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Berkshire County (Mass.) Retirement System
The Berkshire County (Mass.) Retirement System was established to administer defined-benefit pensions for public workers in western Massachusetts.
Berkshire County (Mass.) Retirement System
The Berkshire County (Mass.) Retirement System was established to administer defined-benefit pensions for public workers in western Massachusetts. Michael Ovitt chairs the retirement board. Assets sit under the management of the Pension Reserves Investment Trust, which handles investment execution for multiple Massachusetts county plans. The portfolio allocates across global equities, core and value-added fixed income, private equity, and real assets. Confirmed holdings include positions in Advent International and Blackstone Capital Partners through PRIT, plus timberland managed by The Campbell Group. Geographic exposure spans the United States and international markets via the PRIT fund structure. The system reports 349 million dollars in assets. It maintains memberships in the Massachusetts Association of Contributory Retirement Systems and Mass Retirees. December 2024: Sheila LaBarbera spoke at the Lenox Public Schools Professional Development Workshop on pension mechanics. The plan operates as a small county retirement system that outsources all investment management to the state-level PRIT vehicle rather than maintaining an internal allocation team or direct deal program.
General information
Firm type
Pension Fund
Year founded
1937
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Pittsfield
Principals
Michael Ovitt
Chairperson of the Berkshire County Retirement Board
Sheila LaBarbera
Executive Director
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Berkshire County (Mass.) Retirement System?
All investment execution occurs through the Pension Reserves Investment Trust. The local board, chaired by Michael Ovitt, sets policy and retains Sheila LaBarbera as Executive Director.
Does Berkshire County (Mass.) Retirement System commit to external funds or hold direct investments?
The system participates only as a limited partner in PRIT vehicles. It does not execute direct deals or co-investments outside that structure.
Which asset classes appear in the Berkshire County portfolio?
Holdings include global equities, core and value-added fixed income, private equity, real estate, and timberland, all accessed via PRIT.
How is the Berkshire County plan governed relative to other Massachusetts systems?
It retains its own five-member board while delegating asset management to the statewide PRIT fund managed by the PRIM Board.
What service providers support Berkshire County operations?
NEPC serves as investment advisor, CBIZ as auditor, and Thomas Gibson as legal counsel. PERAC provides actuarial oversight.
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