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 Vice President of Community Development for Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. 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 of United Way of El Paso, 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 for a Compliance Officer certificate, University of Minnesota Minneapolis for a Community Development Officer certificate, and the University of California John E. Anderson Graduate School of Management Latino Leadership Program.
Edward J Keenan, Secretary (Houston) - Firefighter Member
In May 2019, Governor Greg Abbott appointed Edward J. Keenan to the Board of Trustees to a four-year term ending, September 1, 2023. Mr. Keenan oversees the business, financial and administrative functions of the Waisburd Group of Companies in the USA this includes Walworth Valves, the San Jacinto River and Rail Industrial Park.
Rodney Alan Ryalls, (Burkburnett) - Firefighter Member
In May 2019, Governor Greg Abbott appointed Rodney Ryalls to the Board of Trustees to a four-year term ending September 1, 2023. Mr. Ryalls was the Fire Chief for Burkburnett Volunteer Fire Department for many years and continues to serve with the Department as a volunteer firefighter. Mr. Ryalls retired from the Air Force as a firefighter in 2004 and began a civil service career with Sheppard Air Force Base Fire Department where he is currently the Deputy Fire Chief.
Stephanie Lynn Wagner, (Wimberley) – Finance Member
In May 2019, Governor Greg Abbott appointed Stephanie Lynn Wagner to the Board of Trustees to a four-year term ending on September 1, 2023. Stephanie Lynn Wagner is the Managing Director and Co-Founder of Sendero Women & Wealth. She serves on the Governor’s Commission for Women.
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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 the serval 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).