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 six-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.
Pilar Rodriguez, PE, Chairman (Edinburg) - Firefighter Member
In August 2022, Governor Greg Abbott Re-appointed Pilar Rodriguez to a second term for the Board of Trustee, which is set to expire September 1, 2027. Mr. Rodriguez is the Executive Director for the Hidalgo County Regional Mobility Authority. Previously, he served the City of McAllen as an Assistant City Manager, Director of Public Works, City Engineer and Director of Traffic Operations. He also serves as Fire Chief for the Pharr Fire Department, Assistant Fire Chief for the Linn San Manuel Volunteer Fire Department, a structural specialist for Texas A&M Task Force 1 Urban Search and Rescue and as Strike Team Leader for the Texas
Public Works Response Team. He is a member of the Texas Public Works Association and the State Firefighter & Fire Marshals Association. Rodriguez is a Licensed Professional Engineer and received a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University in Kingsville, Texas.
Jerry Romero, Vice- Chairman (El Paso) - Finance Member
In July 2020, Governor Greg Abbott appointed Jerry Romero to the Board of Trustees to a term set to expire on September 1, 2025. 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.
Edward J Keenan, Secretary (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. Mr. 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.
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. Mr. 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.
Matthew “Matt” Glaves (Alvin) - Retiree Member
In July 2020, Governor Greg Abbott appointed Matt Glaves to the Board of Trustees to a term set to expire on September 1, 2025. 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.
Nathan Douglas (Seabrook) - Firefighter Member
In July 2020, Governor Greg Abbott appointed Nathan Douglas to the Board of Trustees to a term set to expire on September 1, 2025. Mr. Douglas is Assistant Chief of the Seabrook Volunteer Fire Department, and is the Captain over Patrol District III for the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, where he has worked for over 30 years. As the Captain over the Patrol District, he oversees a team
of 130 personnel that are dedicated to protecting Harris County residents and property, preserving the peace, preventing and investigating crime, and enforcing all state and local laws with honor and professionalism. He is certified as a master peace officer, an emergency medical technician, and firefighter, and is a member of the FBI National Academy Association. Douglas received a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from the University of Houston, and graduated the FBI National Academy Class # 269 in Quantico, Virginia.
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.
Brad Landi, (Austin) - Firefighter Member
In March 2023, Governor Greg Abbott appointed Brad Landi to the Board of Trustees for a four-year term ending September 1, 2027. Brad holds several certifications and degrees: BA, AAS, AAS, CFE, CEO, CFO. He is the Fire Chief of Jollyville Fire Department. Chief Landi started his career in 1987, as a college student at California State University, Chico, where he graduated
with a Bachelor of Arts in Information and Communication Studies (1990). His career goals took him to Austin, Texas where he started working for the Jollyville Volunteer Fire Department, and then he accepted a position with Austin Fire Department. After 24 years of service with AFD, he retired and became the Fire Chief of Jollyville Fire, and still moonlights as a volunteer Battalion Chief for the Volente Volunteer Fire Department. During his career, Chief Landi furthered his education with an Associates of Applied Science in Fire Protection Technology from Austin Community College (2006) and an Associates of Applied Science in Emergency Management from Frederick Community College (2007). He has also acquired multiple masters level certifications through the Texas Commission on Fire Protection and the State Firefighters and Fire Marshals Association of Texas. Chief Landi is also a graduate of the Texas Fire Chiefs Academy as a Certified Fire Executive (CFE), the Texas A&M/TEEX Fire Service Chief Executive Officer (FSCEO) program and is designated a Chief Fire Officer (CFO) through the Center of Public Safety Excellence (CPSE).
Rupal Chaudhari, (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.