2023 Annual City Training Conference
October 24, 2023 - October 24, 2023
Conference is now over.
[Overview content here]
Tuesday, October 24
9:00–9:05 a.m.
WelcomeBob Scott, TMRS Board Chair
9:05–9:10 a.m.
Introduction to Conference and TMRS AccomplishmentsDavid Wescoe, Executive Director
9:10–9:30 a.m.
Onboarding New EmployeesMarin Emma, Regional Education Manager
Covers the basics of how to enroll a new employee in TMRS.
9:30–9:45 a.m.
Why Service Credit MattersAnthony Mills, Director of Education Services, and Ida Gomez, Education Representative
Explains the many ways an employee can earn service credit.
9:45–10:00 a.m.
Break
10:00–10:30 a.m.
Answer Employees’ Retirement QuestionsLorraine Moreno, Regional Education Manager, and Shannon Lucero, Regional Education Manager
Covers the most common questions your employees might have about their benefits.
10:30–10:40 a.m.
A New COLA Option: What You Need To KnowAnthony Mills, Director of Education Services
Details the new COLA option introduced by the Texas Legislature in 2023.
10:40–10:55 a.m.
Dealing With The Big Three: Divorce, Disability, and DeathShannon Lucero, Regional Education Manager
Demonstrates how city employees can handle the most difficult situations they are likely to come across.
10:55–11:05 a.m.
Using Your TMRS Plan To Recruit EmployeesColin Davidson, Director of City Services
TMRS can help you recruit and retain talent. This presentation shows you how.
11:05–11:10 a.m.
"The Heart of TMRS"
Working at TMRS is more than a job. Meet some of the people behind the scenes at TMRS in this brief video.
I am having issues with registration, who should I contact?
Email us for assistance.
How do I watch the Conference?
A link to see the event will be emailed to you in September. It will take you to the 2023 Conference Stream, which will be hosted on this page. The Conference is viewable from any browser on a mobile device or computer. To ensure the best experience, be sure the volume is turned up on the video player on your computer, and that you're using a device with high-speed internet.
Do I need to download anything to watch the Conference?
No. You will be able to open the Conference from the link you receive.
Bob Scott
Chair, TMRS Board of Trustees
Bob began his career in public accounting serving numerous state and local government clients. While in public accounting, he served a two-year practice fellowship with the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB). Upon leaving public accounting, he served as Finance Director for the City of Carrollton, Texas, eventually rising to an Assistant City Manager position. He currently serves in a similar position (Deputy Town Manager) for the Town of Prosper, Texas.
He has been involved professionally throughout his career presenting for a variety of state and national organizations and serving on GFOA’s Committee on Accounting, Auditing and Financial Reporting (CAAFR), a variety of GASB taskforces and the AICPA Expert Panel for State and Local Government. Pensions have been a special interest as Mr. Scott participated in creating the auditing guidance for both Pension and OPEB revisions. He is currently a member of the AICPA’s Governmental Accounting and Auditing Committee (GAAC), the Advisory Committee to GASB and is a trustee for the Texas Municipal Retirement System.
David Wescoe
Executive Director
David Wescoe became TMRS’ Executive Director in July 2020. Prior to moving to Austin, he held senior positions with private and public sector organizations and has an extensive background in law, finance and investment management. His public pension career began in 2006 when he became the CEO of the San Diego City Employees’ Retirement Association. He also has served as the chief executive of the Motion Picture Industry Pension and Health Plans in Studio City, California and, most recently, as CEO of the San Diego County Employees Retirement System.
David is a frequent speaker on financial and pension topics and has been interviewed by the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, National Public Radio, and Governing magazine. Among his many civic and charitable activities, David has served as the Board Chair of the University of Kansas Alumni Association and as a Trustee of Trinity School in New York City.
A native Kansan, David holds a BA from the University of Kansas and a JD from Columbia Law School.
Debbie Muñoz
Chief Service Officer
Named TMRS’ Chief Service Officer September 2022, Debbie oversees the functions of Member and City Services, Plan Design and Funding, Benefit Administration and Communications.
Debbie joined TMRS in 1998 and began working as a Membership Development Representative, spending much of her time educating TMRS membership and city personnel about TMRS benefits statewide. During her more than 30-year career in the public pension arena, Debbie has led teams through several modernization projects including the expansion of online functionality and TMRS’ current pension administration system.
Debbie received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Government from the University of Texas and is a native Texan, born and raised in San Antonio.
Colin Davidson
Director of City Services
Colin joined TMRS in 2006. He has been a member of several departments, including Records, Call Center, Communications, Travel Team, and served as the City Services and Education Services manager. In June 2023, he was named Director of City Services, where he oversees the communication and service to all TMRS participating cities.
Additionally, Colin works on increasing TMRS’ online initiatives, improving city training, assisting cities with plan changes, and creating new ways to expand service to participating cities. Colin has a BA from the University of Texas at Austin.
Anthony Mills
Director of Education Services
Anthony Mills was named Director of Education Services at the Texas Municipal Retirement System in June 2023. The division provides virtual and in-person training and education to Members, city administrators, and councilpersons who participate in or administer their cities’ TMRS plans.
Prior to his current role, Anthony was named TMRS’ first Director of City Services in September 2020. Among the division’s functions are education and outreach to city administrators, stakeholders and elected officials and onboarding new participating cities. Anthony joined TMRS in November 2004.
Before joining TMRS, Anthony worked for the Texas County and District Retirement System and the Employees Retirement System of Texas. Anthony was also a press aide to the late Lieutenant Governor Bob Bullock.
Anthony holds a BA in History from the University of Texas at Austin.
Marin Emma
Regional Education Manager
Marin Cassella joined TMRS in October 2021 as a Member Education Representative. She counsels and educates TMRS members in person and virtually about their TMRS plan and benefits. Her service area includes parts of the DFW Metroplex, Lubbock, Amarillo, and Wichita Falls.
Prior to joining TMRS, Marin spent 16 years with the Employees Retirement System. During her time with ERS, Marin held several positions focused on training, quality assurance, service recovery and the member experience.
Marin holds a BA from the University of Texas at Austin.
Ida Gomez
Education Representative
Ida joined TMRS in 2007. She has been a member of several areas starting as the receptionist, Member Analyst in the Member Services department and City Analyst in the City Services department and currently works as an Education Representative in the City Services department. She counsels and educates TMRS members in person and virtually about their TMRS plan and benefits. Her service area includes the Houston, Highland Lakes – Austin, Waco to Abilene. Ida was also involved in the redesign of the TMRS City Portal and assisting the cities on using the TMRS City Portal.
Ida has a BA from Concordia University in Austin.
Shannon Lucero
Regional Education Manager
Shannon Lucero has been with TMRS for 20 years; in Member Services as a Membership Analyst and Support Services Analyst, in Communications as a Regional Representative and in the Member Education Center in her current role as a Member Education Representative. In this role, she assists Members and Cities by phone, in-person, and virtually. Her service area included portions of North and East Texas. Prior to joining TMRS, Shannon worked for the Texas Public Finance Authority and the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Shannon holds a BS in Management from the University of Phoenix and has also earned a Communications Certification from the University of Texas at Austin’s Center for Professional Development.
Lorraine Moreno
Education Representative
Lorraine joined TMRS in February 2000.
She has worked as a Member Analyst, Call Center Analyst, and Travel Representative. She is currently a Regional Education Manager. She counsels and educates TMRS members and cities in person and virtually about their TMRS Plan and benefits.