Patti Epstein

Division of Benefits Administration

Administrator: Patti Epstein

Responsible for determining members’ benefits, providing customer service, and offering outreach and education about benefits. This includes processing benefit estimates and applications for retirement, health insurance, disability, deferred compensation, and other benefits; collecting required contributions; disbursing benefit payments; and developing and implementing policies and training for employers that participate in the Wisconsin Retirement System and ETF-administered benefit programs.

Cindy Klimke

Division of Trust Finance

Administrator: Cindy Klimke-Armatoski

Responsible for the accounting and financial reporting of benefit program activity. This includes collection of contributions and insurance premiums, payment of insurance claims, disbursement of WRS benefit payments, maintenance of WRS member accounts, and generation of ETF’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report. Trust Finance staff also calculate the WRS effective rate and work with ETF’s consulting actuaries to set WRS contribution rates and annuity adjustments.

Kevin Acker

Division of Technology, Security and Data Services

Administrator: Kevin Acker

Responsible for designing and implementing information technology systems, providing technical services, employing best-in-class cybersecurity and information security management, coordinating technology resources, and collecting, organizing, and analyzing data to inform improved decision making and solutions agency wide.  The group’s primary focus is to support ETF’s strategic plan through collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning to enhance business outcomes.

Renee Walk

Office of Strategic Health Policy

Director: Renee Walk

Responsible for policy development and implementation of health, life, and long-term care insurance; develop member education materials on insurance plans; administers Medicare Supplemental policies, employee reimbursement account and commuter benefit programs.

Michelle Baxter

Office of Enterprise Initiatives

Director: Michelle Baxter

Responsible for leading and organizing ETF’s efforts to transform business processes and systems to meet the ETF's strategic goals. The Office of Enterprise Initiatives focuses on making ETF a leader among large public employee benefit systems by following best practices leading to exceptional customer services for our members.

Yikchau Sze

Office of Internal Audit

Director: Yikchau Sze

Responsible for planning and performing independent and objective assurance and consulting activity designed to add value and improve ETF operations. It helps ETF accomplish its objectives by bringing a systematic and disciplined approach to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of risk management, control, and governance process in ETF.

Mark Lamkins

Office of Communications

Director: Mark Lamkins

Responsible for strategic internal and external communications; media relations; brand management and marketing of retirement, insurance, and other ETF-administered benefits; forms and publications; records management; website content management and online customer experience; social media; educational videos and presentations; and survey development and analysis of levels of customer satisfaction and engagement.

Diana Felsmann

Office of Legal Services

Director: Diana Felsmann

Responsible for legal services, opinions and analysis; responding to inquiries from members, attorneys and others; representing ETF in administrative appeals; federal regulation and compliance; responding to public records requests; drafting legislation and administrative rules; and ombudsperson services.

Steve Hurley

Office of Policy, Privacy and Compliance

Director: Steve Hurley

Responsible for policy review and development; research and analysis of issues and proposed legislation; drafting of informational papers; responding to privacy incidents; providing guidance on data-sharing; and advising on compliance with federal regulations, including HIPAA Privacy. Assists with COOP Management.

Tarna Hunter

Office of Budget and Management

Director: Tarna Hunter

Responsible for governmental relations, legislative policy analysis; operating and biennial budget; procurement; contract administration; facilities; and supply, mail, and records services.

Travis Dillon

Office of Talent Management

Director: Travis Dillon

Responsible for workforce support to ETF employees and managers in the key areas of: talent recruitment and selection; diversity, equity and inclusion; payroll and benefits administration; workforce performance; learning and development; employee recognition and retention; workforce relations; and consultation about personnel matters.