Oak Brook, Ill. – The Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) partnered with public funds from across the state of Illinois, for a half-day conference designed to focus on supporting and expanding opportunities for diverse firms.
The Illinois Public Fund Collective on Diversity and Inclusion in Financial Services, linked a colorful list of attendees, including money managers and brokerage firms classified as Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprises, pension consultants, state legislators, and majority-owned firms interested in developing diverse partnerships.
The collective was sponsored by some of the state’s most-recognized names in retirement systems, such as the State Universities Retirement System, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Retirement Fund, the Municipal Employees' Annuity
and Benefit Fund of Chicago, and IMRF. Additional participants included the Illinois State Board of Investment and the Chicago chapter of the National Association of Securities Professionals.
Organizers invited attendees to join the dialogue and to share their unique insights and perspectives on diversity and inclusion.
“It’s important to explore opportunities to initiate and cultivate partnerships with MWBE firms in our state,” said IMRF Executive Director Louis W. Kosiba. “We have top-notch managers and brokers with impressive professional rosters and remarkable results, right here in Illinois,” Kosiba continued.
The agenda for the free conference included four informational back-to-back sessions. With multimedia presentations and open exchanges between panelists and audience members, the collective discussed asset allocations, capabilities of MWBE brokerage firms, the roles of pension consultants, and the differences between emerging and diverse managers.
“Organizations such as IMRF serve our state’s public workers. Therefore, it’s our responsibility to tap into the wealth of knowledge and experience of deserving, yet lesser-known Illinois firms. As we continue developing long-lasting relationships, the companies grow and thrive, and our economy wins,” Kosiba said.
The half-day meeting was held at Chicago’s Hotel Allegro and was followed by an NASP networking reception and charitable holiday party benefitting The Posse Foundation, Inc.
