ASPPA Honors Members for Educational Achievement

Outstanding Educator and Students Honored at ASPPA Annual Conference

WASHINGTON (October 18, 2010) – The American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries (ASPPA) honored Robert L. Long, with the ASPPA Educator’s Award, and four outstanding examination candidates, with the Martin Rosenberg Academic Achievement Award. ASPPA presented the awards during the opening session of the ASPPA annual conference, at the Gaylord Hotel, National Harbor, Md.

Since 1997, ASPPA has presented the annual ASPPA Educator’s Award, recognizing an outstanding educator from the ASPPA membership who has made significant contributions to retirement plan education. Long was selected by the ASPPA Board of Directors and the Education and Examination (E&E) Committee’s leadership.

Robert L. Long is product manager for Actuarial Systems Corporation (ASC) and is heavily involved in the daily valuation and trading aspects of the retirement plan industry. Working from his virtual office in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, he is involved with systems development, training, support and sales, primarily focusing on the daily trading aspects of DC/401(k) plans. A 30-year industry veteran, Long managed a variety of pension administration operations within the insurance industry before becoming involved with systems development. No stranger to the educational arena, he was very involved in Junior Achievement and Project Business early in his career. He is currently involved with a group of local professionals in creating a new ASPPA Benefits Council (ABC) in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area to further educational opportunities in that area. Bob also serves on ASPPA’s Board of Directors and will serve on ASPPA’s Executive Committee as Vice President for 2011. During Bob’s tenure as E&E Co-chair and ASPPA Management Team (AMT) member (2006-2009), Bob is credited with many fundamental education program improvements including the integration of the Qualified Pension Administrator (QPA) credential for Enrolled Retirement Plan Agents (ERPAs), the revamping of the Certified Pension Consultant (CPC) credential program, the development of ASPPA’s new Tax-Exempt & Governmental Plan Administration Certificate and the corresponding credentialing program,.

The Martin Rosenberg Academic Achievement Award honors its namesake, the late Martin Rosenberg, a fellow of ASPPA. Rosenberg served as an ASPPA Education and Examination Committee member from 1979 to 1985 and was its general chairperson from 1985 until his death in 1987. The award recognizes the top performing candidates each year based on credential education examinations. The ASPPA Pension Education and Research Foundation (PERF) administers the award, which ASPPA established in 1990 to honor Rosenberg. The 2010 academic achievement recipients follow:

Jason Frey, QKA, is the recipient of the Martin Rosenberg Academic Achievement Award for the fall 2009 Defined Contribution Administrative Issues—Basic Concepts (DC-1) examination. Jason has been a retirement plan professional for nine years, primarily specializing in compliance. He is a senior compliance analyst with DailyAccess Corporation in Mobile, AL and received his Bachelor of Arts degree at Spring Hill College in Mobile in 2001.

Amy E. Ouellette, QKA, is the recipient of the Martin Rosenberg Academic Achievement Award for the spring 2010 Defined Contribution Administrative Issues–Compliance Issues (DC-2) examination. Amy is a third party administrator at Jim Hallinan Pension Consulting, LLC in West Hartford, CT. Previously, she spent several years as a pension administrator at Sebach & Associates, Inc. in Norfolk, CT. Amy earned her bachelor’s degree in economics at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 2007. She has continued her education by earning the Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) certification in February 2010 and ASPPA’s Qualified 401(k) Administrator (QKA) credential in July 2010.

Alex Petrenko, QKA, is the recipient of the Martin Rosenberg Academic Achievement Award for the spring 2010 Defined Contribution Administrative Issues – Advanced Topics (DC-3) examination. Alex serves as vice president of Retirement Plan Consulting Group at First Allied Securities, assisting independent financial advisors in their
efforts to identify, design and implement employee benefit plans for small businesses. In addition to performing retirement plan consulting, Alex conducts technical research and market analysis, provides continuing education, and collaborates in design of retirement accumulation and distribution strategies. He has been working in the financial services industry for ten years. Prior to joining First Allied in 2006, he was affiliated with a national financial planning firm where he assisted closely held businesses in creation of personal financial and employee benefit plans. Alex is a credentialed Qualified 401(k) Administrator (QKA) member of ASPPA.

Robin Young is the recipient of the Martin Rosenberg Academic Achievement Award for the spring 2010 Defined Contribution Administrative Issues – Basic Concepts (DC-1) examination. Robin is a senior pension administrator at American Pension Benefits, Inc., a producing third party administration firm located in Wexford, PA and Scottsdale, AZ. She has spent her entire professional career, 28 years, in retirement plan administration and with American Pension Benefits. Robin handles the administration and compliance of many types of retirement plans including defined benefit and defined contribution plans; both balance forward and daily valuation. As the senior administrator, she also manages key projects within the firm including the recent EGTRRA document restatement for all of the firm’s clients. She also plays an important role in relationship management of key clients. After the 2009 ASPPA Annual Conference, Robin decided it was time to do what it takes to earn her QKA and is aggressively pursuing the credential. She will be taking ASPPA’s DC-2 examination in November.

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About ASPPA: The American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries (ASPPA) is a national organization of more than 7,400 retirement plan and benefits professionals that serves as the educator, voice, and advocate for the employer-based retirement system. ASPPA members are administrators, actuaries, advisors, attorneys, accountants, and other financial services professionals who provide consulting and administrative services for qualified retirement plans.

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