LASERS BOARD OF TRUSTEES
A 13-member Board of Trustees oversees LASERS operations. Six seats are filled by active members. Three seats are held by retirees. Four positions are ex officio, held by the State Treasurer, Commissioner of Administration, Chair of the Louisiana Senate Retirement Committee, and member of the Louisiana House of Representatives Retirement Committee appointed by the Speaker of the House, or their designees.
Trustees serve four-year terms. No Trustee may serve more than three consecutive terms. Trustees are required to file financial disclosure reports with the Board of Ethics.
Ternisa Hutchinson
Board Chair, Active Member
Trustee since 2022
Current term ends 12/31/2029
Email: [email protected]
About Ternisa Hutchinson
State Service & Career
- Senior Budget Analyst, Louisiana State Senate
- 25 years of service with the Division of Administration, Office of Planning and Budget
- Held various positions, including State Director and State Deputy Director
LASERS Board Service
- Current Board Chair (2026)
- Vice Chair (2025)
- Management Committee Chair (2024)
Professional Leadership & Service
- Over 15 years as Commissioner of Administration’s delegate on the Deputy Sheriffs’ and Municipal Police State Supplemental Pay Boards
- Southern Regional Director, Executive Committee of the National Association of State Budget Officers
Education
- Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Louisiana State University
- Master’s in Public Administration from the University of North Texas
Contact
- Office: 225.342.0394
- Email: [email protected]
Byron P. Decoteau, Jr.
Board Vice Chair, Active Member
Trustee since 2022
Current term ends 12/31/2029
Email: [email protected]
About Byron Decoteau, Jr., MSHLD, PHR., SHRM-CP
State Service & Career
- Over 25 years of Human Resources experience with the State of Louisiana
- Director, Louisiana Department of State Civil Service
- Former Human Resources Director, Department of Public Safety & Corrections – Corrections Services
LASERS Membership & Board Service
- Member of LASERS for 27 years
- Elected to the LASERS Board of Trustees in 2022
- Current Vice Chair (2026)
- Investment Committee Chair (2025)
- Board Chair (2024)
Professional Leadership & Service
- Current At-Large Board Member, Retired State Employees Association
- Past President, National Association of State Personnel Executives
Education
- Master’s Degree in Human Resources and Leadership Development, Louisiana State University
- Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management, Southeastern Louisiana University
Contact
- Office: 225.342.8272
- Email: [email protected]
Virginia Burton
Retired Member
Trustee since 2016
Current term ends 12/31/2027
Email: [email protected]
About Virginia Burton
State Service & Career
- Over 30 years of management experience in state service
- Retired from the Louisiana Department of Revenue in 2007
LASERS Membership & Board Service
- Member of LASERS since 1971
- Retired Member Trustee since 2016
- Served 16 years as an Active Member Trustee, including terms as Chair and Vice Chair of the Board, and Chair of the Investment, Management, and Audit Committees
Professional Leadership & Service
- Previously served as a Participant Member on the Louisiana Deferred Compensation Commission
Professional Credentials
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA) (retired)
- Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (retired)
- Certified Fraud Examiner (retired)
Contact
- Cell: 225.335.9653
Pam Diez
Active Member
Trustee since 2024
Current term ends 12/31/2027
Email: [email protected]
About Pam Diez
State Service & Career
- 35 years of experience in state government, specializing in finance and administration
- Chief Operating Officer, Bureau of Health Services Financing, Louisiana Department of Health
LASERS Membership & Board Service
- Member of LASERS for over 10 years
- Active Member Trustee since 2024
- Audit Committee Chair (2025)
Professional Credentials & Leadership
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
- Current Board Member, National Association of State Human Services Finance Officers
- Past Board Member, Campus Federal Credit Union
- Past Member, Ascension Parish Tourism Commission
- Graduate, Leadership Ascension – Ascension Chamber of Commerce
Education
- Master’s Degree in Business Administration, University of Phoenix
- Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Louisiana State University
Contact
- Office: 225.342.6726
Beverly Hodges
Retired Member
Trustee since 2024
Current term ends 12/31/2027
Email: [email protected]
About Beverly Hodges
State Service & Career
- 39 years of government experience in administration, auditing, finance, and management
- Retired Undersecretary, Louisiana Department of Natural Resources
LASERS Membership & Board Service
- Member of LASERS for over 20 years
- Retired Member Trustee, LASERS Board of Trustees
- Served 12 years as an Active Member Trustee, including terms as Chair of the Board, Audit, Management, and Investment Committees
Professional Credentials & Leadership
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
- Member and Past President, Government Finance Officers Association of Louisiana
- Member, Louisiana Deferred Compensation Commission (since 2022)
Education
- Master’s Degree in Public Administration, Louisiana State University
- Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Nicholls State University
Contact
- Cell: 225.505.3330
Cortny Jarrell
Active Member
Trustee since 2024
Current term ends 12/31/27
Email: [email protected]
About Cortny Jarrell
State Service & Career
- LASERS member for over 18 years
- Current Human Resources Director, Louisiana House of Representatives
- Extensive Human Resources management experience with State Civil Service and the Department of Transportation & Development
LASERS Membership & Board Service
- Member of the LASERS Board of Trustees since 2024
- Audit Committee Chair (2026)
- Management Committee Chair (2025)
Professional Leadership & Service
- Participant, Louisiana Public Employees Deferred Compensation Plan
- Immediate Past-President National Pan-Hellenic Council of Greater Baton Rouge
- First Vice President, Southern University Alumni Federation
Education
- Master’s Degree in Public Administration, Southern University and A&M College
- Bachelor’s Degree in Family and Consumer Science, Southern University and A&M College
Contact
- Office: 225.342.2455
Laura Lapeze
Active Member
Trustee since 2024
Current term ends 12/31/27
Email: [email protected]
About Laura Lapeze
State Service & Career
- 21 years of state government experience in budgeting, finance, and executive-level administration
- Undersecretary, Louisiana Department of Revenue
- Former Chief Financial Officer, Louisiana State Treasury
- Previous service with the Department of Education, Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP), and Louisiana Technical College
LASERS Membership & Board Service
- LASERS Member for 19 years
- Active Member Trustee since 2024
- Management Committee Chair (2026)
Professional Leadership & Service
- Served over 11 years as Treasury’s delegate on the Deputy Sheriffs’ State Supplemental Pay Board
- Served over 14 years as Treasury’s and Revenue’s delegate on the Louisiana Tax Free Shopping Commission
- Treasurer over 8 years for Special Ops Survivors
Education
- Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Louisiana State University
Contact
- Office: 225.219.2706
- Email: [email protected]
Amy A. Mathews
Active Member
Trustee since 2022
Current term ends 12/31/29
Email: [email protected]
About Amy Mathews
LASERS Membership & Board Service
- LASERS Member for 19 years
- Board Chair (2025)
- Investment Committee Chair: 2022, 2024
- Previously served as Trustee as the State Treasurer’s Designee
Professional Experience
- Chief Investment Officer, Louisiana Department of Treasury
- Over 20 years of experience in investment securities within the private sector
Education
- Master of Business Administration, Southeastern Louisiana University
- Bachelor of Science in Finance, Louisiana State University
Contact
- Office: 225.342.1598
- Email: [email protected]
Shannon Templet
Retired Member
Trustee since 2025
Current term ends 12/31/2029
Email: [email protected]
About Shannon Templet
State Service & Career
- 36 years of service in Human Resources
- Retired as HR Director, Louisiana House of Representatives
- Former State Civil Service Director
- Former HR Director, Department of Public Safety & Corrections
LASERS Membership & Board Service
- LASERS Member for 36 years
- Active Member Trustee, 12 years (2012–2023)
- Board Chair: 2014, 2019, 2023
- Previously served as Chair of the Management, Investment, and Audit Committees
- LASERS Advisory Board, 8 years
Professional Leadership & Service
- Past President, Vice President, and Secretary, National Association of State Personnel Executives
- Chairman, Department of Corrections Credit Union Credit Committee (10 years)
Education
- Bachelor of Science in Finance, Louisiana State University
- Master of Science in Leadership and Human Resources Management, Louisiana State University
Contact:
- Cell: 225.715.5762
Taylor F. Barras
Commissioner of Administration
Ex Officio Member
Email: [email protected]
John C. Fleming, M.D.
State Treasurer
Ex Officio Member
Email: [email protected]
Sen. Edward J. “Ed” Price
Chair, Senate Retirement Committee
Ex Officio Member
Email: [email protected]
Rep. Christopher Turner
Chair, House Retirement Committee
Ex Officio Member
Email: [email protected]