TESRS
Texas Emergency Services Retirement System
Board of Trustees
The nine-member Board of Trustees for TESRS is appointed by the Governor. Members are appointed for four-year terms.
The composition of the Board is required to include five trustees who are active members of the pension system (including one of whom represents emergency medical services personnel, if the pension system has a participating department that provides emergency medical services), one trustee who is a retiree of the pension fund, and three trustees who have experience in the fields of finance, securities investment, or pension administration.
Jerry Romero, Chairman (El Paso) - Finance Member
In August 2026, Governor Greg Abbott re-appointed Jerry Romero to the Board of Trustees to a term set to expire on September 1, 2031. Mr. Romero is a retired Banking Executive with over 45 years of experience with several National Banking organizations. He previously served as a gubernatorial appointee on the Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation Board of Directors, and on the Texas Workforce Development Council. He is a board member and President of the El Paso Housing Finance Corporation and is active in a number of other volunteer roles in his community. Romero attended The
University of Texas-El Paso and studied in the field of finance. Additionally, he attended a number of certification programs including The University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business, University of Minnesota Minneapolis for Community Development, and the University of California John E. Anderson Graduate School of Management.
Matthew “Matt” Glaves, Vice-Chair (Alvin) - Retiree Member
In August 2026, Governor Greg Abbott reappointed Matt Glaves to the Board of Trustees to a term set to expire on September 1, 2031. Mr. Glaves retired from Blue Bell Creameries in 2022 and is currently the Assistant Fire Chief for Alvin Volunteer Fire Departments, and a retiree of the pension system. He is the treasurer of the Brazoria County Emergency Services District #3, past president of the Kiwanis Club of Alvin, and an instructor of the municipal fire school of the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service. Additionally, he is a member of the Knights of Columbus #6403 in Alvin/Manvel and a drive coordinator for the Gulf
Coast Regional Blood Center.
Rupal Chaudhari, Secretary (Leander) - Financial Expert
Rupal Chaudhari, of Leander, Texas is an entrepreneur, financial manager, and an avid community volunteer, with a wealth of leadership and public service experience. She was appointed to the Texas Emergency Services Retirement System (TESRS) Board of Trustees by Gov. Greg Abbott October 9, 2023 with a term set to expire on September 1, 2029. Emboldened by leading an effort to give her Northwest Austin neighbors an equal voice at city hall, Chaudhari ran for Travis County Judge in 2022. As a candidate, she shed light on crucial issues like 9-1-1 response times, emergency personnel staffing, and
homelessness services, while improving public discourse for everyone involved. She now directs that passion toward assuring our volunteer firefighters and emergency responders that the state of Texas has their backs. Chaudhari believes a world-class retirement plan can serve as a powerful incentive for attracting and retaining the best firefighters and emergency service workers, building a safer future for all Texans. Chaudhari is an accounting manager at Pecan Park Hospitality, LLC and Sanjay Enterprises I, Ltd. Chaudhari is a licensed attorney and a member of the Cedar Park Chamber of Commerce and The New York State Bar Association. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Accounting and Economics from Jai Hind College, a Bachelor of Law degree from the Government Law College at Mumbai University, and a Master of Law degree from St. Mary’s University. Making productive use of all three degrees, she is a licensed immigration attorney with the state of New York and currently manages the finances for the family's business holdings, including hotels. Rupal and her husband Sanjay have 10-year-old twins, son Aaditya and daughter Amairah. In her free time, she enjoys Indian Classical dancing and music, worship, and community service with several nonprofits.
Christopher Anderson, (Santa Fe) - Fire Chief
In August 2026, Governor Greg Abbott appointed Christopher Anderson to the Board of Trustees to a term set to expire on September 1, 2031. Anderson serves as fire chief for Santa Fe Fire and Rescue and an engineer with the Galveston Fire Department. He has an extensive career as a firefighter and prior to serving as fire chief in Santa Fe, he served as deputy chief and got his start as a firefighter with the Port of Houston Fire Department. Additionally, he is vice president of the Galveston County Firefighters Association. Anderson trained at the Fire Academy at the College of the Mainland.
Matt Hohon, (Granbury) - Fire Chief
In August 2026, Governor Greg Abbott appointed Matt Hohon to the Board of Trustees to a term set to expire on September 1, 2027. Matt Hohon is Chief of the Granbury Volunteer Fire Department. Born and raised in Western Colorado, he moved to Texas after living internationally and joined GVFD in 2010. He is a State Firefighters’ and Fire Marshals’ Association of Texas certified Firefighter, Instructor 3, Officer 3, Rope Rescue Tech and former SFFMA District 16 Vice President. He hosted a podcast for the
last three years that focuses on volunteer fire departments and the issues they face. Hohon is an former airline transport pilot, currently works for Delta Fire and Safety as a sales rep and received his degree in Aviation and International business from Metropolitan State University of Denver.
Edward J. Keenan, (Houston) - Firefighter Member
In August 2023, Governor Greg Abbott appointed Edward J. Keenan to the Board of Trustees to a second four-year term ending, September 1, 2027. Keenan is the Chief Financial Officer that oversees the business, financial and administrative functions of the Unique Group of Companies, also is a 20 year member of the Pasadena Volunteer Fire Department.
Lindsay Price, (Seabrook) - Captain & EMT
In August 2026, Governor Greg Abbott appointed Lindsay Price to the Board of Trustees to a term set to expire on September 1, 2027. Lindsay Price of Seabrook serves as a captain with Bay Towing and an EMT with Seabrook Emergency Management Services. Previously, she served as a captain with SpaceX and with G&H Towing Company. Additionally, she volunteers as a captain with the Seabrook Volunteer Fire Department. Price received a Bachelor of Science in Marine Environmental Sciences from SUNY Maritime College.
Rodney Alan Ryalls, (Burkburnett) - Firefighter Member
In August 2023, Governor Greg Abbott re-appointed Rodney Ryalls to the Board of Trustees for a term set to expire September 1, 2029. Ryalls is a Regional Fire Marshal for the National Park Service. He volunteers with the Burkburnett Fire Department as well as many other community and regional organizations. He retired from the US Air Force in 2004 after 21 years of service and has served in a civil service capacity to the federal government since. He has a Bachelor of Science in Fire and Emergency Management from Kaplan University and holds professional designation
as Chief Fire Officer (CFO) from the Commission of Professional Credentialing, and Fire Service Chief Executive Officer (FSCEO) from the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service.
Brian Smith, (Austin) - Investment Professional Member
In August 2022, Governor Greg Abbott appointed Brian Smith to the Board of Trustees for a four-year term ending September 1, 2027. Brian is the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer of Multicoin Capital. He has nearly 20 years of experience in private sector finance with previous roles in investment banking, public and private equity investing, seed capital, mergers and acquisitions and other aspects of finance. He served as a startup mentor at the Capital Factory and Techstars and as a member of the Advisory Council of the University of Texas Financial Analyst
Program. He also served as a guest lecturer at the University of Texas McCombs School of Business. Additionally, he volunteered as a board member of the Good Shepherd Episcopal School. Smith received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from the Business Honors Program at the University of Texas at Austin.