GAPPT News and Updates

The GAPPT quarterly newsletter, "News and Reports", is emailed to all Association members. Current and past editions of the newsletter may be accessed through the Member Area of the website. 

News in 2024:

September 16-18, 2024: The Tenth Annual GAPPT Trustee School was held at the Historic Iron Works in Columbus, Georgia. This year's Trustee School had 228 total registrants, with 43 plans represented, and 21 affiliate firms who generously supported the organization through sponsorships. The CRPF™ Advanced Course had its highest attendance to date, with 34 members receiving their CRPF™ designation. In addition, 100 Affiliate members attended the event as presenters or for networking purposes.

June 18, 2024: The Fourth Annual GAPPT Night with the Atlanta Braves was held at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia. 99 members and guests registered for this popular summer networking event.

May 16, 2024: In celebration of its fifteenth anniversary, the Association donated $10,000.00 of its annual conference proceeds to the Georgia Foundation for Public Education. Board members Tim Milligan, David Harris, and David Ward, as well as GAPPT Executive Director, Sue Reynolds and GAPPT Associate Director, Annie Hardie joined Paige Pushkin, GFPE Executive Director, for the check presentation at the City of Marietta Fire Department offices. The Board of Directors approved the donation as an opportunity to give back to the community.

The Georgia Foundation for Public Education (GFPE) exists for the single purpose of supporting educational excellence for students in Georgia. Led by a committed Board of Directors featuring servant leaders from across the state, GFPE fosters support of local agendas, programs, and projects that create a better future for the over 1.7 million students in Georgia's public schools. 

March 24-27, 2024: The Fifteenth Annual GAPPT Conference was held at the Hyatt Regency in Savannah, Georgia. This year's conference 399 registrants, which was the highest number of overall attendees and Plan Sponsor attendees to date.

March 2024: The Association officially changed its name to the Georgia Association of Public Plan Trustees™. The updated name more accurately reflects the mission of the GAPPT to provide education to all public retirement system fiduciaries.

Congratulations to the following GAPPT members elected to the Board of Directors: 

• President - Tim Milligan, (Georgia Firefighters' Pension Fund)
• Treasurer - David Harris, (Gwinnett County Public School)
• Director at Large (Position 1) - Matt Hamby, (City of Flowery Branch)

In other Board news, Jason Justice (City of Gainesville) was appointed to serve as Director at Large (Position 4). This position was established during the latest bylaw revision which was approved by the membership. AJ Baltozer (DWS), has assumed the role of Affiliate Committee Chair after serving one year as the Committee's Vice Chair.

News in 2023:

September 18-20, 2023: The Ninth Annual GAPPT Trustee School was held at the Classic Center in Athens, Georgia. This year's Trustee School was the  largest to date with 248 total registrants, (a 32% increase in Plan Sponsor attendees), 41 plans represented, 21 affiliate firms who generously supported the organization through sponsorships, and 17 new CRPF™ designees. In addition, over 80 Affiliate members attended the event as instructors or for networking purposes. 

May 23, 2023: The Third Annual GAPPT Night with the Atlanta Braves was held at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia. 97 members and guests registered for this summer networking event.

March 20-23, 2023: The Fourteenth Annual GAPPT Conference was held at the Lanier Islands Legacy Lodge in Buford, Georgia. This year's conference had 339 registrants and had the highest number of Plan Sponsor attendees to date.

March 2023: Congratulations to the following GAPPT members elected to the Board of Directors: 

• Vice President - Ramona Bivins, (Clayton County Public Schools)
  
• Secretary - Frederick Bailey, (City of Savannah)
• Director at Large (Position 3) - Keisha Register, (City of Marietta)

In other Board news, AJ Baltozer (DWS), was elected as the Affiliate Committee Vice Chair. AJ will serve for one year under the current chair, Grant Duncan, before assuming his Board position

News in 2022:

December 2022: The Board of Directors appointed Keisha Register (City of Marietta), to fulfill the vacated Director at Large (Position 3) position.

September 19-21, 2022: The Eighth Annual GAPPT Trustee School was held at the Classic Center in Athens, Georgia. This year's Trustee School was the  largest to date with 40 Basic Course registrants, 24 Advanced Course registrants, and 55 Continuing Education Course registrants. In addition, 85 Affiliate members attended the event as class instructors or for networking purposes. 

August 2022: The Board of Directors appointed GAPPT Secretary, Ramona Bivins (Douglas County Board of Commissioners), to fulfill the vacated Vice President term. GAPPT Director at Large, Frederick Bailey (City of Savannah) was appointed to the vacated Secretary position, and Matt Hamby (City of Flowery Branch), was appointed as Director at Large (Position 1).

June 21, 2022: GAPPT Night with the Atlanta Braves was held at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia. 95 members and guests registered for this second annual summer networking event.

March 21-24, 2022: The Thirteenth Annual GAPPT Conference was held in Jekyll Island, Georgia. This year's conference was the largest to date with 355 registrants.

March 2022: Congratulations to the following GAPPT members elected to the Board of Directors: 

• President - Tim Milligan, (Georgia Firefighters' Pension Fund)
  
• Treasurer - David Harris, (Gwinnett County Public Schools)
• Director at Large (Position 2) - David Ward, (MARTA ATU Local 732 Employees Retirement Plan)
  

In other Board news, Grant Duncan (Brandes Investment Partners), has assumed the role of Affiliate Committee Chair after serving one year as the Committee's Vice Chair.

February 1, 2022:  The International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) awarded the Georgia Association of Public Pension Trustees the prestigious Accredited Provider accreditation. Internationally recognized as offering the highest quality continuing education and training programs, IACET Accredited Providers are the only organizations approved to offer IACET Continuing Education Units (CEUs).

News in 2021:

September 19-22, 2021: The Twelfth Annual GAPPT Conference was held at Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia. This year's conference was a successful return to in-person educational events with 284 registrants.

July 20, 2021: GAPPT Night with the Atlanta Braves was held at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia. 85 members registered for this first-ever networking event.

March 2021: Congratulations to the following GAPPT members elected to the Board of Directors: 

• Vice President - Kevin Hurley, (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority - DB Pension Committee)
  
• Secretary - Karen Rojas, (City of Gainesville)
• Director at Large (Position 1) - Frederick Bailey, (City of Savannah)
  

In other Board news, Grant Duncan (Brandes Investment Partners), was elected as the Affiliate Committee Vice Chair. Grant will serve for one year under the current chair before assuming his Board position. Davy Godfrey (City of Marietta) was appointed by the Board of Directors to fulfill the vacated Director at Large (Position 3) term.

March 2021: The Twelfth Annual GAPPT Conference was postponed until September 19-22, 2021 due to continued concerns regarding COVID-19. The CRPF™ curriculum courses, as well as the usual continuing education sessions, will be offered during the 2021 conference.

January 2021: David Harris (Gwinnett County Public Schools) was appointed by the Board of Directors to fulfill the vacated Treasurer term.

News in 2020:

September 21, 2020:  Due to continued COVID-19 concerns, the Seventh Annual GAPPT Trustee School was held virtually. This year's Trustee School had 85 Basic Course registrants, 31 Advanced Course registrants, and 121 Continuing Education Course registrants.

April 2020:  The Trustee School program was updated to comprehensively address the six educational areas listed in the new Georgia Code. With new Basic and Advanced Course sessions specifically designed to meet the educational needs of Georgia's public retirement system fiduciaries, the program name was officially changed to Certified Retirement Plan Fiduciary™ or CRPF™.

March 23-26, 2020: Due to COVID-19, the Eleventh Annual GAPPT Conference in St. Simons, Georgia was canceled. The GAPPT was appreciative of everyone's patience and understanding as we dealt with this unprecedented circumstance.

March 2020: Congratulations to the following GAPPT members elected to the Board of Directors: 

• Treasurer - Patina Brown, (City of Marietta)
• Director at Large (Position 3) - Kevin Hurley, (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority - DB Pension Committee)

News in 2019:

September 16-19, 2019: The Tenth Annual GAPPT Conference was held at the Lanier Islands Legacy Lodge in Buford, Georgia. This year's conference was the largest to date with 295 registrants.

September 2018: Congratulations to the following GAPPT members elected to the Board of Directors: 

• President - Tim Milligan, (Georgia Firefighters' Pension Fund)
• Secretary - Karen Rojas, (City of Gainesville)
• Director at Large (Position 2) - Morgan Wurst, (Georgia Firefighters' Pension Fund)

June 2019: Karen Rojas (City of Gainesville) was appointed by the Board of Directors to fulfill the vacated Secretary term.

April 2019: Kevin Hurley (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority - DC Pension Committee) was appointed by the Board of Directors to fulfill the vacated Director at Large (Position 3) term.

March 18-20, 2019: The Sixth Annual GAPPT Trustee School was held at the Classic Center in Athens, Georgia. This year's Trustee School was the association's largest to date with 30 Basic Course registrants, 31 Advanced Course registrants, and 51 Continuing Education Course registrants. In addition, 79 Affiliate members attended the event as class instructors or for networking purposes. 

News in 2018: 

September 17-20, 2018:  The Ninth Annual GAPPT Conference was held at the Hyatt Regency in Savannah, Georgia. This year's conference was the largest to date with over 260 event registrants.

September 2018:  Congratulations to the following GAPPT members elected to the Board of Directors: 

• Vice President - Tracy Wells-Ransom, (Georgia Firefighters' Pension Fund)
• Treasurer - Patina Brown, (City of Marietta)
• Director at Large (Position 1) - Michaela Thompson, (Georgia Ports Authority) 

March 19-21, 2018:  The Fifth Annual GAPPT Trustee School was held at the Marriott Macon City Center in Macon, Georgia. 36 participants registered for the Basic Course, 24 for the Advanced Course, and 32 for the Continuing Education sessions. 73 Affiliates also attended the event as instructors or for networking purposes. This was the second year in a row the Association has seen a 20% increase in attendance at the Trustee School.

News in 2017:

September 11-14, 2017:  Due to Hurricane Irma, the Eighth Annual GAPPT Conference in St. Simons, Georgia was canceled. While the cancellation was disappointing to all involved, the Association was grateful our attendees were not placed in harm's way. The GAPPT appreciates everyone's patience and understanding as we dealt with this unforeseen circumstance. 

March 2017:  Congratulations to the following GAPPT members elected to the Board of Directors: 

• President - Tim Milligan, (Georgia Firefighters' Pension Fund)
• Secretary - Ersula May, (Fulton County Schools Employees' Pension Fund)
• Director at Large (Position 3) - Matt Hamby, (City of Gainesville) 

March 20-22, 2017:  The Fourth Annual GAPPT Trustee School was held at the Marriott Macon City Center in Macon, Georgia. 34 participants registered to attend the Basic Course, 19 for the Advanced Course, and 27 registered for the expanded Continuing Education Course. In addition, 52 Affiliate members attended the event as class instructors or for networking purposes. 

News in 2016:

September 19-22, 2016:  The Seventh Annual GAPPT Conference was held at the Legacy Lodge at Lake Lanier in Buford, Georgia. 88 Plan Sponsors participated, representing 28 plans throughout the state of Georgia. Also in attendance were 101 Affiliate members representing 83 companies.

March 2016:  Congratulations to the following GAPPT members elected to the Board of Directors:

• Vice President - Tim Milligan, (City of Marietta/Georgia Firefighters' Pension Fund)
• Treasurer - Harold Grindle, (Emeritus Member/Retired CFO)
• Director at Large (Position 2) - Morgan Wurst, (Georgia Firefighters' Pension Fund)

March 21-23, 2016:  The GAPPT held its Third Annual Trustee School at the Marriott Macon City Center in Macon, Georgia. After successfully completing the Advanced Course, 18 Plan Sponsor members received their CPPT designations. In addition to the 26 Basic Course participants, 16 GAPPT members also attended the newly established Continuing Education Course.

News in 2015:

September 21-24, 2015:  The Sixth Annual GAPPT Conference was held at the Hyatt Regency located in historic downtown Savannah, Georgia. In attendance were 96 Plan Sponsor participants representing 26 different plans, as well as 121 Affiliate participants from 88 firms.

March 23-25, 2015: At the Second Annual GAPPT Trustee School, 21 Trustees and Administrators graduated from the Advanced Course Curriculum and another 23 successfully completed our Basic Course Curriculum.

News in 2014:

September 23-25, 2014:  The Fifth Annual GAPPT Conference was held at Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia. There were 86 Plan Sponsor participants representing 25 plans throughout the state, and 89 Affiliate participants representing 72 different firms from around the country.

March 24-26, 2014:  The Inaugural GAPPT Trustee School was held in Macon, Georgia. With 35 trustees registered and 30 participating Affiliate members, the first Trustee School was considered a major success.