Tristan N. Gearhart
Local Government Division Candidate
Chief Planning and Financial Officer for Colorado Springs Utilities
Education/Special Courses/Certifications
Bachelor of Arts, Business Administration, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, emphasis in Accounting
Colorado Certified Public Accountant
Employment History
Colorado Springs Utilities, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 2009–Present
- Chief Planning and Financial Officer
- Fuels and Purchase Power Manager
- Interim General Manager of Financial Services
- Manager of Accounting
- Principal Financial Analyst
- Lead Analyst
Honeywell Technology Solutions, Inc., Colorado Springs, Colorado, 2006–2009
- Financial Analyst II
DLMG Accountants, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 2002–2006
- Staff Accountant
Organizational Affiliations/Achievements
Colorado Springs Utilities Foundation Board of Directors, currently serving as Treasurer of this charitable organization
Responses to Key Questions
Candidate responses were limited to 100-150 words; responses have not been edited by PERA.
Interest in Serving as a PERA Trustee
Please briefly describe why you are interested in being elected to the PERA Board of Trustees.
I have been a participant in the Local Government Division of PERA for 14 years working for an organization that is one of the largest participants in the division. I feel my knowledge, skills, and educational training put me in a place where I can advocate for the best interest and sustainability of the plan for all of the division’s members.
Challenges/Opportunities Facing PERA
Please describe what you consider as areas of challenge/opportunity facing PERA and the Board’s role in addressing these issues.
Being able to balance contributions from members and payments to retirees a higher inflationary environment with the potential for recessionary effects provides unique challenge for PERA to mitigate and perform through.
The Role of a Trustee
What do you see as the role of a Trustee on the PERA Board?
As a trustee I would have a fiduciary responsibility to work for outcomes and results from the PERA fund that maintain and strengthen its financial position for the continued benefit of all members.