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San Mateo County Employees' Retirement Association
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Board of Retirement

Board of Retirement Members

Overview

Board of Retirement Members

SamCERA’s Board of Retirement has nine members and two alternates.

The Board  includes the San Mateo County Treasurer, four appointees of the Board of Supervisors, four elected members chosen by the differing active and retiree SamCERA membership groups, and two elected alternates.

Profile

Sandie Arnott
Ex Officio per the 1937 Act, First Member

Sandie Arnott is the San Mateo County Treasurer/Tax Collector and is a member of the Retirement Board by virtue of her office. She first began serving in this office in January 2011, but served as Assistant County Treasurer for many years during which she was also active on the Retirement Board. Her current term as Treasurer/Tax Collector will expire on December 31, 2022. 

Profile

Katherine O’Malley
Elected by the General Members, Second Member

Katherine O’Malley has been with the Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder & Elections Department since 2012, and she is currently a Principal Appraiser in the Assessor’s Division. She was first elected to the Board of Retirement in 2018 and is now serving her second term on the Board. Her current term will expire on June 30, 2024. Katherine is currently serving as Vice Chair.

Profile

Al David
Elected by the General Members, Third Member

Al David is a manager with the San Mateo County Information Services Department. He is also a retired Army Reserve Lieutenant Colonel. He was first elected to the Board in 2008 to fill a vacancy and was reelected to a full term in 2009 and again in 2012, serving through 2015. He was elected again in March 2017 to fill an unexpired term and was most recently reelected in 2019. His current term will expire on June 30, 2022.

Profile

Elaine Orr
Appointed by the Board of Supervisors, Fourth Member

Elaine Orr is a CFA with experience as a retirement system trustee and board member. She was previously Director, Investments with Silicon Valley Community Foundation and has held various roles at BlackRock advising and building investment solutions for pensions, foundations and endowments. She was appointed to serve as trustee for SamCERA in August 2021, with her initial term expiring on June 30, 2024.

Profile

Benedict J. Bowler
Appointed by the Board of Supervisors, Fifth Member

Ben Bowler is the Treasurer of Matson, Inc. He was first appointed in August 2008 to fill the unexpired term of Scott Lee. He was reappointed in 2010, 2013, 2016 and again in 2019. He is currently serving his fourth term, which will expire on June 30, 2022.

Profile

Mark Battey
Appointed by the Board of Supervisors, Sixth Member

Mark Battey is the owner of Miramar Farms, Inc. He was the managing director of Miramar Capital LLC, which provides strategic planning and investment management consulting services. He was appointed by the Board of Supervisors in September 2015 and reappointed in 2018 and 2021. His current term will expire on June 30, 2024, and he is currently serving as Board Secretary.

Profile

Robert Raw
Elected by the Safety Members, Seventh Member

Robert Raw is a Sergeant who was hired by the Sheriff’s Department in 2012. He is serving his second term on the Board of Retirement, which will expire on June 30, 2024. Robert is currently serving as Board Chair.

Profile

Paul Hackleman
Elected by the Retired Members, Eighth Member

Paul Hackleman served as the County Benefits Manager from 1982 through March 2008. He is also a former member of the Retirement Board, having served from June 2005 through March 2008 while actively employed. He was then elected by the Retired Members to serve on the Board in 2010, 2013, 2016 and 2019. His current term will expire on June 30, 2022. In addition to serving on the Board, he is the head of I.C. Benefits Consulting.

Profile

Kurt Hoefer
Appointed by the Board of Supervisors, Ninth Member

Kurt Hoefer is a partner at Golub Group, LLC. As an investment adviser and investment banker, he has provided strategic and financial advice to institutions and individuals. He was first appointed by the Board of Supervisors in September 2016, and he was reappointed in June 2019. His current term will expire on June 30, 2022. 

Profile

Alma Salas
Elected by the Retired Members, Retiree Alternate

Alma Salas was a Probation Services Manager with the San Mateo County Probation Department before her retirement in May 2013. Alma first joined the Board in May of 2001 and served as Board Chair during the 2004-05 fiscal year. She was elected in 2013 to serve as the Retiree Alternate and was reelected in 2016 and 2019. In this role she substitutes in the absence of the Eighth Member. Her current term will expire on June 30, 2022.

Profile

Susan Lee
Elected by the Safety Members, Safety Alternate

Susan Lee is a Deputy Probation Officer III, who has been with the Probation Department since 2002, and she is currently serving her third term on the Board of Retirement. She was first elected to serve as the Safety Alternate in 2015, and she was reelected in 2018 and 2021. In this role, she substitutes in the absence of the Second, Third, or Seventh member. Additionally, if the Eighth member and Retiree alternate are absent, she substitutes for the Eighth member. Her current term will expire on June 30, 2024.

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Board Meeting Location
SamCERA's Boardroom is on the first floor of 100 Marine Parkway, Suite 160, Redwood City, CA 94065