Karima Dunnah

The strategic plan for the Texas Emergency Services Retirement System aims to provide secure and meaningful benefits to members and their families by prudently managing assets and offering cost-effective solutions to sponsoring entities. Key strategic pillars include ensuring the pension system's actuarial soundness through disciplined investment and cybersecurity, enhancing customer service, actively recruiting new departments, and monitoring compliance with pension requirements. The plan also focuses on expanding recruiting and marketing efforts, leveraging information technology including web accessibility and artificial intelligence, and strengthening legislative relationships. The overarching vision is to protect volunteer firefighters and emergency responders and their families by increasing participation in the TESRS plan.

The meeting involves a planned quorum of Trustees for a tour of several fire stations in Pasadena, Texas. It is explicitly noted that no discussion of or action on public business will occur during this site visit.

The agenda for the board meeting scheduled for February 26, 2026, included multiple key items across several committees. The Investment Committee report featured presentations from the Money Manager and Consultant, along with reports on investment performance for the quarter ending December 31, 2025, and discussion of the Written Investment Policy and Asset Allocation. The Financial Budget Report addressed FY2026 non-appropriated and appropriated budgets and cash flow projections. The Administration and Actuarial Committee planned updates on tax reporting matters, the Annual Financial Report review, and strategic planning, including defining location, dates, and agenda items. The IT Committee was set to address the DIR Data Center Migration. The Executive Director's report was expected to cover agency operations, personnel, fiscal matters, and an update on the new office facility and budget. The Director of Compliance & Marketing report was slated to cover department recruiting and visits. Board education and training opportunities for upcoming conferences (TEXPERS, SFFMA, TEEX) were also on the schedule. The agenda also included proposed dates for future board meetings.

The agenda includes a roll call, public comments, and approval of meeting minutes from August 14, 2025, and September 16, 2025. The Investment Committee will present reports on investment performance, the investment manager watch list, and the written investment policy and asset allocation. The Financial Budget Report will cover FY2025 and FY2026 budgets and expenditures, along with a cash flow projection. The Administration and Actuarial Committee will discuss tax reporting matters, actuarial valuation, and board evaluations of vendor performance. The Rules Committee will address HB 1522 related to open meeting law notices. The IT Committee will cover cybersecurity consultant services, the TESRS 1099 project, and data center migration updates. The Executive Director will report on agency operations, personnel, fiscal matters, and new office facility updates. The Director of Compliance & Marketing will provide updates on department recruiting and visits. The board will also discuss education and training opportunities, propose future meeting dates, locations, and agenda items.

The meeting included discussions on cybersecurity services, where the board approved engaging CBIZ Risk & Advisory Services for cybersecurity consulting. Additionally, the board approved engaging Jackson Walker, LLC for legal advice specific to investment-related matters. The board also engaged in strategic planning, covering the system's purpose, vision, values, critical issues, barriers, and the development of goals and implementation strategies. Future meeting dates and agenda items were also discussed.