Who We Are
"It is the mission of the Nebraska Investment Council to prudently manage the funds entrusted to us by the people of the State of Nebraska. We deliver investment management services to provide direct financial benefit exclusively to the owners of these funds. We are committed to thorough, sound, and informed analysis in order to achieve superior returns while maintaining prudent levels of risk."
The Nebraska Investment Council is an independent state agency consisting of:
- An eight-member governing body including five private citizens appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the State Legislature, and three ex-officio members: the State Treasurer, the Director of the Public Employees' Retirement Systems, and the Director of the Omaha School Employees Retirement System.
- A nine-member Investment Team.
Most importantly, the Investment Council is the seventeen of us working together for the citizens of Nebraska.
What We Do
The Nebraska Investment Council manages $40 billion across 32 investment programs:
- $18.8 billion in 5 defined benefit pension plans
- $4.5 billion in 7 other retirement plans
- $1.7 billion in 11 public endowments
- $7.4 billion in the Operating Investment Pool, the State's checkbook, managed internally
- $82 million in 3 State trusts
- $7.1 billion in 4 colllege savings plans
- $26 million in the Nebraska Enable plan
The funds are spread among 60 investment firms and over 150 investments.
Back Row (left to right): State Investment Officer Michael Walden-Newman, John Conley, Randy Gerke, and John Dinkel
Front Row (left to right): Dr. Richard DeFusco, Chair Gail Werner-Robertson, John Murante, Cecelia M. Carter, and Dr. Keith Olson
Council Members
Gail Werner-Robertson, Council Chairwoman
President
GWR Wealth Management, LLC
Omaha, NE
Term: 2019 - 2023
Omaha, NE
Term: 2018 - 2022
Dr. Richard A. DeFusco, Ph.D., CFA
Professor of Finance
University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Lincoln, NE
Term: 2022 - 2026
John M. Dinkel
President
Dinkel Implement Co.
Norfolk, NE
Term: 2020 - 2024
Dr. Keith A. Olson, Ph.D., CFA
Professor of Economics & Finance
Creighton University - Heider
Omaha, NE
Term: 2021 - 2025
John Murante
Nebraska State Treasurer
Lincoln, NE
Ex Officio (non-voting)
Randy Gerke
NPERS Director
Lincoln, NE
Ex Officio (non-voting)
Cecelia M. Carter
OSERS Director
Omaha, NE
Ex Officio (non-voting)
Retired - September 2022
Investment Team
Michael Walden-Newman
State Investment Officer
Jeremiah Garber, CFA
Portfolio Manager
Joseph P. Jurich
Senior Portfolio Manager
Aathi Rasiah
Investment Accountant
Chris Sanders
Investment Analyst
Joyce Schlautman
Internal Auditor
Joe Spitznagel
Portfolio Manager
JoLynn Winkler, CFA
Senior Portfolio Manager
