JULY 2001 - Reflects Her Enthusiasm - After two years on the job as director of the State Retirement Board which oversees the massive State Retirement System, Ellen Philbin is still as enthusiastic as her first day at the helm.

And that enthusiasm is reflected in the atmosphere that permeates this vital state agency, where employees go about their daily chores in a manner that is anything but bureaucratic. While the Board’s operation has always been high-quality, Philbin’s management style has served to even further enhance that quality.

Having most recently worked at Brandeis University’s National Center for Women and Aging and earlier as a New England coordinator for AARP, Philbin’s background, in working with issues of retirement, has prepared her for the types of problems she would encounter in the public retirement arena.

“I did have some prior knowledge of Chapter 32 (Mass Public Retirement Law), but I had to quickly expand that knowledge to cover every nuance of the law,” she said. “There have been countless changes and amendments over the years. I wanted know the history behind these changes. I also wanted to be prepared for new legislative proposals so I could understand them from the perspective of employees and retirees.”

But Chapter 32 doesn’t address all of the issues of concern to public retirees. This is where Philbin’s background is especially helpful. For members who are eligible for Social Security and may be affected by its offset and windfall provisions she is a source of advice and guidance. Health insurance, Medicare and benefits outside of Chapter 32 enable her to speak to individuals and groups on a broad range of issues.

Philbin has been well-schooled in the meaning of public service. Her father’s cousin, Phil Philbin of Clinton, was a Congressman for 35 years. She was an issues coordinator for Congressman Edward Boland and later Congressman Richard Neal during a 10 year period from 1980-1990.

With her background, she remains active in politics, which she very much enjoys, but is quick to remind that “politics stops at the office door. We are here to serve all members of the state retirement system in an equal and professional manner. This is clearly understood by all staff members ...”

Speaking of the Retirement Board staff, Philbin has high praise for the employees of the Board. “Our staff members are extremely dedicated and highly professional people. At our staff meetings service and courtesy to state employees and retirees is a constant theme,” she said. “And we are always seeking ways to improve our service, especially as a source of up-to-date, accurate information.”

Philbin, herself, was responsible for editing the comprehensive Guide to Retirement Benefits, which Treasurer Shannon O’Brien has made available to members of the retirement system.

Under Philbin’s watch, the Board has created a mailing list of 600 state employees, who serve in a human resources capacity in the various state agencies and departments throughout the Commonwealth. When there is any change in our retirement law each of these officials is notified and provided with a full explanation which can be distributed.

The director and members of her staff also conduct retirement education seminars at various statewide locations. State agencies and institutions are encouraged to offer this service to their employees.

She also works closely with Deputy Director Bob Minue in implementing pension cost-of-living increases as soon as the budget is passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor. “COLAs are always a first priority,” Philbin said.

Another of the director’s duties is to prepare the agenda for meetings of the five-member Retirement Board. Because the State System is so large, there may be as many as twenty disability cases to be acted upon in a single month. Each case has its own file which she makes available to Board members several days in advance of a meeting.

“I’d have to say that Ellen’s extensive background with elder law and issues is one of her strong suits. She’s not just an administrator of Chapter 32, she has seen and experienced the entire scope of retirement,” said State Retirement Board member Ralph White. “She truly has a deep interest in the entire retirement package that transcends Chapter 32.”

Jean Simone, an administration supervisor with 32 years service, is the senior employee at the State Board.

“Every director has his or her own style. Ellen’s style is very much hands-on. I say that in a positive sense... not in an imposing sense. Right from her first day, she has sought advice on how to make things better, asking, ‘How can we improve what we are now doing?’ I have found it very inspiring to have someone like that heading our office,” Simone said.

“Among other appointments, every new treasurer names his or her own retirement director. Running the State Retirement Board is a very sensitive job and Treasurer O’Brien took four months to make that appointment... It was her last appointment,” White recalled. “I know the Treasurer screened a number of people and sought lots of advice before making a decision.”

From what we’ve seen thus-far, the Treasurer made the right decision.