LASERS beloved Member Services Director, Suzanne Adams, retired in 2011 after 11 years of service, but the mark she made on our System has been long-lasting. She came to LASERS from the Teachers’ Retirement System of Louisiana (TRSL) where she had worked for almost 20 years. Adams brought a wealth of knowledge with her.

“Working in the retirement field, I knew I’d found my passion,” she said. “I’d heard what a wonderful agency LASERS was, so when a position became available, I immediately applied. It was truly one of the best decisions of my career.”

Adams credits the LASERS staff with most, if not all, of the System’s accomplishments during her leadership of Member Services (MS). She recalled some of the milestones between 2000 and 2011:

• Replaced paper files with an imaging system,
• Brought a new computer platform online that allowed for automatic workflow,
• Reorganized MS to shorten the work processing timeline,
• Implemented a new retirement plan for the Department of Corrections employees,
• Developed a field section in MS that created individual counseling for members across the state,
• Developed solutions to assist Hurricane Katrina retirees,
• And implemented new legislation each year.

When describing LASERS value to the state, Adams said, “LASERS provides an opportunity for its members to receive a guaranteed pension upon retirement. In this day and time, that is a tremendous comfort. The staff of LASERS are well-versed in retirement concerns and are able to provide valuable information to active employees throughout their career, so that they can make the best decisions to maximize their retirement pensions.”

After more than 36 years in state government, Adams is enjoying retirement. “I love being retired, but do miss the wonderful people I worked with,” she said. “One person who had a tremendous impact on my career at LASERS was Cindy Rougeou. She has a passion for LASERS and its membership that is contagious. She continues to fight every day to protect LASERS benefit structure and we’re fortunate to have her.”

Many processes instituted by Adams continue today at LASERS. Her influence in MS has impacted and enhanced the overall excellence of LASERS customer service.

Adams commented, “For those of us who have been fortunate enough to work in State Government and contribute to LASERS, we know what a wonderful retirement system it is. I’m thankful for the passion of those at LASERS who protect the system and the benefits it provides.”