 Administrative Staff
A total of 14 employees make up the staff of the Fort Worth Employees’ Retirement Fund. They provide day-to-day administration along with the recordkeeping and oversight of the investment of the Fund’s financial assets. The staff consists of an Executive Director/CIO, two Deputy Directors, a General Counsel, two investment staff, two accounting staff, three benefits staff and three administrative staff members.
With more than 3,200 retirees and more than 6,300 active members to serve, it was necessary to divide the active membership and retirees by alphabet and give them a personal Member Services Specialist in order to provide quality customer service to all members. Listed below are the administrative staff and their roles and responsibilities.
Ruth Ryerson, Executive Director/CIO –  Email
Ruth is responsible for management and oversight of the Fund's investment portfolio, benefit programs, professional advisors, and legal counsel. She can be reached at (817) 632-8900.
Wanda Valentine, Deputy Director – Benefits & Administration – Email
Wanda is responsible for management and supervision of disbursements and benefit administration and serves as the disability coordinator. She can be reached at (817) 632-8905.
Melissa McDougall, Member Services Specialist – Email
Melissa is a Member Services Specialists who counsels and administers retirement and DROP benefits to active members and retirees with last names beginning with L-Z. She is also responsible for all marketing and educational materials. She can be reached at (817) 632-8903.
Jennifer Sierra, Member Services Specialist – Email
Jennifer is a Member Services Specialist who counsels and administers retirement and DROP benefits to active members and retirees with the last names beginning with A-K. Additionally, she is responsible for processing death claims and maintaining/tracking vested members who have separated from service. She can be reached at (817) 632-8902.
Angie Rodriguez, Member Services IT Specialist – Email
Angie is the Member Services IT Specialist whose primary responsibility is to oversee the implementation of a new Pension Administration System. Angie will be available, as needed, to counsel and administer retirement, DROP and death benefits for active, terminated vested members, retirees and their survivors. She can be reached at (817) 632-8904.
Carla Perez, Executive Assistant – Email
Carla is responsible for transcribing and maintaining minutes of all Retirement Board meetings and is the travel coordinator for the Board of Trustees and Retirement Staff. She is also responsible for processing the refund of contributions to former employees. She can be reached at (817) 632-8901.
Wynona Gulley, Administrative Assistant (P/T) – Email
Ava Stevenson, Administrative Assistant (P/T) – Email
Wynona and Ava are the initial point of contact for most active members and retirees. They are responsible for directing questions and calls to the appropriate staff members. This position also assists staff with special projects and directs office workflow. Wynona and Ava can be reached at (817) 632-8900.
Robert Hulme, Deputy Director – Investments and Operations – Email
Robert oversees the investment team and is responsible for preparation of financial statements and reporting and coordination of internal and external audits. He can be reached at (817) 632-8918.
Okey Anagbor, Investment Analyst – Email
Okey is responsible for working with the Deputy Director of Investments and Operations on measuring investment performance and compliance. Okey works with the Fund's managers, consultants and custody bank to provide information to staff and the Board. He can be reached at (817) 632-8915.
Bryan Hedrick, Investment Analyst – Email
Bryan is responsible for working with the Deputy Director of Investments and Operations on measuring investment performance and compliance. Bryan works with the Fund's managers, consultants and custody bank to provide information to staff and the Board. He can be reached at (817) 632-8916.
Tyler Wright, Senior Accountant– Email
Tyler’s primary role is to prepare the monthly and annual financial statements. She also reviews, analyzes, documents and audits administrative and financial operations of the Fund. In addition, she performs professional accounting duties, such as general ledger reconciliation and management reporting. She can be reached at (817) 632-8912.
Christian Wetshi-Lunula, Accountant – Email
Christian performs professional accounting duties, including general ledger and custodian bank reconciliations, financial reporting, and a variety of other accounting functions. He can be reached at (817) 632-8911.
Rebecca Earley, Operations Assistant – Email
Rebecca is responsible for working with the Investments and Operations team to facilitate meetings with potential and current money managers, maintain business contacts and investment files, and coordinate technology needs and issues. She can be reached at (817) 632-8914.
Doreen McGookey, General Counsel – Email
Doreen has overall responsibility for the provision of internal legal services to the Retirement Fund, and performs or coordinates all professional legal work in support of the Retirement Fund's Board of Trustees, Executive Director/CIO and staff. The General Counsel also assists in the development and implementation of the Retirement Fund’s legislative policies and programs, including making recommendations regarding necessary administrative rules changes, legislation or legislative solutions to specific problems or issues, and the drafting of proposed rules changes or legislation.
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