July 23, 2015: Three New Chief Officers Appointed at TRS

Three new chief officers appointed at Teacher Retirement System of Texas

Austin – TRS Executive Director Brian Guthrie announces the appointments of three individuals to top executive positions in the agency. Chris Cutler is TRS’ new chief information officer, Barbie Pearson is serving as the new chief benefits officer, and Katrina Daniel is the agency’s new chief health care officer.

As chief information officer, Cutler is responsible for the executive management and oversight of the Information Technology Division. Chris has over 27 years of technical and leadership experience, 20 of which have been with TRS. He took the helm of the technology division last November. Chris was initially hired at TRS as part of a large agencywide initiative, which became known as the TRS2000 project – an endeavor much like the TEAM program that looked to modernize the technology and processes at TRS. During his tenure at TRS, he was also responsible for hiring and building what is now known as the Network Infrastructure and Support department – TRS’ IT professionals in Voice & Data Services, Enterprise Systems, Telecommunications, Enterprise Security, Help desk and Client Services & Support.

Cutler has a BBA in computer information systems and in business management from McMurry University. He also earned an MBA with a concentration in management information systems from St. Edward’s University.

Pearson is the new chief benefits officer and will oversee the Benefit Services Division, which includes Benefit Processing, Benefit Counseling and Benefit Accounting. She is a 29-year employee at TRS, having held an array of positions in billing, disability retirement counseling, benefit counseling and was team leader of both the telephone counseling and office visit centers. Prior to her new appointment, Pearson served as the assistant manager of Benefit Counseling. She holds a wealth of institutional knowledge and will continue to be a critical contributor to the TEAM program.

Pearson received her Public Manager Certification through the William P. Hobby Center for Public Service at Texas State University in 2006. She is also a Certified Retirement Counselor and a Certified Inside Out Advantage Coach. She is a member of the National Pension Education Association and the International Foundation of Employee Benefits. Pearson has also volunteered for the Austin Partners in Education program in reading with second grade students. She grew up in Mason, Texas where she graduated from high school in 1986.

New to TRS, Daniel joined the agency this summer as the chief health care officer and will oversee the TRS-Care and TRS-ActiveCare programs. Daniel was with the Texas Department of Insurance since 2008, first as a special advisor for policy development and, in her most recent role, as senior associate commissioner for the Life, Health and Licensing Program. She has overseen the regulation of a wide range of life, annuity, and accident and health insurance products, the licensing of insurance agents and adjusters, and the development and approval of workers’ compensation health care networks.

Daniel graduated from Texas Woman’s University School of Nursing and has completed coursework for a Master of Public Health from the University of Texas School of Public Health. She is a graduate of La Porte High School in La Porte, Texas.