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Contact the PERS Board
Administration
The Oregon Legislature has delegated authority to the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) Board of Trustees to
administer the PERS system. The board is composed of five trustees who administer retirement (service and
disability), death, and retiree health insurance benefits. PERS also administers the Oregon Savings Growth Plan, a
deferred compensation program for state and local government employees.
Director and consultants
The board retains consultants and appoints an executive director. The director serves at the discretion of the board
and is responsible for the PERS administrative staff. Consultants include legal counsel, a medical advisor, an
actuary, and insurance consultant.
PERS board members
As trustee of the Public Employees Retirement Fund, the PERS Board has a responsibility to manage and administer the
system as set forth by law. The board also monitors the plan for compliance with federal laws.
Statute specifies board membership must consist of three people with experience in business management, pension
management, or investing who are not members of the PERS system; one person who is either an employee of the state
in a management position or a person who holds an elective office in the governing body of a participating public
employer other than the state; and one person representing public employees and retirees.
The three board members representing business management, pension management, or investing are Jardon Jaramillo
(Board Chair), Bob Hestand, and Kristen Connor. John Scanlan (Vice Chair) was appointed to represent public
employees and retirees; Suzanne Linneen was appointed to represent public employers. Terms for each member are
staggered.
Jardon Jaramillo (Board Chair)
Jardon Jaramillo serves as Senior Director of Finance and Investor Relations at Lithia & Driveway. He
previously worked at Portland General Electric (PGE), where he served in various finance and human resources
roles, including managing the company’s defined-benefit pension plan and health care programs. Before
joining PGE, Mr. Jaramillo was a manager with Deloitte Consulting in the audit and assurance space. He
enjoys contributing to solutions regarding housing and equity issues in the community.
Mr. Jaramillo received a Master of Business Administration from the Anderson School at the University of
California, Los Angeles, and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Northwest Nazarene University. He is a
certified public accountant in Oregon.
Mr. Jaramillo’s appointment by Gov. Kate Brown was confirmed by the Senate on September 16, 2019. His
current term ends September 30, 2025.
John Scanlan (Vice Chair)
John Scanlan was a teacher for 29 years and retired in 2021. He taught English language arts to students in
grades 6 to 12 in three districts; was an adjunct professor at Eastern Oregon University (EOU); co-directed
the Oregon Writing Project at EOU; and coordinated the Pendleton School District Outdoor School, the longest
continuously operating outdoor school program east of the Cascades. Mr. Scanlan also served as president of
the Oregon Council of Teachers of English, frequently presented at council conferences, and has been
published in the council’s peer-reviewed Oregon English Journal. He has been active in the Oregon Education
Association, including serving as a local building representative, treasurer, negotiation team leader,
president, and board member. He also currently serves on the board of the National Education Association.
Mr. Scanlan’s appointment by Gov. Kate Brown was confirmed by the Senate on May 13, 2021. His current term
ends May 13, 2027.
Suzanne Linneen
Suzanne Linneen has served as the city of Hillsboro’s Finance Director since 2009. She started working for
the city in finance in 1995 and participated in a lot of change and growth in the city during that time.
Originally from the Los Angeles area, Ms. Linneen attended the University of California, Santa Barbara;
earned a bachelor’s degree in business economics; and worked as an auditor for Deloitte and Touche in
Century City, California, before moving to Oregon. She is a certified public accountant and brings vast
experience in accounting, budgeting, financial planning, and management to her role with the PERS Board.
Ms. Linneen’s appointment by Gov. Tina Kotek was confirmed by the Senate in April 2023. Her current term
ends April 25, 2026.
Bob Hestand
Bob Hestand is the Founder of Forward Focus and Chief Information Officer at Foresight Creative Technologies.
Through Forward Focus, he provides fractional leadership in technology and operations, helping organizations
align information technology strategy with business objectives across diverse sectors. With more than two
decades of experience, Mr. Hestand is a recognized leader in technology, human resources, and project
management, serving both corporate and nonprofit organizations. He has also overseen employer retirement
programs, offering valuable insight into benefits administration and long-term workforce planning. Mr. Hestand
holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Oregon and a bachelor’s degree from Indiana
University.
Mr. Hestand’s appointment by Gov. Tina Kotek was confirmed by the Senate in September 2024. His current term
ends October 6, 2027.
Kristen Connor
Kristen Connor is the Senior Vice President, Community Impact Officer at Heritage Bank. She works with
nonprofit organizations, the legal community, and some of the region’s leading organizations focused on a
broad range of sustainability and social justice issues. Under Ms. Connor’s leadership, Heritage Bank
launched a formalized community investment and giving program that includes an annual employee volunteer
day, a corporate giving initiative that raises $1.5 million annually, and other sustainability efforts and
certifications. Ms. Connor is the Treasurer of the Oregon Law Foundation and has served on several other
boards including Age+, Better Portland, and Sunstone Montessori. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in
International Economics with a minor in business administration from the University of Colorado Boulder.
Ms. Connor’s appointment by Gov. Tina Kotek was confirmed by the Senate in September 2024. Her current term
ends October 6, 2027.