TPEA Announces New Executive Director Ann Bishop
November 12, 2019
The Texas Public Employees Association (TPEA) is proud to announce that Ann Bishop has agreed to become its next Executive Director. Bishop succeeds Gary Anderson, who is retiring at the end of the year after 21 years at the helm of the organization.
Bishop has served in a number of capacities in Texas state government. A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and Texas Tech University School of Law, Bishop served as Deputy Comptroller of Public Accounts before becoming the first executive director of the Texas Department of Information Resources, created by the Legislature in 1989. In 2004, the Employees Retirement System of Texas selected Bishop to lead the agency as its executive director. Aside from a brief stint as Chief of Staff to former Governor Rick Perry in 2012 and 2013, Bishop served ERS with distinction until her retirement from the agency in 2015. She also has significant experience in the private sector in management and technology consulting.
The TPEA Board of Directors conducted a five-month search process and unanimously agreed that Bishop has the ideal combination of knowledge, background, and experience to be an effective advocate for public employees before the Legislature and executive agencies. Bishop will officially join TPEA on December 5.
“Ann Bishop is no stranger to the serious challenges facing active and retired public employees in this state, particularly with respect to compensation and the actuarial soundness of ERS,” said Gilbert Jordan, President of the TPEA Board of Directors. “We are extremely fortunate to have a person of Ann’s broad experience and long record of distinguished public service advocating on behalf of our members at this critical time and leading us into the future. We look forward to getting Ann on board and preparing for the 2021 legislative session.”
Retiring TPEA executive director, Gary Anderson, joined the organization in 1999 after almost two decades of managing legislative policy and advocacy on behalf of business associations. Under Anderson’s watch, TPEA has dedicated its efforts to three priorities: keeping state salaries competitive with the private sector, ensuring the actuarial soundness of the ERS Trust Fund, and maintaining quality health insurance benefits. During his tenure, the Legislature raised state employee compensation no fewer than eight times. Moreover, Anderson leaves TPEA in a much stronger financial and legislative position than he found it. While other associations have struggled in tight economic times, Anderson has placed TPEA on a permanent footing of financial stability without significantly raising membership dues. At the same time, he has made substantial improvements to TPEA's legislative and communications capabilities in an era of rapid changes in the political landscape.
“On behalf of the TPEA Board of Directors and membership, I want to express our deepest gratitude to Gary for his long and distinguished service to our organization,” said Gilbert Jordan. “Public employees owe him a debt of gratitude for his tireless work to expand the influence of our organization in the Capitol, grow TPEA membership, and establish a sound financial foundation for the future. His wisdom, humor, and leadership will be missed, and we wish him nothing but the best in the next phase of his life.”
Please join us in congratulating Gary Anderson on his retirement and welcoming Ann Bishop to the organization.