Senior Officer Profiles

Robert C. Albanese, President & CEO

Robert Albanese is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Pentegra Retirement Services. As Pentegra’s  CEO, Bob brings to Pentegra an understanding of the organization’s mission combined with an intimate knowledge of the financial services industry. Prior to becoming CEO, he served on Pentegra’s Board of Directors for over ten years. Before joining Pentegra, Bob was the Regional Director of the Office of Thrift Supervision for the Northeast Region, which oversees institutions with assets of over $400 billion and holding companies with assets of over $2 trillion. He joined the OTS in 1989 and became Regional Director in 1996. Bob began his career in the management training program of the First Boston Corporation, a Wall Street investment banking firm. In the mid-1970’s, he accepted a position with the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York, where he eventually rose to Senior Vice President and Director of Examinations. With the passage of the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989, Bob was transferred to the newly created Office of Thrift Supervision, an agency created in the Department of Treasury. He became Regional Director in August 1996, where he was responsible for all supervisory activities of OTS-regulated institutions in the twelve states now constituting the Northeast Region. As a former regulator, he is especially cognizant of best practices in safeguarding the interests of the plans we manage, which is a cornerstone of Pentegra’s added value to its clients. Bob holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the University of Dayton, and an MBA degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University. He is also a graduate of the U. S. Treasury’s Executive Leadership Institute.

Robert D. Alin, Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary

Robert Alin is Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary, responsible for overseeing Pentegra’s legal, compliance and governance areas. He joined Pentegra in 1986 and is our chief legal officer. Robert and his team consult with clients regularly with regard to ERISA issues, IRS, DOL and PBGC regulations and their impact on plan design and qualification, as well as plan compliance. Robert has been involved in every aspect of the business of Pentegra, and was instrumental in procuring a change to Section 413(c) of the Internal Revenue Code which was necessary to treat clients equitably and foster client retention, as well as the oversight of Pentegra Services, Inc. and obtaining a prohibited transaction exemption in connection therewith which have been integral to the growth of the business. Robert has over 30 years experience in all facets of retirement benefits, and has counseled clients on qualified and nonqualified retirement plans, welfare benefit plans, and compensation arrangements. Prior to joining Pentegra in 1986, Robert was in private practice specializing in all facets of employee benefits and tax law. Robert also served as a professor in employee benefits at the Adelphi University Lawyer’s Assistant Program and has been a frequent lecturer in the field of employee benefits. He holds a J.D. and LL.M. in Taxation from New York University School of Law and a B.A. with distinction from the University of Rochester.

Gwen D. Burroughs, Senior Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer

Gwen Burroughs is Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, responsible for overseeing Pentegra’s sales, marketing and consulting groups as well as the development of third party distribution channels for Pentegra’s retirement products and services. Gwen’s strong background in retirement plan marketing and management and more than 20 years of experience in this area are ideal for this critical role. Prior to joining Pentegra in 2003, Gwen served as Director, Deutsche Bank/Scudder Retirement & Investment Services, where she was responsible for the development of both broker-sold and institutional sales for a full suite of retirement products. Gwen holds a B.A., Cum Laude from Chatham College.

Horace “Hod” Caulkins, Senior Vice President, Chief Investment Officer

Hod Caulkins is Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer, responsible for guiding and overseeing the investment of a $4 billion portfolio, the development and oversight of Pentegra’s investment policy and monitoring market and economic conditions on behalf of our 800+ clients. Hod joined Pentegra in 1982, and has over 30 years of investment management experience, including working on the NYSE floor, a trading desk, setting up the investment operation for a foundation, overseeing pension fund investment managers, managing insurance companies’ portfolios, pension funds and a venture capital fund. Hod’s foresight and investment discipline have served our clients exceptionally well by maintaining a top tier rating for our largest defined benefit portfolio. Hod is a CFA, holds an M.B.A. from Columbia University and a B.S. from Trinity College.

Jeffrey A. Kissel, Senior Vice President & Chief Actuary

 Jeff Kissel is Senior Vice President and Chief Actuary, responsible for overseeing Pentegra’s actuarial services area, where actuarial liabilities and funding levels are determined for each of Pentegra’s pension clients and retirement benefits are paid out to more than 10,000 retirees. With over 25 years of actuarial consulting expertise, Jeff and his team extend their focus beyond number crunching to offer valuable insights into your plan—participant characteristics, assets and liabilities, cost and benefit objectives—and how those variables affect both your bottom line and your organization’s human resource goals. Jeff joined the organization in 2005. He is an author and speaker on retirement benefit and pension issues. Jeff is a graduate of the State University of New York at Binghamton with a B.A. in Mathematics and a B.S. in Accounting. He is also a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries and an Enrolled Actuary.

Joseph M. Komosinski, Vice President, Information Technology

Joe Komosinski is Vice President, Information Technology, responsible for managing Pentegra’s information technology group. As a technical expert, his more than 25 years of experience have been spent in developing IT solutions for the retirement benefits industry. He joined Pentegra in 1995, and has been a driving force in the development of Pentegra’s recordkeeping platforms and web interface. At Pentegra, his focus has been on the implementation of business and retirement administration systems based on a singular database which enhance administrative efficiencies and deliver a rich and rewarding experience to Pentegra's customers. Joe holds a B.S. in Mathematics with a concentration in Information Technology from Binghamton University.

John E. Pinto, Senior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer

Richard W. Rausser, Vice President, Consulting Services

Rich Rausser is Vice President, Consulting Services responsible for overseeing Pentegra's retirement plan consutling practice group. Our plan consultants serve as the primary point of contact for our retirement programs and consult with clients nationwide on plan design, compensation and technical and regulatory issues. Rich joined the organization in 1997 and has more than 20 years of experience in the retirement benefits field, which includes a unique mix of small company and Fortune 500 level consulting work. He has been instrumental in expanding Pentegra's customer base and is a frequent speaker on retirement benefit topics. Rich is a Certified Pension Consultant (CPC), a Qualified Pension Administrator (QPA), a Qualified 401(k) Administrator and a member of the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries. He holds an M.B.A. in Finance from Farleigh Dickinson University and a B.A. in Economics and Business Administration from Ursinus College.