The Ohio Public Employees Deferred Compensation Program (Ohio DC) is a governmental 457(b) retirement plan for all Ohio public employees and one of the largest supplemental 457(b) plans in the country. Deferred compensation has been Ohio DC’s only responsibility since 1976, and because of Ohio DC’s size, plan expenses are low.
Ohio DC is unique in that it is created and governed by Ohio Revised Code Chapter 148, to provide a supplemental retirement plan that is administered solely in the interest of and for the exclusive benefit of current employees, terminated employees, and their beneficiaries. A 13-member uncompensated Board, composed of public employees, retirees, legislators, and appointed investment experts, governs Ohio DC as required by Ohio Revised Code Section 148.02. External managers professionally manage Ohio DC’s investment options. Investment options are selected and monitored by the Board and its independent investment consultant. The Board, staff, and consultants are all fiduciaries acting solely in the best interests of our participants.
Ohio DC provides participants with educational tools, a diverse set of investment options, flexible savings and withdrawal options, as well as portability when changing jobs within the public sector. For more information visit Frequently Asked Questions.
- Ken ThomasMunicipal EmployeesChair
- Julie AlbersCounty EmployeesVice Chair
- Louis W. Blessing, IIISenate
- Richard BrownHouse of Representatives
- Randy DespositoNon-teaching College/University Employees
- James E. KunkGovernor Appointed Investment Expert
- Christopher MabeState Employees
- Kathleen MaddenDirector, Ohio Department of Administrative Services
- Scott RichterTreasurer Appointed Investment Expert
- Stewart SmithMiscellaneous Employees
- Timothy SteitzRetired Group
- James R. TillingGeneral Assembly Appointed Investment Expert
- Steve TothRetired Group
Ohio DC is administered by the Ohio Public Employees Deferred Compensation Board. A 13-member uncompensated Board, composed of public employees, retirees, legislators, and appointed investment experts, governs Ohio DC as required by Ohio Revised Code Section 148.02.
Board Meetings
The Ohio DC Board (Board) is the governing body and is ultimately responsible for the administration and management of Ohio DC.
The Board typically holds six regular meetings per year. The meetings occur on the Tuesday preceding the third Wednesday of a calendar month and begin at 9 a.m. Meetings of the Board are governed by the Ohio Open Meetings Act and are generally open to the public.
The Board meeting agenda should be posted to this website the week prior to the scheduled meeting date. The Board meeting minutes should be posted to this website after Board approval, which typically occurs at the next Board meeting.
The date and hour of the regular meetings may be changed by appropriate Board action. Meetings are held at the offices of the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System unless otherwise noted.
Agendas and Meeting Minutes
2025 Board Meetings | Agendas | Meeting Minutes |
---|---|---|
January 14 - 9:00 a.m. | Agenda | Minutes |
March 18 - 9:00 a.m. | Agenda | Minutes |
May 20 - 9:00 a.m. | Agenda | Minutes |
August 19 – Strategic Planning (All Day) | Agenda | Minutes |
September 16 - 9:00 a.m. | Agenda | Minutes |
November 18 - 9:00 a.m. | Agenda | Minutes |
2024 Board Meetings | Agendas | Meeting Minutes |
---|---|---|
January 16 – 9:00 a.m. | Agenda | Minutes |
March 19 – 9:00 a.m. | Agenda | Minutes |
April 15 – 9:30 a.m. (Special Meeting) | Agenda | Minutes |
May 14 – 9:00 a.m. | Agenda | Minutes |
August 20 – Strategic Planning (All Day) | Agenda | Minutes |
October 15 – 9:00 a.m. | Agenda | Minutes |
November 19 – 9:00 a.m. | Agenda | Minutes |
Speaking at a Board Meeting
The Open Meetings Law itself does not give members of the public the right to be heard at a public meeting. The Board, however, will allow reasonable opportunity for members of the public to be heard according to the following guidelines:
- The matter should relate to a specific meeting agenda item, or be within the Board or Committee’s jurisdiction.
- The Board or Committee is unable to entertain requests for public comment on matters that have an existing forum for resolution.
- Individuals who wish to address the Board or Committee should complete a Request to Address Board form provided by Ohio DC, listing the individual’s name, affiliation, the agenda upon which the individual wi1shes to speak, or, if the matter does not relate to an agenda item, a brief description of the nature of the matter to be addressed by the individual.
- A request to speak before the Board or Committee should be submitted on the form provided by Ohio DC.
- Any request to appear before the Board or Committee should be received by 4 p.m., five business days prior to the scheduled Board or Committee meeting. In all cases, the Board Chair and the leadership team have the discretion to schedule the date and time of any request.
- Requests to address the Board or Committee will be evaluated for appropriate content by the leadership team, legal counsel, and appropriate staff in consultation with the Board or Committee Chair.
- The Board or Committee Chair will have discretion to grant or deny any request. If a request is granted, the Chair of the Board or Committee will call upon the individual to speak at the appropriate time during the meeting.
- The time allowed for individuals to address the Board or Committee is generally limited to five minutes per person or group.
- The number of requests granted per meeting may be limited depending upon the number of other agenda items for that particular meeting.
- Speakers may not engage in defamatory, derogatory, or abusive remarks. The Chair may terminate an individual’s privilege to speak if they engage in such behavior.
The Board or Committee members may ask speakers questions at the discretion of the Chair.
You may email, fax, mail, or hand deliver your request to:
Ohio Deferred Compensation
257 East Town Street, Suite 400
Columbus, Ohio 43215-4626
Fax:614-728-2601
Email: Communications@OhioDC.org
As an Ohio Deferred Compensation (Ohio DC) participant, you have access to a variety of services to help you prepare for retirement. Learn more about how to take full advantage of Ohio DC.
Service Center
Ohio DC can answer your questions and help you with:
Enrolling
Changing in your contribution amount or investment options
Setting up your online account
Providing asset allocation information
Starting withdrawals from your account when you retire
Automatically increasing your contributions through the SMarT Plan.
Making an appointment to meet with a Retirement Planning Specialist
For information about hours, directions, and appointments, please click on Contact Us.
Field Account Executives
Field Account Executives offer workshops, on-site meetings at your work location, and virtual appointments to help public employees enroll and learn more about Ohio DC. Licensed by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), Field Account Executives provide education on:
Investing
Retirement income gaps
Overall financial wellness
To arrange a worksite visit, contact your human resources department. To schedule a one-on-one virtual appointment visit Contact Us
Information provided by Retirement Planning Specialists and Account Executives is for educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice.
Retirement Planning Specialists
Get assistance with your retirement journey from our Retirement Planning Specialists. These Chartered Financial Consultants (ChFC) help Ohio DC participants with planning for retirement at no charge, in any of three ways—by appointment at the Service Center in Columbus, over the phone, or through live, on-screen virtual meetings.
Some of the topics covered during an appointment:
Your retirement goals and how to help achieve them
Determine retirement income needs
Strategies to help minimize taxes
How to coordinate income from various sources
Investment allocation strategies during retirement
For an appointment, call us Now: call 877-644-6457.
Neither Nationwide® nor its representatives provide tax, legal, or investment advice. Please consult your professional advisor for such advice.
Neither the Ohio Public Employees Deferred Compensation Program (Ohio DC) nor any of its representatives will give legal, tax or investment advice. For such guidance, you should consult your own legal, tax or investment advisors. The information contained in this website was accurate as of the date that it was published. We reserve the right to make subsequent changes without prior notification.
Educational services provided by Registered Representatives of Nationwide® Investment Services Corporation, Member FINRA.