STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3436

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NO. 533

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 533, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of: 

 

Board of Trustees of the Employees' Retirement System

 

G.M. No. 533

JERRY RAUCKHORST,

for a term to expire 1-1-2020,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee reviewed the personal history, resume, and statement submitted by the nominee and finds Jerry Rauckhorst to possess the requisite qualifications to be nominated to serve on the Board of Trustees of the Employees' Retirement System.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Jerry Rauckhorst from the Department of Budget and Finance, Employees' Retirement System, and seven individuals.

 

     Mr. Rauckhorst received his Bachelor of Arts from The University of Akron and his Master of Science in Social Administration from the Mandel School of Applied Sciences at Case Western Reserve University.  Since 1995, he has served as the President and Chief Executive Office for Catholic Charities Hawaii and is responsible for a $27,000,000 organization that provides a broad range of services statewide to thousands of individuals annually.  During his tenure at Catholic Charities Hawaii, Mr. Rauckhorst has developed and conducted a mission and values clarification process that resulted in desired changed in organizational culture; spearheaded the effort in establishing a Housing Development Corporation as a subsidiary corporation to address the agency's need to acquire residential properties for its programs and to develop affordable housing for the people the agency serves; and initiated the restructuring of the organization by integrating its three affiliate agencies into a single organization.  He previously served as the Director of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, Inc., and held various management positions for the Federation of Catholic Community Services in Cleveland, Ohio.

 

     Mr. Rauckhorst is a licensed social worker in the State of Hawaii and is certified by the Academy of Certified Social Workers National Association of Social Workers.  He has extensive community involvement outside of his duties with Catholic Charities Hawaii, including the Hawaii Pops, Armed Services YMCA Board, Board of Trustees of Damien Memorial School, Treasurer of the Executive Committee of Protecting Hawaii's Ohana, Children, Under-served, Elderly, and Disabled (PHOCUSED), Board of Directors of the Hawaii Alliance of Nonprofit Organizations, member of the Hogan Entrepreneurs Advisory Board, Rotary Club of Honolulu, and Association of Weinberg Fellows.  His previous professional activities and community involvement included Hawaii Employers Council Board, Entrepreneur Foundation Board, Aloha United Way, and Catholic Charities USA.

 

     Mr. Rauckhorst is nominated for reappointment to the Board of Trustees of the Employees' Retirement System.  Testimony in support of the nominee indicate that during his tenure on the Board, he has served on the Investment Committee, Administrative and Legislative Committee, Compensation Review Committee, and Audit Committee of which he serves as the Chairperson.  As President and Chief Operating Officer of Catholic Charities Hawaii, he brings to the Board his fiscal management skills to complement the Board's commitment to reducing the unfunded liability of the Employees' Retirement System and ensuring its sustainability.  In addition, Mr. Rauckhorst helps guide the Audit Committee with his experience in organizational development, finance, and strategic planning.

 

     Testimony further indicates that as a Trustee, he is fair and acutely aware of his fiduciary responsibility and although not a member of the Employees' Retirement System, he approaches each of the System's challenges personally with the goal of ensuring that present and future benefit obligations are met.  As a community leader representing a significant and notable nonprofit in Hawaii, he has a keen sense of governance and management that is valuable to the Board.

 

     Accordingly, based on the testimony submitted, your Committee finds that Jerry Rauckhorst is exceptionally qualified to continue to serve on the Board of Trustees of the Employees' Retirement System.  The nominee's professional experience will serve the Board of Trustees and public well.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the background, experience, and qualifications of the nominee, has found the nominee to be qualified for the position to which nominated and recommends that the Senate advise and consent to the nomination.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary and Labor,

 

 

 

____________________________

CLAYTON HEE, Chair