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Release Date: 03/10/2005
Release Number: 05-328-NAT
Contact Name: Gloria Della
Phone Number: 202.693.8664
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Washington, DC - Today Secretary of Labor Elaine
L. Chao announced the appointment of five new members for the 2005
Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans. The new
members will serve three-year terms. |
The five new appointees and their council positions
are: Kathryn J. Kennedy of Chicago, Illinois, representing the general
public; Richard David Landsberg of Columbus, Ohio, representing the
insurance industry; James D. McCool of Richfield, Ohio, representing
employers; Willow J. Prall of Washington, DC, representing employee
organizations; and Christopher Rouse of Atlanta, Georgia, representing the
accounting field. |
Kennedy is associate professor of law and director of
the Center for Tax Law and Employee Benefits at the John Marshall Law
School, where she oversees graduate degree programs in employee benefits.
She has previous experience in private law practice and as a legal
consultant and actuary for an employee benefits consulting firm. Kennedy
is the co-author of an upcoming textbook on retirement plan issues. |
Landsberg is a benefits lawyer and senior advanced
sales consultant at Nationwide Financial Services who advises clients on
life insurance, annuity and pension issues, and investments. He also
provides consulting services to banks, securities broker-dealers, and
independent financial advisors in the employee benefit plan and executive
benefits areas. Landsberg previously served as counsel in financial
services firms and has lectured at the University of Iowa College of Law
on employee benefits issues. |
McCool is president of Schwab Corporate Services and is
responsible for the management of over $131 billion at the end of December
2004. McCool oversees more than 750 employees who service over 725 bundled
401(k) and other plans. He has been active in both the Society of
Professional Administrators and Recordkeepers (SPARK) Institute and the
National Defined Contribution Council. |
Prall is a lawyer with DeCarlo & Connor where she
provides legal counsel for single and multiemployer pension plans. She
drafts plan amendments, provides legal advice concerning various aspects
of laws affecting retirement, health and welfare plans, and is a frequent
speaker on retirement plan issues. |
Rouse is a principal in the accounting firm of Windham
Brannon, P.C. He is responsible for quality control of the firm’s audit
and accounting practice and serves as an advisor to businesses ranging
from start-up enterprises to multinational public companies. Rouse also
provides consultation on mergers and acquisitions, debt and equity
securities offerings, strategic planning, accounting system reviews,
budgeting, and internal auditing functions. He has performed peer reviews
of other accounting firms. |
The 2005 Advisory Council leadership includes R. Todd
Gardenhire of Chattanooga, Tennessee as the chair and Sherrie Grabot of
San Jose, California as vice chair. Gardenhire is senior vice president of
investments at Smith Barney. He is serving his third year on the Advisory
Council. In addition to his service as vice chair of the Advisory Council
in 2004, he served as the 2003 chair of the Working Group on Optional
Professional Management of Defined Contribution Plans. Grabot is president
of GuidedChoice, a company that provides investment advice to 401(k)
plans. In her first year on the Council, she served as the 2004 vice chair
of the Working Group on Plan Fees and Reporting on the Form 5500. |
The ERISA Advisory Council consists of 15 members
appointed by the Secretary of Labor to terms of three years. The terms of
five members expire each November 14th at the end of the
council year. The members represent various stakeholders in the employee
benefits community. |
U.S. Department of Labor news releases are accessible on the Internet. The information in this news
release will be made available in alternate format upon request (large
print, Braille, audio tape or disc) from the Central Office for Assistive
Services and Technology. Please specify which news release when placing
your request. Call 202.693.7765 or TTY 202.693.7755. |