Investment Advisory Committee

Seattle City Employees' Retirement System (SCERS) has established an Investment Advisory Committee to assist the Board of Administration in its investment functions and as required under RCW 35.39 and SMC 4.36.505A.  Members of the Investment Advisory Committee must be experienced and qualified in the field of investments.  Further information can be found in the Investment Advisory Committee charter.

 SCERS Investment Advisory Committee Members

Keith Traverse, CFA, Chair
Term:  May 13, 2024-May 13, 2027
Keith Traverse joined Cascade Asset Management Company in 2001 and currently oversees portfolio analysis, portfolio risk, and asset allocation.  Prior to joining Cascade, he worked at Russell Investments and at State Street Corporation.  Mr. Traverse earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in economics and French from Middlebury College and is a CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) charter holder.

Joseph Boateng, CFA
Term:  January 1, 2022-December 31, 2024
Joseph Boateng joined Casey Family Programs as its first Chief Investment Officer in 2007.  Mr. Boateng is responsible for overseeing the foundation's $2.2 billion endowment.  Before joining Casey, Mr. Boateng was a member of the Johnson & Johnson Investment Committee, responsible for managing over $17 billion.  Mr. Boateng received his MBA degree from UCLA.  He is an alumnus of the Said Business School at Oxford University, a Certified Public Accountant, and a CFA® charterholder.

Dr. Cathy Cao, CFA
Term:  July 1, 2022-June 30, 2025
Dr. Cathy Cao is currently an Associate Professor of Finance at the Seattle University's Albers School of Business and Economics. Dr. Cao is a CFA® charterholder. She has served on various investment-related committees, including Seattle University Socially Responsible Investment Task Force. Prior to entering academia, she worked for CITIC Securities Co. as an asset manager. Dr. Cao has specialized in academic research related to investments, financial markets, and risk management. Dr. Cao earned a PhD in finance from the University of Texas at Dallas and MS in finance from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Steven Hill
Term:  July 1, 2022-June 30, 2025
Steven Hill is the former Senior Vice President of Human Resources, Weyerhaeuser and the former Director, Washington State Department of Retirement Systems. Mr. Hill served on the Washington State Investment Board and currently chairs the Investment Committee of the Seattle Foundation. Mr. Hill received his MBA from UCLA and is a Forestry Management graduate of University of California at Berkeley.

Dwight McRae
Term:  January 1, 2022-December 31, 2024
Dwight McRae has nearly 30 years of real estate investment advisory experience.  Formerly the Managing Director of the Metzler US Real Estate Fund, a $750 million closed-end fund, Mr. McRae was responsible for strategic management and leasing activities.  Prior to joining Metzler, he served as Vice President in Asset Management with Kennedy Associates Real Estate Counsel, Inc.  His real estate experience also includes project development and asset management activities for Sabey Corporation and BetaWest Properties.  Mr. McRae received a BS from North Caroline State University and MBA from the University of Washington.

INTERESTED CANDIDATES
The Board of Administration periodically chooses to add members to the Investment Advisory Committee.  If you are interested in serving, please complete an application and email it to retirecity@seattle.gov. 

Members must meet the following requirements:

• Experienced and qualified in the field of investments with a background that may include: (1) investment management; (2) academic experience in economics, finance or a related field; or, (3) investment audit or compliance.
• Neither the member nor an immediate family member may be employed by any financial services firm (e.g., investment brokerages, mortgage servicing firms, investment manager, consultant) currently doing business with the Seattle City Employees' Retirement System.