Mike Pieciak was inaugurated as Vermont’s 31st State Treasurer in January 2023. During his term, Mike has focused on economic and financial equity. Mike successfully championed the passage of “Vermont Saves” - a publicly administered retirement program for the +80,000 Vermonters who currently lack access to a retirement plan through their employer. He also expanded the “10% in Vermont” program and made the development of new housing a top priority. 

In September 2023, his office announced $55.5 million in low interest housing loans that is expected to leverage an estimated $340 million in additional capital to support the construction of over 1,100 housing units in Vermont. Mike previously served six years as the commissioner of the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation (DFR) where he was first appointed by Governor Peter Shumlin in 2016 and reappointed by Governor Phil Scott in 2017. During the pandemic, Mike served on the COVID-19 pandemic response team providing regular data and modeling updates at the Governor’s weekly press conferences. 

Mike also served as deputy commissioner of DFR’s Securities Division where he led the division’s investigation into the Jay Peak EB-5 projects.Prior to his public service, Mike practiced law in New York City and at Downs Rachlin Martin in Burlington in the Business Law Group. Mike grew up in Brattleboro and graduated cum laude from Union College with a degree in political science. He received his law degree summa cum laude from the University of Miami School of Law where he served as editor-in-chief of the “Miami Law Review.” Mike currently resides in Winooski with his partner Will and English Setter Jetty.

Treasurer Laura M. Montoya was sworn into office on January 1, 2023 as the first female New Mexico State Treasurer and the first Latina in this country’s history. Laura was born, raised and educated in Northern New Mexico.

Treasurer Montoya has served New Mexico for more than two decades at the federal, state, tribal and local government. Montoya served under US Senator Jeff Bingaman as a Constituent Services Representative, in several capacities at the New Mexico Legislature, served under the leadership of Treasurer Douglas M. Brown and assisted with the transition to Treasurer James B. Lewis.

Treasurer Montoya was the elected, two-term Sandoval County Treasurer. With her leadership, internal controls and policies were developed that earned several clean audits and a 99.37% tax collection rate for the ten years charged to the Treasurer. Montoya served as the Legislative Chairwoman for eight years. In that capacity, the Treasurers Affiliate worked on the passage of over 20 pieces of legislation that removed tax loopholes; effected efficiency of tax collections; equitability of property taxes; assisted our Veterans, Seniors and New Mexicans with disabilities; and expanded the permissibility of investments in New Mexico for Class A counties and municipalities within Class A Counties.

Treasurer Montoya also served as the Vice Chair of Finance, Pensions and Intergovernmental Affairs and Chair of the Next Generation Young Elected Officials with the National Association of Counties, the only Treasurer on the NM Tax Policy committee, a board member on New Mexico Counties.

Treasurer Montoya earned her bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Psychology with a minor in Sociology and her master’s degree in Public Affairs from New Mexico Highlands University. Through a competitive process, Montoya became the 2003 Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar and studied International Relations at the University of Costa Rica. Montoya has earned her Certified Treasury Official, Certified Public Official and Certified Public Manager along with over 600 credit hours in finance, investments, treasury, market outlook and leadership. Montoya teaches finance and treasury classes to county and city employees and elected officials as well as union members. Treasurer is the daughter of Councilman Michael L. Montoya and Geralyn B. Montoya of Las Vegas, NM.

Erick Russell was sworn in as Connecticut’s 84th State Treasurer on January 4, 2023. He is currently serving his first term. Born and raised in New Haven, Russell adopted the worth ethic and financial responsibility of his parents by working in the family’s small convenience store. He would become the first in his family to graduate college, earning a bachelor’s degree from the University of New Haven.
 
Russell continued his education at the University of Connecticut School of Law. As a law student, he began to merge his talents with the values instilled by his parents. He volunteered to help low-income taxpayers navigate the complexities of federal and state tax law as part of UConn’s Low-Income Tax Clinic. He also interned with the Connecticut Legal Rights Project and the administration of Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy.
 
After law school, Russell joined the prestigious Connecticut law firm of Pullman & Comley where he was a partner in the firm’s Public and Private Finance Group. Russell represented towns, cities and the state in financing infrastructure projects, managing debt and restructuring pension obligations. In that work, Russell often interfaced directly with the Office of the Treasurer, gaining firsthand insight into how the agency operates and its potential to shape the financial future of Connecticut. As treasurer, Russell administers Connecticut’s pension funds holding over $50 billion in assets, oversees the state’s debt and cash management, collects and returns unclaimed property, and manages the Connecticut Higher Education Trust (CHET), a 529 plan that helps students and families save for higher education. In his first term, Russell successfully secured funding to launch CT Baby Bonds, a first-in-the-nation program to combat generational poverty. The program saw its first eligible participants born on July 1, 2023.

Russell continues to advocate for people traditionally left out of the political process and denied economic opportunity. He is prioritizing financial literacy, sound fiscal policy and necessary statewide investments that maximize resources while growing the economy and combating systemic inequities. In addition to his professional responsibilities, Russell has embraced the role of mentor, particularly for young Black and LGBTQ people. In 2022, he became the first Black out LGBTQ person in American history to win an election for statewide office. Russell continues to live in New Haven with his husband, Christopher Lyddy.

Amit serves as Director of Programs for the Georgia Resilience and Opportunity (GRO) Fund, where he develops GRO’s Baby Bonds pilot program among others. Amit’s work and studies focus on driving bold solutions to narrow Atlanta’s racial wealth and income gaps. Prior to GRO, Amit was Senior Program Officer at LISC Atlanta. Amit helped to establish LISC’s new Atlanta office, directed and advised the deployment of $50M in community development investments, and developed place-based, policy, and financial stability strategies.

Amit served on the leadership team for WorkSource Atlanta (WSA), the city of Atlanta’s workforce development agency, where he developed job training programs. Prior to WSA, Amit was a Human Capital Analyst at Deloitte Consulting’s Federal Practice where he helped federal agencies align their culture, structure, and talent with their mission. Amit holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy from Duke University and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Georgia Tech. Amit lives in Atlanta with his wife, daughter, and cat. Ask him about Atlanta Hawks basketball and places to enjoy good food and drinks.

Mike Pieciak was inaugurated as Vermont’s 31st State Treasurer in January 2023. During his term, Mike has focused on economic and financial equity. Mike successfully championed the passage of “Vermont Saves” - a publicly administered retirement program for the +80,000 Vermonters who currently lack access to a retirement plan through their employer. He also expanded the “10% in Vermont” program and made the development of new housing a top priority. 

In September 2023, his office announced $55.5 million in low interest housing loans that is expected to leverage an estimated $340 million in additional capital to support the construction of over 1,100 housing units in Vermont. Mike previously served six years as the commissioner of the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation (DFR) where he was first appointed by Governor Peter Shumlin in 2016 and reappointed by Governor Phil Scott in 2017. During the pandemic, Mike served on the COVID-19 pandemic response team providing regular data and modeling updates at the Governor’s weekly press conferences. 

Mike also served as deputy commissioner of DFR’s Securities Division where he led the division’s investigation into the Jay Peak EB-5 projects.Prior to his public service, Mike practiced law in New York City and at Downs Rachlin Martin in Burlington in the Business Law Group. Mike grew up in Brattleboro and graduated cum laude from Union College with a degree in political science. He received his law degree summa cum laude from the University of Miami School of Law where he served as editor-in-chief of the “Miami Law Review.” Mike currently resides in Winooski with his partner Will and English Setter Jetty.

Alexandra Cawthorne Gaines is the Executive Director for Financial Health and Wealth Creation for the JPMorgan Chase PolicyCenter. In this capacity, she works with colleagues to leverage the firm’s subject matter expertise, data assets and business insights to identify and develop policy proposals and strategies that drive inclusive economic growth and reduce barriers to mobility.  Before coming to JPMorgan Chase, Alexandra served as vice president of the Poverty to Prosperity Program at the Center for American Progress (CAP), where she oversaw the development of policy and advocacy strategies to reduce poverty.

Prior to her time at CAP, Alexandra provided leadership and strategic directed the human services program at the National Governors Association, which focused on state policies and programs that promote the economic and social well-being of families, children, individuals, and communities. She also previously served as a Legislative Assistant in the US Senate for the Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs. Alexandra has a career distinguished by service to organizations that push for policy solutions to the day-to-day challenges faced by low-income individuals, families, and communities. She has served in advisory roles to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, the Corporation for Supportive Housing, Results for America and the National Child Welfare Workforce Institute.

She currently serves on the board of directors for two national organizations—Social Current and the Corporation for a Skilled Workforce. Alexandra earned her Bachelor’s degree at Vassar College and a Master’s degree in Legislative Affairs from The George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management.

James A. Diossa was elected Rhode Island General Treasurer in November 2022 and sworn in on January 3, 2023. Treasurer Diossa is committed to serving as a responsible and active steward, protecting the livelihoods of our current and future pensioners, and promoting economic growth by expanding opportunities for all Rhode Islanders through thoughtful, transparent, and equity-focused leadership.

Throughout his years in public service, Treasurer Diossa demonstrated his commitment to giving residents the tools and opportunities for creating sustainable wealth. This commitment continues by making information readily available - and easy to access - to current and future pensioners as well as the general public and providing assistance to municipal governments requiring pension-related guidance. In addition, he is a key champion for expanded financial literacy in our schools to further help individuals and families achieve self-sufficiency.  

Raised and educated in Central Falls, Rhode Island, Treasurer Diossa served as a member of the City Council and Mayor of Central Falls, becoming the youngest mayor to date in our state’s long history. During his tenure as mayor, he helped Central Falls recover from the effects of bankruptcy and prior years of mismanagement. After completing two terms as mayor, he went on to serve as a Senior Advisor at Brown University’s Policy Lab. Treasurer Diossa is a graduate of Becker College. He lives in Pawtucket with his fiancée, Sandra Cano, their daughter, Arianna, and their newborn son, Alessandro.