National hiring search concludes as Tim Maurer is selected for top leadership role
The Teachers Retirement Association (TRA) Board of Trustees has appointed Tim Maurer to serve as the organization’s next executive director.
TRA provides retirement, disability, and survivor benefits to Minnesota’s public educators assisting them in achieving future income security. TRA serves approximately 218,000 active members, inactive members, and retirees.
Maurer, who most recently served as TRA’s interim executive director following the retirement of former executive director Jay Stoffel in October 2024, was selected following a nationwide search. Maurer officially assumed the executive director role on March 7, 2025.
Maurer has an extensive background in public pensions. He first joined TRA in 1998 as a retirement services specialist and was promoted to several managerial roles before becoming deputy executive director in 2021. During his career, Maurer also served in a retirement services leadership role at the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) and worked in benefits and employee engagement with Dakota County in their Human Resources Division.
Maurer earned a bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from Mankato State University. He holds a Human Resources Generalist Certificate from the University of Minnesota and a Certificate of Achievement in Public Plan Policy from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, as well as a Mini Master's Certificate in Information Technology and a Certified Professional Project Manager designation from the University of St. Thomas. Maurer is a Certified Scrum Master and a Certified Public Sector Continuity Professional.
In assuming the executive director role, Maurer said he will continue to foster strong relationships with the board of trustees, stakeholders, and legislators who jointly influence the strength of the fund.
“I want to continue making sure there is a solid interaction between the executive director and the board,” Maurer said. “We need to communicate on a regular basis, and I will continue to assist with providing trustees the information and materials they need to make decisions.”
Maurer also emphasized his commitment to plan sustainability and to serving today’s stakeholders as well as TRA’s future members.
“I always tell people that we have a unique relationship with our stakeholders in that we start engaging with them—in many cases—when they are right out of college. We continue that relationship with many of our stakeholders for the remainder of their lifetimes, a spouse’s lifetime, or a joint annuitant’s lifetime,” Maurer said. “We may have an 80-year relationship with a stakeholder and their beneficiary, and not many organizations have that. At TRA, we commit to doing our best at every stage of a member’s journey.”