Public Pension Communicator of the Year Award
The Public Pension Communicator of the Year Award, presented by NCPERS, honors the communications staff person at a public pension who has demonstrated superior leadership skills; innovation and creativity; and created an impact with their communications endeavors in the preceding year.
The nomination period for the 2024 Public Pension Communicator of the Year Awards has closed. Winner(s) will be notified by December 23, 2024 and will be honored in person at NCPERS Pension Communications Summit in Washington, DC.
How do I nominate someone for the Public Pension Communicator of the Year Award?
The nomination period for the 2024 Public Pension Communicator of the Year Awards has closed.
Who is eligible to win the Public Pension Communicator of the Year Award?
Employees of public pension funds. The fund must be an active NCPERS member in good standing. However, you do not need to be an NCPERS member to nominate an individual. To verify your membership status, please contact membership@ncpers.org.
Can I nominate more than one person?
Yes, we encourage you to nominate anyone you believe deserves recognition (including yourself)!
Can there be more than one winner?
Yes! Nominees are reviewed against their peers in three categories based on the fund’s AUM (less than $10 billion, between $10-50 billion, and more than $50 billion) to account for varying resources.
New this year: Judges may recognize a Rising Star. This separate award category is meant to honor staff who have been at their organization for 5 years or less and have demonstrated exceptional potential and growth in their role.
At their discretion, judges will select a winner in each category. Judges may also award an honorable mention.
How can I nominate a Rising Star within my organization?
When prompted on the nomination form, please indicate that you would like the nominee to be considered for this award category. If you select 'yes,' an additional question is added to the form.
How will submissions be evaluated?
Submissions will be scored anonymously by a panel of four judges with communications expertise. The 2023 award winners are serving as judges for the 2024 Public Pension Communicator of the Year Awards. Please see the scoring rubric for specific criteria.
How will the winner(s) be recognized?
The awards will be presented in person during NCPERS Pension Communications Summit, held in Washington, DC on January 26-27, 2025. Winner(s) will receive complimentary registration to the Summit and will be recognized in a press release following the awards ceremony.
When will the winner(s) be notified?
Winner(s) will be notified by December 23, 2024.
Who can I contact if I have additional questions?
Please reach out to communications@ncpers.org.
Who has received the award?
The first-ever winners were honored in person at NCPERS Pension Communications Summit in Washington, DC on January 22, 2024.
- 2023 Winner, less than $10 billion AUM category: Alison Taylor-Thévenin, Deputy Director, Member Communications for the New York City Board of Education Retirement System
- 2023 Winner, $10-50 billion AUM category: Taneda Larios, Chief Benefits Analyst for the Los Angeles City Employees’ Retirement System
- 2023 Winner, greater than $50 billion AUM category: Patrick von Keyserling, Senior Director of Communications for Colorado PERA
- 2023 Honorable Mention: Michelle Holleman, Director, Communications and Stakeholder Relations for the Chicago Teachers' Pension Fund