Most of us are familiar with the term "powering up." We say it when we are charging up our tech, such as our smartphones, laptops, and electronic devices. The term generally refers to achieving a higher level. In our professional lives, we want to power up by gaining new experiences to take advantage of new skillsets. We invite you to our Annual Conference April 3-6 in Fort Worth, Texas, to plug into the minds of the pensions and investment industry's top thought leaders and power up your skills for the benefit of your pension system's annuitants. 

Join TEXPERS' 2022 Annual Conference to network with influencers and decision-makers of the Lone Star State's public pension community. This year's conference theme is TEXPERS: Powering Up Pensions. While at this year's event, trustees and administrators from TEXPERS' retirement systems will have plenty of opportunities to plug into the latest industry trends to enhance their plan's governance, fiduciary, and investment performance..

Online registration began on Jan. 4 and ends on March 18. Click here to register for the Annual Conference. After that, TEXPERS members may register in person at the forum. 

TEXPERS has conducted the Annual Conference for 33 years, offering a professional development edge to sessions and workshops designed around current topics and trends focused on public fund management and investment issues.

"We invite our member system trustees and administrators to take advantage of our whole conference experience, from state-approved trustee training to peer-to-peer networking," says Art Alfaro, the association's executive director. "TEXPERS' Annual Conference is the perfect time to learn industry tactics and gain fresh perspectives from some of the industry's top thought leaders."

Those wishing to attend the forum must have a current TEXPERS membership. Don't have a membership? Don't worry. Visit the association's website and click the Become A Member tab to learn how.

TEXPERS hosts educational programs for the trustees and administrators that manage the retirement funds of police officers, firefighters, and municipal and district employees throughout Texas. The association has 68 member pension systems that manage $32.7 billion in retirement assets for 57,728 active members and 60,737 retirees and beneficiary annuitants. TEXPERS' Annual Conference brings Texas' key pension stakeholders together for education, training, and networking.

PRE-CONFERENCE TRAINING

TEXPERS is hosting a day of pre-conference classes on Saturday, April 2, to fulfill the Pension Review Board's Minimum Education and Training Program requirements for trustees. To satisfy PRB program requirements, trustees new to public pension boards can attend a full day of core courses with Basic Trustee Training from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Breakfast and lunch are provided.

The registration fee is $225. Click here to learn more and to register for Basic Training. A schedule will be available soon.

The Advanced Trustee Training class from TEXPERS will satisfy the continuing education requirements for tenured pension board trustees. The course will run from 8:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The registration fee is $150. Click here for additional
information and to register.

Texas State Board of Public Accountancy members may also sign up for either of the courses to earn continuing professional education credits.

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

The Annual Conference starts on Sunday, April 3, with a golf tournament, pre-conference workshop, conference registration from 3 to 5 p.m., and welcome reception from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. An annual business meeting for the association's pension system members will occur before the reception, from 3 to 5 p.m. The meeting is for pension system members only. Delegate registration for the meeting is from 1:30 to 3 p.m.

On Monday, April 4, the conference continues with breakfast and registration at 7 a.m. The opening ceremony kicks off the programming at 8 a.m., followed by a full day of sessions until 4:30 p.m. A members-only event will take place at
Reata Restaurant. Registration opens at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 5. There will be breakfast available. General and breakout sessions run between 8:40 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. Lunch will be available. A reception begins at 5 p.m.

The conference's final day begins with breakfast and registration at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 6. General sessions run from 8:15 to 11 a.m.

Visit TEXPERS' website for an updated schedule.

VENUE

This year's Annual Conference is at The Worthington Renaissance Fort Worth Hotel, 200 Main Street, in Fort Worth, Texas. TEXPERS has contracted with the hotel to offer conference sponsors, exhibitors, and attendees ample room to discover, network, and succeed.

The hotel is a Marriott property located in Downtown Fort Worth and recently redesigned its rooms and suites to offer a work-life balance away from home. Everything attendees need for a multi-day stay is situated in the hotel, including internet
access, business services, an on-site restaurant, and a fitness center, among other services.

The deadline to reserve a room and receive a special room rate is March 11. To obtain the special TEXPERS Annual Conference room rate, register for the event online. After registering for the conference, a confirmation email will include a link that will allow you to make your room reservation. The hotel provides valet parking for all registered guests and local attendees at a tiered rate: 

• 0-2 hours = $12 + tax
• 2-4 hours = $16 + tax
• 4-6 hours = $20 + tax
• Daily parking (6+ hours)* = $25 + tax
• Overnight parking* = $30 + tax

*These prices include in-and-out privileges

AIRPORTS

The hotel is about 24 miles southwest of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW).

The Worthington Renaissance is roughly 33 miles southwest of Dallas Love Field (DAL).

The hotel is about 18 miles north of Fort Worth Alliance Airport (AFW).

The hotel does not provide a shuttle service to any of the airports. Access to various forms of ground transportation, including bus lines and car rental, is available at the airports. Several rideshare companies also operate in the city. Check with
providers for rates.