New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. speaks at an October 26, 2006 New America Alliance news conference in Manhattan, announcing an initiative to expand inclusion of emerging managers in the pension fund system. Pictured (l to r) are: Regina Montoya, Chief Executive Officer, New America Alliance; Christopher J. Ailman, Chief Investment Officer, California State Teachers’ Retirement System; Thompson; Fred R. Buenrostro Jr., Chief Executive Officer, California Public Employees’ Retirement System; and, Marilou Martinez Stevens, Chair of the Board, New America Alliance.

NEW YORK, NY, October 26, 2006- The New America Alliance (NAA), Christopher J. Ailman, chief investment officer of the California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS), and New York City Comptroller William Thompson, Jr. announced today a joint effort to increase participation and representation of emerging managers in the pension fund system. The announcement was made during the NAA’s Sixth Annual Wall Street Summit in New York City.

Through this new partnership, the NAA and participant institutions that will join the organization under a new membership category, will build stronger relationships with public and corporate pension funds, and assist them in expanding their pool of top performing managers. NAA will also assist in establishing initiatives to increase the participation of Latinos in all areas of the pension fund system.

“Board members and legislators have been urging pension funds for more diversity representation in the handling of fund portfolios,” said NAA Chair Marilou Martinez Stevens.  “Broader inclusion of emerging managers, many of whom are minorities and women is not only the right thing to do, it is also the path towards continued economic growth for our nation.”

“As institutional investors, we are always looking for the next pool of untapped talent,” said Ailman. “In the three years I’ve been a member of the NAA, I have found it to be a tremendous source of networking and investment opportunities. The new NAA membership category means Institutional Investors can readily connect and capitalize on the fresh perspective and overlooked alpha that these emerging managers provide.”

 “I have no doubt that by bringing a wide range of pension systems under one umbrella, the NAA will be at the forefront of the movement to use pension funds to achieve broad diversity goals and expand economic opportunity while we grow our funds for retirees,” said Comptroller Thompson.

“Through the creation of our new Pension Funds Membership initiative, NAA will have a more structured line of communication with public and private pension funds, endowments and foundations to maximize the opportunities for these institutions to provide the best possible return for their beneficiaries,” said NAA’s Chief Executive Officer Regina Montoya.
The California State Teachers' Retirement System is the second-largest public pension fund in the United States. It provides retirement, disability and survivor benefits to California's 776,000 public school educators from kindergarten through community college.
As custodian and investment advisor to all five the city’s pension funds, Comptroller Thompson manages a combined portfolio of almost $95 billion.  In this role, Thompson has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in affordable housing and commercial real estate in New York City, helping increase housing and job opportunities within the five boroughs.

About the NAA
New America Alliance (NAA) is a 501(C)(6) organization of American Latino business leaders committed to leading the process of Latino empowerment and wealth-building by expanding the forms of capital most crucial for economic advancement, including economic capital, political capital, human capital, and philanthropy.

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