HR0658 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0658 LRB100 15339 MST 30304 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate Louis W. Kosiba on the occasion of his retirement as Executive Director of the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF); and

WHEREAS, Louis Kosiba earned his Juris Doctor and Master in Business Administration from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign in 1977; and

WHEREAS, Louis Kosiba joined the IMRF in 1988 and was appointed executive director in 2001; prior to that, he worked as general counsel for the Illinois Teacher's Retirement System; and

WHEREAS, Louis Kosiba led the best-funded statewide pension plan in Illinois for over 16 years; under his leadership, the IMRF exceeded annual investment return goals 10 times and its fiduciary net position increased from $16.1 billion in 2000 to $39.3 billion as of July 31, 2017; and

WHEREAS, During Louis Kosiba's tenure as executive director, the IMRF's active membership increased from 159,810 to 175,019, IMRF retirees increased from 71,300 to 123,206, and the number of employers participating in the IMRF increased from 2,791 to 2,987; and

WHEREAS, Under Louis Kosiba's tutelage, the IMRF adopted its first vision statement and set of organizational values, developed its first strategic plan, and opened its first regional office in Springfield; and

WHEREAS, With Louis Kosiba at the helm, IMRF enhanced member and employer services by developing a workshop program to educate members, employers, and retirees about the services offered by the IMRF; it established a toll-free customer service call center, introduced self-service tools to employers for reporting wages and enrolling members online, and launched annual rate meetings for employers to meet face-to-face with IMRF leaders; and

WHEREAS, Throughout his time as executive director, Louis Kosiba emphasized customer service and continuous improvement, leading to the IMRF being recognized in 2012 and 2014 with an Illinois Performance Excellence (ILPEx) Silver Award for "Progress towards Excellence" and in 2009 with the Lincoln Bronze Award for "Commitment to Excellence"; the IMRF also received the National Plan Sponsor "Standout" Award of Excellence in 2016; and

WHEREAS, Louis Kosiba co-founded the National Association of Public Pension Attorneys in 1987 and served on its board of directors; he is an active member of the National Association of State Retirement Administrators, a member of the board of trustees for ILPEx, and is on the leadership team for Generations Serving Generations; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Louis W. Kosiba on his retirement as Executive Director of the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund, and we wish him the best in all his future endeavors; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Louis Kosiba as an expression of our esteem and respect.