David Swindell - Executive Director
He comes to the position of Executive Director after serving five years as the system’s Deputy Director. Swindell was raised in Riverton, Wyoming and was appointed to U.S. Military Academy at West Point from Riverton High School. He served 22 years in the U.S. Army, retiring with a rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Prior to serving WRS, Dave was the Chief Financial Officer for the City of Pocatello, ID. His education includes a MPA with concentration in economics from Princeton University and a Bachelor of Science degree from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
He is a member of the Government Finance Officers Association, Association of Government Accountants and is a Certified Government Finance Manager (CGFM). His arrival at the Wyoming Retirement System marked a return to the state, as he was raised in Riverton, WY and was appointed to the Military Academy from Riverton High School. Dave and his spouse Jill enjoy travel, skiing and fly fishing, where they amuse the local trout with their efforts.
Mike Bleakley - Deputy Director
Mike Bleakley is the Deputy Director/Chief Financial Officer of the Wyoming Retirement System, where he oversees Member Operations, Finance & Accounting, Communications and Information Systems, as well as other agency-wide management duties assigned by the Director. He was previously the Staff Development & Executive Administrator for the Wyoming Retirement System where he managed personnel & leadership development, retirement board meetings, and governance matters including strategic planning, board policy, and legislative intent.
Prior to his duties in state government, Bleakley was a Property Manager and Accountant, managing the collection of assessments, payment of association obligations, budget preparation, reserve study, financial audit, and contract and vendor negotiations.
Bleakley has always had an interest in providing a secure retirement. His background includes brief careers as a tax accountant and financial planner and then a full-blown financial professional. Mike had his Series 7, 66, Life & Health, and has always had an interest and education in ensuring retirement security for all individuals.
His education includes a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Wyoming and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Colorado at Denver.
Bleakley is a member of the Government Finance Officers Association and has passed level I of the Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM) from the Association of Government Accountants (AGA). He is Board Chairman for Meridian Trust Federal Credit Union and is a proud Rotarian.
Originally from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Mike and his spouse Jeran enjoy football, golf, and spending time with family and friends.
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.
Managers
- Operations Manager (Pension) - Cindy Kushnir
- Audit Manager - Rachel Meeker
- Interim Deferred Compensation Manager - George Eason
- Finance Manager - Andrea Odell
- Staff Development and Executive Administrator - Rachel Kelley
- Business Integration Manager - Dale Meyer
- Communications Officer - Kristin Kasper
