changing technology.

Attendees will gain a clearer understanding of the opportunities and risks associated with AI-related investments and the questions trustees should ask when considering how these investments fit within their pension system’s portfolio.

11:45 AM – 1:00 PM

Networking Lunch | Broadway Ballroom 1 (level 1)

1:15 PM – 1:45 PM

Private Equity Challenge: Put Your Knowledge to Work

Speaker: Hank Kim, Chief Executive Officer, NCPERS

This interactive team competition brings the morning’s topics together through knowledge questions and practical scenarios. Working with fellow trustees, attendees will apply what they have learned about private equity governance, market conditions, and AI-related opportunities and risks. The activity will reinforce key concepts and create opportunities to compare perspectives before closing discussion.

1:45 PM – 2:30 PM

What’s Next? Trends Shaping the Future of Private Equity

Speakers: Bruce Ingram, Aon; Rosemary Guillette, Segal Marco Advisors

This interactive closing discussion will explore the trends and emerging issues trustees should be watching in private equity and what they may mean for public pension investors. Bruce Ingram and Rosemary Guillette will guide an interviewer-style conversation that revisits questions and themes raised during the opening session, the morning’s discussions, and the team competition.
Attendee at a table speaking with a colleagueInstructor leading a section in front of a podium Attendees raising their hands to ask a question

Registration Information

NCPERS membership is required to attend the Fiduciary in Focus Workshop. Not sure of your membership status? Contact membership@ncpers.org to learn more.

To keep classroom sizes small, please note that registration for the 2026 NCPERS Fiduciary in Focus Workshop closed on October 7. Sign up here to be notified when registration opens for next year, and explore our upcoming event calendar.

Sign Up to Learn More Hotel Information

All requests to modify a registration must be submitted by emailing registration@ncpers.org or by calling 202-601-2445.

All cancellation requests must be submitted in writing to registration@ncpers.org by Thursday, October 1. Cancellations received by this date are eligible for a refund, less a $100 administrative fee. Cancellations received after October 1 are not eligible for a refund.

Refunds will be issued only for written cancellation requests received by October 1 and will be processed less a $100 administrative fee. All refunds will be issued to the original form of payment. No refunds will be issued after Thursday, October 1.

Substitutions are permitted at no additional cost at any time prior to the event. The original registrant is responsible for providing the substitute’s complete contact information. All substitution requests must be submitted in writing to registration@ncpers.org.

NCPERS prioritizes the well-being of attendees and staff. We encourage respect for personal choices regarding masks and physical contact, adherence to any local or venue guidelines, and staying home if unwell. Thank you for helping us create a safe and welcoming environment.
NCPERS is committed to providing an accessible and inclusive meeting experience. If you require an accommodation due to a disability, please email events@ncpers.org with a description of your accommodation needs. To help us make appropriate arrangements, we encourage you to submit requests at least 30 days before the event. We will make every reasonable effort to accommodate the request.

Hotel Information: Renaissance Nashville

NCPERS Fiduciary in Focus Workshop will be held at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel, located in the heart of downtown. Please note: the NCPERS room block has now closed.

The hotel sits just steps from Broadway, the Country Music Hall of Fame, and Nashville’s central business district, making it easy for attendees to explore the city before or after sessions. Attendees will have convenient access to sessions, networking events, and nearby restaurants and entertainment, all within walking distance.

Reservations: Book online or call 800-237-6618.

For your travel plans: Please note the Fiduciary in Focus Workshop begins at 8 AM on Saturday, October 24 and will conclude at 2:15 PM on Sunday, October 25. 

Book My Stay
Twilight view of the Renaissance Nashville hotel
Hotel Policies

Cancellation Policy: Reservations require a first night's room and tax deposit at the time of booking. Guests may cancel their reservation with 24 hour notice. Any guest who checks out prior to their confirmed departure date will be subject to an early departure fee equal to one night's room rate and applicable taxes. Guests are encouraged to confirm their arrival and departure dates carefully at the time of booking to avoid additional charges.

Check-In/Check-Out: Check-in begins at 4:00 PM and check-out is by 12:00 PM (noon)

Transportation
  • Nearest Airport: Nashville International Airport (BNA) is approximately 8.4 miles from the hotel, typically a 15-minute drive depending on traffic.
  • Rideshare: Uber/Lyft rides from BNA cost around $25-$35 and taxis cost $30-$40.
  • Public Transit: WeGo Route 18 provides direct service from BNA to downtown Nashville. The trip takes about 30 minutes and costs approximately $2. The closest stop is a short walk from the hotel.
  • Hotel Parking: Valet parking is currently $69 per day (oversized vehicles incur additional charges). Self-parking is available in nearby garages but is not operated by the hotel.
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Frequently Asked Questions: Fiduciary in Focus Workshop 
Yes. If you completed PATS any time prior to 2026, the continuing education credits you earned will still count.
Yes. Your organization must be a current member of NCPERS at the time of registration.
Current registration rates are listed on our website. The fee includes all program materials, breakfast, refreshment breaks, and a reception for all NCPERS University attendees. 
No. Registration for this course is separate.
Pension trustees and plan staff are encouraged to have a strong grasp on fiduciary fundamentals before enrolling. Those newer to the pension industry are advised to complete the NCPERS Trustee Essentials Training (formerly known as the Trustee Educational Seminar, or TEDS) first. Please contact education@ncpers.org with further questions. 
Yes, NCPERS University is designed to help you progressively build your fiduciary knowledge. For experienced trustees and pension professionals, we recommend NCPERS Advanced Fiduciary (NAF) Institute. Through real-world case studies and tailored insights, you’ll learn advanced strategies to enhance board performance, ensure compliance, manage risk, and address workforce challenges. Once you complete all four modules, you’ll have the opportunity to earn your Advanced Fiduciary (AF) credential.

Many trustees and plan professionals also benefit from attending the Fiduciary in Focus Workshop several times. The program is designed to help you stay in the know about emerging issues so, with the topics of focus changing year-to-year.
No. Pre-registration is required, and class size is limited, so early registration is strongly recommended.
No. There is no guest registration for this program. Guest can, however, attend the conference following this program.
No. The Fiduciary in Focus Workshop is offered in person only at this time.
Yes. Details on credit hours will be provided once the program is finalized.
After your attendance is verified, your certificate will be posted to your NCPERS membership profile within two weeks of the event.
Thank you for your interest in speaking. The Fiduciary in Focus Workshop does not have an open call for speakers. Each year, the agenda is developed by subject matter experts from the NCPERS membership, who identify potential speakers and extend invitations based on the topics selected for the program. Click here for additional speaking opportunities.

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About NCPERS University: Your Path to Fiduciary Excellence

Whether you’re a new trustee or an experienced professional, NCPERS University provides a clear path forward in your fiduciary journey. Interactive exercises and real-world case studies provide actionable insights, while our certification program can help you level up your pension knowledge and demonstrate your commitment to fiduciary excellence. 

These pre-conference programs are designed to give trustees and pension professionals the tools, confidence, and practical skills to excel—not just during our events, but in every decision that shapes your fund’s future. 

View the Upcoming Event Calendar

Questions? Contact NCPERS’ Education Associate, Jessica Ransome, at jransome@ncpers.org or call 202-601-2449.

Other Educational Resources

NCPERS Webinars

Stay connected and continue your learning from anywhere with NCPERS Webinars. These live and on-demand sessions cover timely topics in public pension governance, investment strategies, risk management, and much more—led by industry experts.

NCPERS Research

NCPERS research provides key insights and solutions on public pension issues, from funding and sustainability to healthcare and finance. Stay informed, benchmark your fund, and make data-driven decisions. Sign up to be notified of new studies and access exclusive survey data.

NCPERS Publications

NCPERS publications provide members with timely insights and analysis on the most important issues affecting public pensions. These resources help you stay informed, make better decisions, and keep ahead of industry trends.