EBRI issuing call for Ray Lillywhite Award candidates

The Employee Benefit Research Institute is taking nominations for the Ray Lillywhite Award, honoring people who have contributed to improving retirement security through work in investments and plan management as well as research.

Lori Lucas, president and CEO of EBRI, said in an interview that a number of nominations have focused on behavioral science as well as topics that have dominated the annual awards since 1992. EBRI established the award to honor Ray Lillywhite, a pioneer in pension and retirement investing.

Mr. Lillywhite was honored not only for his achievements but also for reaching out to teach others, Ms. Lucas said. This contribution to retirement industry peers is an important factor in the Lillywhite Award judging, she added.

Ms. Lucas noted that the 2017 winner, Karin Brodbeck, former director, retirement investments, Nestle USA, was honored for her efforts to create cost-efficient investment options for Nestle 401(k) participants and also for "her willingness to help others." Ms. Brodbeck received her award at the Pensions & Investments West Coast Defined Contribution conference in San Diego last month.

Other recent winners are Olivia S. Mitchell, executive director of the Pension Research Council at the Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania, in 2016; Christine Marcks, the now-retired president and CEO of Prudential Retirement, in 2015; and Mary Nell Billings, senior director of global retirement programs for Hilton Worldwide Holdings, in 2014.

A list of winners is available on the EBRI website.

Nominations must be submitted by Nov. 30. Instructions and the nomination form are available on EBRI's website.