Trustee Biographies

David Couch, Chair

Position: 4th Member since 2013
Term: Expires on December 31, 2027
Appointing Authority: Board of Supervisors

Mr. Couch has served as Kern County Supervisor for District 4 since 2013. From 1999 to 2012, he sat on the Bakersfield City Council, including serving…

Dustin Contreras, Vice-Chair

Position: Alternate 7th Member
Term: Expires on December 31, 2027
Appointing Authority: Elected by Safety Members

Mr. Contreras is a law enforcement professional with over twenty years as a sworn Deputy Sheriff for the County of Kern. He was elected to the Kern…

Jordan Kaufman

Position: 1st Member since 2015
Term: N/A
Appointing Authority: Statute

Mr. Kaufman has served as Kern County Treasurer-Tax Collector and Kern County Defined Contribution Plan Administrator since 2015. He was the Assistant…

Chase Nunneley

Position: 1st Member Alternate since 2020
Term: N/A
Appointing Authority: Statute

Mr. Nunneley has served as the Kern County Assistant Treasurer-Tax Collector and Defined Contribution Plan Administrator since 2015. Prior to this, Mr…

Ajaib Gill

Position: 2nd Member since 2025
Term: Expires on December 31, 2027
Appointing Authority: Elected by General Members

Mr. Gill is a Deputy Public Defender for the Kern County Public Defender’s Office. In his role, he handles complex felony trial cases, including…

Vacant

Position: 3rd Member
Term: Expires on December 31, 2025
Appointing Authority: Elected by General Members

Joseph D. Hughes

Position: 5th Member since 2021
Term: Expires on December 31, 2025
Appointing Authority: Board of Supervisors

Mr. Hughes is an attorney and the managing partner at Klein, DeNatale, Goldner, LLP, and the leader of the firm’s water and public agency practice…

John Sanders

Position: 6th Member since 2023
Term: Expires on December 31, 2027
Appointing Authority: Board of Supervisors

Mr. Sanders is currently a Vice President/Controller, providing financial consulting and oversight to numerous organizations. He has 35 years of…

Rick Kratt

Position: 7th Member since 2013
Term: Expires on December 31, 2027
Appointing Authority: Elected by Safety Members

Mr. Kratt has served as a Kern County firefighter since 1999. In 1998 he worked as a firefighter for the Arrowhead Hotshots. He is a member of…

Phil Franey

Position: 8th Member since 2014
Term: Expires on December 31, 2025
Appointing Authority: Elected by Retired Members

Mr. Franey has more than 40 years of trustee experience. Prior to retirement, he served as the elected Kern County Treasurer-Tax Collector, Kern…

Robb Seibly

Position: Alternate 8th Member since 2020
Term: Expires on December 31, 2025
Appointing Authority: Elected by Retired Members:

Mr. Seibly was last employed by the County of Kern, where he retired as a Senior Human Resources Analyst for the County of Kern’s Personnel Department…

Tyler Whitezell

Position: 9th Member since 2020
Term: Expires on December 31, 2025
Appointing Authority: Board of Supervisors

Mr. Whitezell has been the Vice President, Administrative Services for the Kern County Hospital Authority since 2016. During this time, he has served…

Board of Retirement Meeting Calendar

View agendas for upcoming Board and Committee meetings.

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Board Meeting Agendas & Minutes

Stay up-to-date with KCERA Board of Retirement meeting agendas and minutes.

Trustee Requirements. KCERA's Board of Retirement is the exclusive governing and policy-making body of KCERA. It's primary mandate is to provide KCERA members with retirement benefits promised by their employers (i.e., KCERA's Plan Sponsors). The Boards Key Roles: Setting policy and establishing guidelines for KCERA's efficient opporation. Pension asset management- Control the investment of pension assets. Service provider selection. Chose external professional service providers. Staff Recruitment- Hire executive staff to lead KCERA. Disability Retirement- rile on disability retirement applications. Fund disbursement-authorize the disbursement of funds. Contribution Rates and Actuarial assumptions- Adopt rates and assumptions. Benefits' administration- administer retirement benefits effectively and lawfully. Time requirements- Attend monthly board meetings. Attend committee meetings as assigned. review agenda material prior to meetings. attend conferences to fulfill training requirements. The Board is comprised of: The Kern County treasurer-tax collector. Four appointed members from the Kern County Board of Supervisors. Four elected Members from the KCERA membership, which includes one safety and one general members. Two alternate members, one each elected by safety and retired members. Educational requirements: trustees are required to undergo a minimum of 24 hours of trustee education within the first two years of assuming office and for every subsequent two year period the trustee continues to hold office on the board. Mandated training topics: Ethics, sexual harassment, New trustee orientation. Additional trining topics include: fiduciary responsablilities, investments and investment programs, manage actuarial matters and pension governance. for additional questions email administration@kcera.org or call 661-381-7700

Board Elections

Details regarding the Board of Retirement’s Election Procedures.

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