Board of Retirement

The management of the Retirement Association is vested in the Board of Retirement, which is composed of the following nine members:

1. County Treasurer

2. Two active members of the Retirement Association elected by the general members

3. One active member of the Retirement Association elected by the safety members

4. One retired member of the Retirement Association elected by the retired members

5. Four members appointed by the Board of Supervisors. These members shall be qualified electors of the County who are not connected with county government in any capacity, except one may be a County Supervisor.

The law provides for two Alternate members, one elected by retired members and one elected by safety members. Presently, there is only an alternate retired member, as the County of Fresno has only one qualifying safety group.

All board members, except the County Treasurer, serve three-year terms. The Board meets twice a month (1st and 3rd Wed).

Trustee Biographies

Donald Kendig

Rauden H. Coburn, III, DDS, Board Chair

Appointed Member

Initial Term Started: 03/06/2012

Current Term Expires: 12/31/2024

 

Professional Background:

  • U.S. Army: 1968 – 1971
  • Clinical Dental Practice: Rod H. Coburn, DDS, Inc., 1971 -2007
  • University of California, San Francisco: Clinical Faculty, 1978 – 1982
  • Dental Benefits Consultant: 1982 – present, currently Dental Director for Administrative Solutions, Inc.

Degrees:

  • BA, Zoology: California State University, Fresno
  • DDS: University of California, San Francisco
  • Internship: Ireland Army Hospital, Ft. Knox, Ky.

Certifications and Supplemental Education:

  • American Association of Dental Consultants: Dental Consultant Certification
  • Academy of General Dentistry: Fellowship
  • Las Vegas Institute: Advanced Esthetic Dentistry
  • University of Pennsylvania – The Wharton Schoool: Certificate for Portfolio Concepts and Management and Certificate for International Investing and Emerging Markets

Memberships:

  • Past President: Fig Garden Rotary Club, Fresno-Madera Dental Society, and Central Valley YMCA
  • American Dental Association
  • California Dental Association
  • Fresno Madera Dental Society
  • San Joaquin River Parkway Foundation
  • Bulldog Foundation
  • KVPR: Broadcaster’s Circle

Other Activities and Information:

  • Trustee: Fresno Mosquito and Vector Control District
  • Fresno County Grand Jury: 2009 -2011; Foreman 2010- 2011
  • First Presbyterian Church
  • Married to Shelly, father of three children, Papa to seven grandchildren and avid Bulldog booster
Donald Kendig

Riley Talford, Board Vice-Chair

Elected General Member

Initial Term Started: 01/01/2018

Current Term Expires: 12/31/2026

Professional Background:

Riley has served Fresno County for 15 years and is currently employed by the Probation Department as a Supervising Juvenile Correctional Officer. His career in Probation has spanned three counties (Madera, Merced, and Fresno). He has also served as an educator managing After School Programs where he wrote, was awarded, and managed grants funds in excess of $1.5 million dollars annually. Prior to service in the public sector Mr. Talford served 6 years in the United States Navy where he held a Top Secret clearance serving in various locations overseas. 

Degrees:

Riley earned a BA in Psychology from National University graduating Magnum Cum Laude. He continued his education earning a MA in Education. 

Service:

Mr. Talford has spent countless hours working and mentoring youths of varying age groups. Serving as a head coach he has helped kids learn at an early age that hard work and dedication leads to success which was experienced in multiple championships earned at all levels of competition. Mr. Talford currently serves as the Chapter President of SEIU Local 521 where he is a champion of workers’ rights and a community activist. “Each day I wake with the goal making tomorrow a better place by the actions I put forward today!” His hard work and public community based activism has aided in the restoral of wage cuts, changes to our healthcare system to reduce employee costs, and lobbying efforts to protect our retirement. 

Other Activities and Information:

Riley and his wife Annette have been married for 6 years and have 3 children at home. He is also a proud father three young adult children which includes his collegiate athlete and college graduate son, and a daughter serving in the US Air force. “It is my honor to represent Fresno County Employees on the Retirement Board. During my term I will be an active voice championing positions that will increase our retirement fund which will have a positive impact on member contributions. Also, by strengthening our pension fund, employees can have peace of mind knowing their pension fund is healthy and their retirement is secure. Last, I want push efforts to optimize the staffing, systems, and processes of FCERA with the goal of drastically lowering response times to employees’ requests.”

 

Donald Kendig

Laura Basua

Elected Retired Member

Initial Term Started: 01/01/2023

Current Term Expires: 12/31/2025

 

FCERA photo not available

Alysia Bonner

Elected General Member

Initial Term Started: 1/1/2022

Current Term Expires: 12/31/2024

Professional Background:

Alysia has worked for the County of Fresno for 23 years, serving the Department of Public Health as a Supervising Office Assistant in numerous Divisions including the Maternal Child & Adolescent Health, Community Health, and Public Health Nursing.  During her years of service with the Community Health Division, she supervised the Vital Statistics Program where she trained Local Registrars, Funeral Directors, and Decedent Affairs staff throughout California on the California Department of Public Health Electronic Death Registration System.

Engagement and Service:

Alysia made a personal mission statement at the age of eighteen to always give 100% of herself to make positive changes to improve the lives of others.  She loves to volunteer her time mentoring and helping people realize their full potential.  Mrs. Bonner is a proud member of SEIU Local 521 and currently serve as the Local-wide President representing 50,000 members.  She serves as the Vice President of the Fresno-Madera-Tulare-Kings Central Labor Council, which advocates for 105,000 workers and their families in the Central Valley.  Alysia contributions to our community as a Commissioner for the Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission, whose mission is to empower individuals to thrives healthy, self-sufficient, and contributing members of our community; and as a Director of the Fresno Regional Workforce Development Board, assisting local businesses by developing and hiring employees.

Other Information:

Alysia and her husband Shaun have three amazing children.  Her children are a blessing and the joy of her life.  She is an experienced advocate that understands how important the decisions, we make impact our workplaces, our families, and the communities we serve every day.  She will be a voice to ensure that our benefits are protected and secure.    

Donald Kendig

Oscar J. Garcia, CPA

County Treasurer

Initial Term Started: 11/02/2016

Current Term Expires: Ex Officio

Donald Kendig

Steven Jolly AIF®

Appointed Member

Initial Term Started: 04/21/2004

Current Term Expires: 12/31/2024

Professional Background:

Wealth Manager, Partner with Ford Financial Group

With 31 years of experience in financial services, I am dedicated to helping individuals meet their financial needs by developing investment plans around their long-term goals and risk tolerance.  My extensive experience — throughout major shifts in the markets — enables me to help my clients structure balanced portfolios to address their specific financial goals.

I began my financial services career as a Financial Advisor with Paine Webber in 1988. In 1995, I moved my financial practice to Prudential Securities, which is now Wells Fargo Advisors in Fresno. Currently a partner with Ford Financial Group, a local independent Registered Investment Advisory (RIA).  I have served San Joaquin Valley area investors for over 30 years and look forward to helping them meet their financial goals for many years to come.

Steven Jolly is a registered representative with, and securities offered through, LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment Advice offered through Ford Financial Group, a Registered Investment Advisor. Fresno County Employee Retirement Association, Ford Financial Group, and LPL Financial are separate entities.

Education:

I have earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from California State University – Fresno.  Minor in Business Finance

Other Activities and Information:

Committed to helping my community prosper, I am active with Off the Front, Central Sierra Historical Society, and the Fresno County Office of Education. Away from the office, I also enjoy skiing and bike riding. My wife Tracy and I live in Fresno with our children, Tanner age 25 and Trent age 23.

(As of January 2019)

Donald Kendig

Nathan Magsig, MBA MS

Appointed Member

Initial Term Started: 01/10/2017

Current Term Expires: 12/31/2026

Professional Background:

Nathan Magsig worked at the Coalition for Urban Renewal Excellence for 11 years before becoming the Energy Director and Responsible Managing Employee (General Contractor) for the Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission. While there, he managed 9 contracts worth approximately $15 million, 16 employees and 2 subcontractors. The EOC helps people who live in low-income housing by weatherizing their homes, home rehabilitation and installation of solar energy systems among other things. Nathan also supervised the expansion of a recycling center, remodeled a homeless shelter for teenagers, revitalized a baseball park and built a Community Development Financial Institution to inject new sources of capital into neighborhoods that lack access to traditional financing.

Nathan was elected to the Clovis City Council in 2001. He was re-elected three times and has served as Mayor. He was sworn in as Fresno County Supervisor District 5 on January 9, 2017. In his capacity as a Supervisor, he serves on numerous Boards and Commissions.

Degrees:

Nathan has multiple college degrees from California State University of Fresno. He graduated Summa Cum Laude in Criminology and later received his Master’s degree. In 2006, he again graduated with distinction and received his Master’s in Business Administration from the Craig School of Business.

Other Activities and Information:

Nathan met his wife, Julie Magsig (nee Musser), in 1995 and were married on August 4, 2001. They have three wonderful children – Mason, Michael and Mark.

Donald Kendig

Stanley L McDivitt

Appointed Member

Initial Term Started: 08/14/2018

Current Term Expires: 12/31/2024

Professional Background:

Mr. McDivitt retired from the City of Fresno in November 2016 after 34 years of service.  Mr. McDivitt was appointed by the City of Fresno Retirement Boards as the Systems’ first official Retirement Administrator after the Boards created the Administrator position through a voter approved amendment of the City of Fresno Charter in 1994.  Prior to his appointment as the Retirement Administrator, Mr. McDivitt managed the City’s Treasury operation, which included administration responsibilities for the Retirement Systems.  During his 34 years in management with the City of Fresno, Mr. McDivitt managed the Systems’ Retirement Office and previously managed the City’s Treasury Division, its Accounting Division and its Audit Division.

In 1994, he was the individual responsible for the structuring and issuance of a $245 million Pension Obligation Bond Financing for the City of Fresno.  As a result, the City of Fresno was the first City in the State of California to issue Pension Obligation Bonds. The two City of Fresno Retirement Systems have been in a fully funded status for the past 24 years.

In his nine years of managing the Treasury Division for the City, Mr. McDivitt structured and issued over forty bond financings in excess of $1 billion and managed the City’s internal investment pool of approximately $300 million.

Education:

Mr. McDivitt is a Certified Public Accountant (currently inactive status), a past Certified California Municipal Treasurer, and served on the CALAPRS’ Board of Directors for over twenty years. He was President of CALAPRS in 2005-2006.  Mr. McDivitt graduated from California State University, Fresno with a B.A. in Business and an Accounting Option.

FCERA photo not available

Jacob Woesner

Elected Safety Member

Initial Term Started: 01/01/2024

Current Term Expires: 12/31/2026

I was born and raised in Fresno California, I attended Bullard High School and California State University Fresno. I have been a Deputy Sheriff with the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office for 5 years. Currently I am assigned to the non-incorporated area of Old Fig Garden on midnights. My passion is preventing crime and keeping the County of Fresno safe. In the last 4 years I have made over 300 pro-active arrests and have taken over 40 illegal firearms off the streets.

Donald Kendig

Vicki Crow, CPA, MBA

Alternate Retired Member

Initial Term Started: 01/01/2023

Current Term Expires: 12/31/2025

vcrow1207@gmail.com

Professional Background:

  • Accountant/Manager/Analyst, – Kern County – 1983-1995
  • Accountant/Auditor, Silva, Harden & Adolph, Accountancy – 1995-2000
  • Accounting/Auditing Services, Self-Employed – 2001-2002
  • Accounting/Business Consultant, Pacific Resources – 2002-2002
  • Auditor-Controller/Treasurer Tax Collector, Fresno Co.-Retired – 2003-2016

Education, Degrees, and Certifications:

  • Business Administration, Accounting, California State University, Bakersfield, CA 1983
  • Masters Business Administration, California State University, Fresno, CA 2000
  • Certified Public Accountant

Other Activities and Information:

Not-for-Profit Organization Board Member:

  • San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust – 01/2019-current
  • Focus Forward – 05/2017-current