The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation has named Constance (Connie) Donovan to the newly created position of participant and plan sponsor advocate.
In this role, Ms. Donovan will serve as a liaison for plan sponsors and participants. She also is responsible for resolving disputes between the agency and its customers, recommending legislative changes, and filing an annual report to Congress. The position was created when the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (“MAP-21”) was signed into law on July 6, 2012.
“Connie Donovan has a deep understanding of this agency, pensions, and government,” said PBGC director Josh Gotbaum. “She's going to make a great addition to the talented group of people that work here.”
“I am looking forward to working with PBGC to launch the participant and plan sponsor advocate office,” Ms. Donovan said. “I'm certain we can build on positive changes already underway within PBGC that benefit participants and plan sponsors, and that the Advocate role can also help bring together interested stakeholders to secure and sustain pension plans for workers and the companies that sponsor them.”
Before joining the PBGC, Ms. Donovan was an attorney in the office of the general counsel at the Department of the Treasury.
Prior to that appointment, she worked with the PBGC during her tenure at the Department of Labor's employee benefits security administration in the policy and research division. While there, she advised the assistant secretary and the secretary of labor on all matters concerning the agency's trust fund and aspects of pension law. She also coordinated daily activities between the PBGC's board agencies comprised of the Departments of Labor, Treasury, and Commerce, and PBGC staff to assist in oversight functions.
In addition to her federal service, Ms. Donovan has held roles in various retirement agencies at the state and local level, including at NCR Corporation (formerly AT&T).
Ms. Donovan earned a Master of Laws from Georgetown University Law Center, a law degree from the American University Washington College of Law, and a Bachelor of Arts from Boston College.
Learn more: PBGC.gov.
Victoria Spears
Victoria Prussen Spears is senior vice president of Meyerowitz Communications Inc., a law firm marketing communications consulting company. A graduate of Sarah Lawrence College and Brooklyn Law School, Ms. Spears was an attorney at a leading New York City law firm before joining Meyerowitz Communications. She may be contacted at [email protected].