UTICA, N.Y. — BPAS recently announced that Amy Kemp, VP of consulting at BPAS Actuarial & Pension Services, has been named chair of the Social Security Committee of the American Academy of Actuaries.

BPAS is a national provider of retirement plans, benefit plans, fund administration, and collective-investment trusts. The American Academy of Actuaries is a Washington, D.C–based professional association with 19,500-plus members whose mission is to serve the public and the U.S. actuarial profession.

As part of the Pension Practice Council of the American Academy of Actuaries, the Social Security Committee’s purpose is to provide independent and objective analysis, advice, and education to stakeholders of social-insurance plans. With a primary focus on Social Security, the committee offers expertise in financing, annual reporting, managing system risks, and program design.

Kemp is a member of the American Academy of Actuaries, an associate of the Society of Actuaries, and an enrolled actuary licensed to provide actuarial services under ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974). She has more than 30 years of experience in defined-benefit plans and actuarial consulting in industries such as health care, manufacturing, and higher education.

“I am honored and excited to be named the Chair of the American Academy of Actuaries Social Security Committee,” Kemp said in a statement. “My passion and commitment to Social Security, along with a strong desire to encourage bipartisan reform prior to the combined Social Security trust fund reserve depletion projected in 2035, will assist in serving in this role. I hope my time as Chair serves to bring forth positive discussions about the finances and provisions of the program for the benefit of all stakeholders.”

BPAS supports 3,800 retirement plans, $100 billion in trust assets, $1.3 trillion in fund administration, and more than 450,000 participants. It’s a wholly owned subsidiary of Community Bank System, Inc. (NYSE: CBU).

SYRACUSE — Barclay Damon LLP began 2021 with Connie Cahill as its new managing partner, the first woman to lead the Syracuse–based law firm in its more than 165-year history. 

She assumes the duties that John Langan previously held, the firm said in a Jan. 4 news release. As part of an “orchestrated transition plan,” Langan has transitioned to the role of chair after serving as managing partner for 20 years.

“The strength of our firm is attributed to John Langan, our managing partner of the last two decades and now our chair. As we reach this historic milestone, all of us at Barclay Damon wish to thank our clients, our professional colleagues, and our communities for your past support. We look forward to working with you in the future,” Cahill said in a company video.

Cahill began a three-year position as deputy managing partner in 2018 to prepare for the transition to managing partner, the firm said. Cahill, whose main office is in Albany, began leading the 475-person law firm on Jan. 1. 

Syracuse–based Barclay Damon operates offices in the Northeastern U.S. and focuses on energy, intellectual property, labor and employment, and health-care practice areas.

Langan on Jan. 1 moved to the newly created chair position, where he reports to Cahill and focuses on lateral attorney recruiting, growth of the firm’s major-market offices in New York City and Boston, and managing some of the firm’s larger client relationships.

“Over the course of her career in a traditionally male-dominated legal field, Connie has consistently shattered the glass ceiling in developing a leading public finance practice, in building a large and diverse Albany office, and in forming and leading the firm’s successful Women’s Forum, among other projects,” Langan said in the release. “She’s a remarkable attorney and respected leader, and I’ve been honored to work with her over the past decade.”

About Cahill

Cahill joined Hiscock & Barclay — now Barclay Damon — in 2006 as co-chair of the firm’s public finance practice area and became the sole chair in 2018. 

Barclay Damon describes Cahill as a “leading” bond lawyer in New York state, having built a “high-performing team” that represents state authorities, agencies, and other issuers in some of the “largest and most complex” public-project transactions in the Northeast. 

Cahill has also held positions as the leader of the firm’s financial services practice group and Albany office managing director, helping the office double in size and secure its current ranking as the Capital District’s second-largest law firm office. 

Since Cahill joined Barclay Damon’s management committee 12 years ago, she has helped drive “significant growth” in the representation of women in leadership positions throughout the firm, including on its two main governing bodies, Barclay Damon said.