Executive Staff

Tina M. Leiss – Executive Director

Tina M. Leiss was appointed Executive Director for the Wyoming Retirement System in August 2026. Prior to that, Tina served as the Executive Officer of the Public Employees’ Retirement System of Nevada (NVPERS). In this previous role, she was responsible for all aspects of fund management including analysis of plan funding, investment oversight, operational and strategic planning, and fiduciary and governance issues. In her capacity as the Executive Officer, Ms. Leiss provided information and analysis to the Nevada Legislature in consideration of pension policy issues affecting state and local government. Prior to her appointment to Executive Officer, Ms. Leiss was the Operations Officer of NVPERS since 2004 where she would oversee all aspects of benefit administration, including survivor, disability, and retirement benefit programs. Ms. Leiss was also responsible for oversight of the information technology, accounting, member and retiree services, and employer and production services divisions of the System. Cost effectiveness measurement for all activities of the System and policy issues related to the public safety sector of public employment were at the forefront of her responsibilities as well.

Prior to her employment at NVPERS, Ms. Leiss was a Senior Deputy Attorney General with the Nevada Office of the Attorney General. In that capacity, she served as the System’s legal counsel, representing the System in a variety of aspects from benefits litigation, contracts analysis, to Board governance. Ms. Leiss also served as legal counsel for a number of state agencies including the Office of the Military, Commission on Tourism, Commission on Economic Development, and various professional licensing boards.

Prior to her employment with the Office of the Attorney General, Ms. Leiss was in private practice for seven years, representing clients in many areas of law including civil litigation, bankruptcy, and insurance issues.

Ms. Leiss is a member of the National Association of Public Pension Attorneys, Government Finance Officers Association, the State Bar of Nevada, and an inactive member of the Oregon State Bar. She received her juris doctor from Willamette University College of Law and her B.A. from Oregon State University.

Rachel Meeker – Deputy Director / Chief Financial Officer

Rachel Meeker, a Wyoming native, has dedicated her expertise to the Wyoming Retirement System (WRS), joining in May 2020 as Internal Audit Manager and quickly progressing to Deputy Director/Chief Financial Officer in August 2023. With over two decades of comprehensive business and accounting experience spanning both public and private sectors, and holding a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Master of Business Administration, Rachel brings invaluable insight to her role. She is responsible for leading the Finance and Accounting, Investment Accounting, Employer Reporting, Retiree Services, and Information Technology teams. Rachel is honored to contribute to the WRS vision, diligently working to build and secure the financial future for members and their families through diligent oversight and operational excellence.

Sam Masoudi, CFA, CAIA – Chief Investment Officer

Sam Masoudi has 27 years of financial industry experience. He has been the CIO for the Wyoming Retirement System since 2013. Prior to that, he served as a Managing Director of Tulane University’s endowment fund for five years. He was a founder and portfolio manager for eight years at the hedge fund Silver Peak.

Sam’s other investment experience includes three years at Veronis Suhler Stevenson (private equity fund) as a director, and four years as an assistant vice president in real estate investment banking at PaineWebber and Kidder Peabody, two New York based investment banks.

Sam received his B.S. in Finance and Investing from Babson College. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) designations.

Benjamin L. Brandes – General Counsel

Benjamin L. Brandes has served as General Counsel to the Wyoming Retirement System since October 2010. In this capacity, Brandes provides legal advice to the System on all investment, administrative and operational matters. He also advises the Wyoming Retirement Board of Trustees.

Prior to joining WRS, Brandes served as legal counsel to the National Mining Association in Washington, D.C. He also has several years of prior public service to the State of Wyoming in a variety of capacities, including as a policy adviser to Governor Freudenthal.

Brandes earned a Bachelor’s degree in History from the University of Colorado at Boulder and his JD from the University of Wyoming in 2004. He is an active member of the Wyoming Bar Association, the American Bar Association and the National Association of Public Pension Attorneys.

Adam Waddell – Audit Manager

Adam Waddell serves as the Internal Audit Manager for the Wyoming Retirement System, where he plays a crucial role in enhancing operational efficiency and compliance. A proud graduate of the University of Wyoming, Adam earned his degree while also distinguishing himself as a collegiate basketball athlete. This background instilled a strong foundation of teamwork, discipline, and strategic thinking, qualities that are instrumental in his current role. Adam is dedicated to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accountability within the agency.