HFRRF News 
NEWS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | Contact: Joe Gimenez,
713.478.8034
Firefighter Brett
Besselman elected to chair HFRRF Board
HOUSTON (June 20, 2018) – Houston
firefighter Brett Besselman was elected Tuesday to become chairman of the Board
of Trustees for the Houston Firefighters’ Relief and Retirement Fund. Besselman
will take office on July 1, after a two-week transition and training period
with current Chairman David Keller who announced his resignation of the
position earlier this month for personal and family reasons.
“I am deeply humbled by the Board’s decision today,” Besselman said. “I
practically grew up in the pension fund building watching my Dad serve on the
Board, so I think this is a great tribute to him after celebrating Father’s Day
last weekend. In the coming weeks and months, I will be in close communication
with all HFRRF members, both active and retired, as I work to continue Chairman
Keller’s legacy of dedicated service.”
Besselman, 33, was
elected and sworn in to the Board in October 2016. He was immediately thrust
into the contentious issue of the City of Houston’s proposed pension
legislation. He’s been a member of the Houston Firefighter Department for
nearly eight years.
Outgoing Chairman
Keller commented on Besselman’s election: “As the youngest member of our Board,
Brett may also be the youngest person elected to chair our pension fund. I
think he is uniquely positioned to elevate the pension fund’s larger concern
for retirement security to the younger generation of Houston firefighters. But
also, by virtue of his retired father Jerry’s experience, Brett has tremendous
insight and experience with our operations, history and traditions. I wish him
the best of luck going forward and I am confident he has all the qualities for
being a great leader long into the future.”
NEWS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | Contact: Joe Gimenez, 713.478.6034
HOUSTON (June 13, 2018) – David Keller, the chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Houston Firefighters' Relief and Retirement Fund (HFRRF), announced he will hand over his position effective at the end of June but will remain on the Board. Keller informed HFRRF active and retired firefighters of his resignation saying:
“My decision in this regard is entirely for personal reasons: I need to spend more time with my family and return to a more manageable work-life balance.”
“I am hopeful, following my stepping down, that the new chairperson works with our staff to continue the administrative and operational improvements we began.
The new chairperson also will need to address the unintended consequences of legislation from the last session of the Texas Legislature. Now is the time to begin that effort,” Keller said. Keller will leave the pension fund with nearly $4.2 billion in assets under management, the greatest valuation in its 80-year history. The fund gained $433 million in 2017 and is on track to earn nearly another $340 million for its fiscal year ending June 30.