Get Involved. Join A Committee
Committee participation is an excellent way to keep up with new policies and regulatory changes reshaping the retirement market. Our committees provide a forum to discuss key issues with peers, learn from top industry experts and collaborate on common initiatives. What’s more, you’ll be actively involved in guiding projects and offering expertise, so you’ll have a direct hand in helping to shape America’s retirement.
Our issue-specific committees unify retirement leadership including: data security, communications and PR, operations, consultants, advisors, recordkeepers, plan sponsors and other interested stakeholders who want to create a more robust and forward-thinking retirement system. Groups generally meet monthly or quarterly and participation is included with an Advisory Board membership.
Want to learn more, contact Marlene Jung at marlene@sparkinstitute.org.
If you’re eager to make a difference, join our committee roster HERE!
Our Committees
AI Governance Committee
Established in March 2026 following the highly successful SPARK Retirement Industry AI Forum, the SPARK AI Governance Committee serves as the industry’s central forum for advancing responsible and prudent AI adoption in retirement plan recordkeeping and administration. Chaired by Mike Moser of Deloitte, the committee brings together SPARK member firms to address the surge in AI-related inquiries and ensure AI strategies align with fiduciary obligations under ERISA.
The committee’s primary goals are to refine the forum’s tiered AI classification framework, Best Practices Framework, and Ten Guiding Principles; develop practical “one-to-many” responses for common sponsor questionnaires; provide guidance on third-party attestations and audit-ready controls; and create shareable tools that help members scale governance with fiduciary sensitivity. Through ongoing collaboration, the committee will strengthen sponsor trust, protect participant interests, and support innovation while maintaining the highest standards of compliance and operational resilience.
TPA Taskforce
Industry-wide taskforce working together to develop industry standards for API’s between recordkeepers and TPAs.
Government Relations Committee (GRC)
GRC allows members to share views on legislative and regulatory issues and shape our retirement agenda.
Data Security Oversite Board (DSOB)
Formed to address cyber concerns, define best practices and share relevant ways to protect data and systems.
Fraud Prevention
Bringing together security peers to drive innovative ideas, exchange proven best practices and solve critical issues financial firms face.
Retirement Income
Focused on expanding adoption by exploring new products, operational changes, tech innovation and shared solutions.
Public Relations
Promotes retirement plan market principals, legislative initiatives and DC plan value to improve financial security for American workers.
Senior Operating Council
Supports member COO’s by identifying emerging trends and opportunities around industry efficiencies and new products.
Privacy Committee
Addressing the rapidly-changing environment around use of plan and participant data.
Financial Literacy
Coordinating member efforts with government agencies on how best to tailor communications for diverse audiences.
Agenda Committee
Help set programming for SPARK’s annual conferences and quarterly Advisory Board meetings.
A Message From Our Committee Chairs
Snezana Zlatar, Financial Literacy Chair
Brendan Purcell, Fraud Prevention Chair
Mike Hadley, GRC Co-Chair
Chris Gaston, Privacy Co-Chair
Roberta Hess, PR Co-Chair
Larry McQuaid, Retirement Income Co-Chair
