Cassandra Lichnock Email & Phone Number

I provide leadership for the administration of CalSTRS, a hybrid retirement system, consisting of a traditional defined benefit, cash balance and defined contribution plans, as well as disability and survivor benefits. We provide a secure retirement to more than 975,000 public school educators in California.

As chief operating officer of CalSTRS, I oversaw the Benefits and Services, Public Affairs, Technology Services and Administrative Services branches, as well as the Audit Services and Enterprise Strategy Management Divisions. I also serve as adviser and counselor to the Teachers’ Retirement Board and the chief executive officer, dealing with the most complex and critical operational issue and policy matters.• Member of CalSTRS Executive Team responsible for developing and overseeing policies, strategies and initiatives in support of the Teachers’ Retirement Board’s strategic plan and fiduciary responsibility.• Serve in absence of the CEO in front of the Legislature, control agencies, public and private agencies and organizations, school districts, members, member-constituency groups and employees.• Provide leadership and guidance to a team of executives and senior leaders managing the internal operations of CalSTRS.• Launched CalSTRS Executive Development Program to support leadership development and succession planning efforts. • Successfully engaged a technology vendor and procured a software product to replace the CalSTRS legacy pension administration system. • Developed a formalized risk reporting methodology, identifying risk categories and sub-risk categories for board-level reporting.

Provided leadership and strategic direction to the multifaceted programs within human resources including, personnel services, organizational development, survey research and analysis and corporate strategic planning.

As a member of the Lottery’s Senior Management Team, directed a multi-disciplinary staff in the oversight, implementation and administration of human resource and organizational development programs.

Bachelor Of Arts, Management

Executive Certificate, Technology Operations And Value Chain Management

Certificate, Labor-Management Relations

Certificate, Human Resources Management

Certificate, Portfolio Management Concepts, Executive Education

Certificate, Women On Board'S - Building Exceptional Leaders