Innovators honored by P&I, defined contribution association

Five Innovator Award winners were named Monday by Pensions & Investments and the Defined Contribution Institutional Investment Association.

The winners of the first-time awards were announced at P&I's West Coast defined contribution conference in San Francisco.

Carol Cypert, deferred compensation manager for the City and County of San Francisco, was recognized for the introduction to a large public plan of custom target-date funds with alternative investments. Ms. Cypert was selected in the investments category.

Kevin Hanney received the award in the retirement income category. Mr. Hanney, director of non-U.S. pensions and savings plans at United Technologies Corp., Hartford, Conn., was instrumental in designing a program to offer a lifetime income option — called an insured withdrawal benefit — within its DC plans.

Dan Holupchinski, manager of retirement plans at Deluxe Corp., Shoreview, Minn., was an Innovator Award recipient for the decision to provide participants with replacement income of 90% at retirement, and then developing a way to achieve that goal. Mr. Holupchinski won in the plan design category.

Bernie Knobbe and Barbara Kontje both won in the new media category. Mr. Knobbe, senior director of global benefits and mobility at Yahoo! Inc., Sunnyvale, Calif., was cited for his decision to use text messages, video, social media and games to engage participants. Ms. Kontje, director, global retirement and SmartSaving at American Express Co., New York, was honored for launching virtual financial fairs and for educating families of participants.

— Contact Nancy K. Webman at nwebman@pionline.com | @Webman_PI