ABOUT THE FUND

 1199 SEIU Regional Pension Fund is a Taft-Hartley defined benefit fund based in Buffalo, New York.  Established in 1971, the plan provides retirement benefits for all eligible  employees covered by the collective bargaining agreements (CBA’s) between SEIU 1199 United Healthcare Workers East and signatory employers to the CBA’s.   The assets of the plan are managed by a professional team at Segal Marco Investments.  Other Professionals of the fund,  Attorneys - Blitman & King, LLP, Accounting Professional - Freed Maxick, Actuary – Cheiron and Fund Administrator, Ronda Castren.

HISTORY OF THE PLAN

Established in 1971 as the Buffalo & Western NY Hospital & Nursing Home Council.  In 1999 the name was changed to 1199 SEIU Upstate Pension Fund.  In 2011 with intentions to expand the fund beyond New York, it was renamed to 1199 SEIU Regional Pension Fund.

Plan Governance/Sponsor: Board of Trustees which consists of 3 Employer Trustees and 3 Union Trustees


Employer Trustees: Union Trustees:

    Daniel Farberman           Todd Hobler

Susan Vallance           Jim Scordato

Brian North           Grace Bogdanove

Professional Consultants Utilized by the Trustees:

  • Blitman & King, Chuck Blitman & Tim Bauman Fund Counsel

  • Cheiron, Chris Mietlicki & Karen Zangara, Fund Actuaries

  • Plan Administrator, Ronda Castren

  • Segal Marco Consulting Group, John Hume

  • Freed Maxick, Michelle Sullivan and Holly Hejmowski, Fund Accountants

Plan Actuary - Cheiron

  • Performs annual plan valuation to determine minimum required and maximum deductible contribution per IRS

  • Completes annual Pension Protection Act certification of “zone” status

  • Prepares annual 5500 Schedule MB filing for IRS

  • Provides information for annual Fund notices

  • Performs withdrawal liability calculations

  • Reviews benefit calculations performed by Plan Administrator

  • Collaborates with Fund Counsel in monitoring new legislative developments and maintaining the qualification status of the Fund

STAFF

  • Ronda Castren

    FUND MANAGER

    ronda.castren@1199pf.org

  • Maria Zamojski

    RETIREMENT BENEFITS SPECIALIST

    maria.zamojski@1199pf.org

  • Michelle Bonar

    ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

    michelle.bonar@1199pf.org