NMERB Board of Trustees

Bruce F. Malott,  Chairperson

Responsibilities:  Bruce Malott has served on the board since 1999 and has been Chairperson  since August 2004.

He is responsible for leading the fund's board meetings including development of the agenda. He coordinates the board with the fund's investment function and all board member committee appointments are made by him.

Committee Assignments:  Educational Retirement Board Chairperson, Investment Committee Chairperson, Audit Committee Chairperson, Administrative Appeals Chairperson, Director's Evaluation Committee Member, Disability Appeals Member.

Career Path: Bruce Malott is Certified Public Accountant as well as a Certified Financial Planner and Certified Valuation Analyst. Bruce is the Managing Principal and a founding partner of Meyners + Company, LLC, one of New Mexico's largest Public Accounting firms. His credentials include over 25 years of experience in a broad array of capacities including accounting, tax, and consulting services for professional service firms, retailers, manufacturers, distributors, and service organizations.

Bruce has appeared weekly on multiple television and radio stations offering tax tips and advice as a resident expert in the field, and holds the status of a Diplomat of the American Board of Foresnic Accounting. He also serves on the State Board of Accountancy. He previously served on the New Mexico Retiree Healthcare Board and the Executive Committee of the AICPA's (American Institute of Certified Public Accountants) Management Consulting Services Division and has served on the editorial advisory board of Partner-to-Partner Advisory, a Harcourt Brace Publication.

Education: Arizona State University Bachelor of Science

Mary Lou Cameron, Vice Chairperson

Responsibilities: As the elected member to the New Mexico Educational Retirement Board representing  the National Education Association of New Mexico, Mary Lou Cameron’s responsibility is to communicate regularly to the membership the financial condition of the fund, proposed or signed legislation impacting the fund, and other issues which might have an impact on the members of the ERB.  She is the only elected active educational employee on the ERB and serves as vice chairperson.

Committee Assignments:  Educational Retirement Board Vice-Chairperson, Administrative Appeals Vice-Chairperson, Director's Evaluation Committee Member, Audit Committee Member.

Career Path: Teacher Corpus Christi, Texas, ISD 1966-1968, Teacher, Staff Development Coordinator, Literacy Specialist and Associate Superintendent in Deming Public Schools 1976-Present. Served as President of National Education Association of New Mexico 1996-2001. Mary Lou Cameron has been elected for an additional four-year term as National Education Association-New Mexico’s representative on the New Mexico Educational Retirement Board. Ms. Cameron represents the National Education Association members’ issues and concerns. Her term expires July 14, 2009.

Gary Bland, Secretary

Responsibilities: State Investment Officer (SIO) Gary Bland was appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate, and is the executive in charge of the State Investment Office. Under his direction, the State Investment Office is charged with the responsibility of carrying out the policies of the SIC in day-to-day investment management functions.

Committee Assignments: Educational Retirement Board Secretary, Director's Evaluation Committee Chairperson, Investment Committee Member, Disability Appeals Member, Audit Committee Member.

Career Path: Governor Bill Richardson appointed Gary Bland as New Mexico's state investment officer in 2003. Gary has extensive experience in real estate development, venture capital and private-equity investing, and came to New Mexico after 28 years at The Boeing Company in Seattle, the last 16 of those years as vice president of trust investments. At Boeing he oversaw investment of Boeing's $62 billion employee trust funds, and established a track record for innovative efforts to involve minority communities in the aviation giant's investment strategy. Before his time at Boeing, he attended University at Washington State and served a tour of duty for the Army in Vietnam. Gary is a history buff and an avid outdoorsman.

Education: Bland earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Washington State University; completed his graduate studies work in business management with a focus on small business at Eastern Washington University and participated in the Resident Investment Management Program at Stanford University.

Veronica Garcia

Responsibilities: Dr. Veronica Garcia was appointed as New Mexico's first cabinet secretary of Education in October of 2003. As a cabinet secretary, Dr. Garcia has direct access to Governor Bill Richardson and the other cabinet secretaries. As Secretary of Education she is the Constitutional Officer charged with oversight of the 89 NM school districts, 36,000 employees of the public schools, and an annual operating budget of over 2 billion dollars.

Committee Assignments: None

Career Path: Dr. Garcia has been an educator in New Mexico for 30 years. She has experience as a teacher, principal, assistant director of special education, school psychologist, assistant superintendent, and associate superintendent. Dr. Garcia served as superintendent for Santa Fe Public Schools. Upon her retirement, Dr. Garcia assumed the position of executive director for NMCSA.

Education: University of New Mexico: bachelor’ degree in special education, 1973;  master’s degree in special education, 1978; and a doctorate in educational leadership, 2003.

James B. Lewis

Responsibilities:The State Treasurer serves as the elected chief banking officer of the state and is entrusted with keeping, investing, and disbursing all state money, unless otherwise provided by law. Additionally, the State Treasurer is charged with a variety of other duties directed toward ensuring prudent management of the state’s financial resources as set forth in various sections of the statutes.

Committee Assignments: Investment Committee Member

Career Path: Served as NM State Treasurer 1985-1991
Enhanced public trust and confidence in the office
Established sound management practices
Established the Remote Electronic Banking System (REBA)
Automated the warrant and collateral compliance system
Created the Cash Manager’s Office in the Treasury
Created physical security process
Started courier service of securities to the Fiscal Agent Bank
Hired competent, conscientious, qualified staff
Helped pass legislation allowing local government's to be included in the Overnight Investment Pool

Education: Master's Degree Public Administration, B.S. Degree Education, B.S./A.S. Degree Business Administration

Russell Goff

Russell is the representative for the New Mexico Association of Educational Retirees (NMAER). He has served as the Executive Director for NMAER since 2002. Russell began his career as a teacher for Adobe Acres Elementary in 1964 and ended in 2001 as principal of Eldorado High School. Russell has a Masters in Education Administration and a Bachelor’s in Physical Education both from UNM.

Committee Assignments: Administrative Appeals Member