Kathy LaPlante

The National Trust For Historic Preservation provides leadership, education, advocacy and resources to save America's historic places. The firm helps revitalize neighborhoods, communities, and spark economic development and promote environmental sustainability. The company was founded in 1949 and is headquartered in Washington, DC.

Virginia Retirement Systems (VRS) is a state-owned pension fund management firm headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. Founded in 1942, VRS administers pension plans and other benefits for Virginia's public sector employees through sound financial stewardship and superior customer service. Members include public school teachers, political subdivision employees (cities, towns, special authorities and commissions), state agency employees, public college and university personnel, state police, Virginia law officers and the judiciary. They also administer an optional retirement plan for political appointees and the Virginia Sickness and Disability Program for state employees.

Association for Financial Professionals, Inc. provides treasury management services. It provides training, certification, career counseling and other professional development services and hosts an annual four-day conference. The firm also publishes AFP Exchange, a bimonthly magazine. Its committee on Investment of Employee Benefit Assets represents executives who oversee investment funds of pension and benefit plans. The company was founded in 1980 and is headquartered in Bethesda, MD.

Duke University is an academic university that offers undergraduate, graduate and professional programs. It also has publications and research services. The university was founded in 1838 and is headquartered in Durham, NC.

DUMAC, Inc. is the investment arm of Duke University, a private research university headquartered in Durham, North Carolina. Founded in 1989, the firm manages Duke University’s endowment assets. In addition to managing Duke’s endowment, DUMAC also manages the university’s defined benefit pension plan assets, Duke University Health System’s investments, and much of the university’s working capital. DUMAC also manages the assets of The Duke Endowment, the private charitable trust established by Duke University’s founder, James B. Duke.

IBM Retirement Fund is the defined benefit plan manager for IBM Corp.'s (NYSE: IBM) employees. It was formed in 1983 and headquartered in Armonk, New York.

Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Inc. engages in the provision of biomedical research services and science education programs. It funds grants to both institutions and individuals in support of a wide range of science and research-related initiatives, including precollege and undergraduate science education, pre- and post-doctoral research fellowships, and international research activities. The company was founded by Howard R. Hughes in 1953 and is headquartered in Chevy Chase, MD.