Miller-May honored for her leadership professionally and personally including efforts to further the success of women and minorities
Chicago, IL — The Chicago Teachers’ Pension Fund (CTPF) Chief Investment Officer Angela Miller-May, has been chosen Trailblazer of the Year by the Women Investment Professionals Organization (WIP) of Chicago. WIP is a professional women’s organization based in Chicago, that supports women in the institutional investment community. The award was presented virtually at their Annual Trailblazer event on Thursday, October 22, 2020.According to WIP, “This annual achievement is awarded through a nomination process of WIP members in Chicago. Members are asked to nominate a woman that is well established in her career, disrupting the institutional investment industry, and truly blazing the trail for the next generation of women.”
“It is an honor to be recognized for my work at CTPF and beyond by individuals who share my passion for the investment industry and understand the critical importance of elevating women, especially women of color,” stated CIO Angela Miller-May. “I try to use the platform that I have as an investment professional of a major pension fund to push for more equality and diversity in the investment industry. I strive to lead by example. You can’t as one person change the world, but you can change ‘your’ world. If every person strives to do this, the world, as a result, will change for the better.”
Miller-May manages the operations of the CTPF’s $11.0 billion investment portfolio. She reviews asset allocations, develops investment strategies, evaluates, and recommends investment opportunities, and analyzes valuation and risk metrics. Under her leadership, Miller-May has transitioned the portfolio by hiring top-decile-performing managers. She has invested in defensive sectors such as real estate debt and investments that promise enhanced returns and growth such as emerging markets. Miller-May has increased investment of assets with minority-, women- and persons with disabilities-owned managers to 46 percent from 33 percent. In addition, 39 percent of brokerage commissions, amounting to $1.1 million, are paid to minority- and women-owned brokerage firms.
She has acted in several positions at CTPF including Director of Investments, Portfolio Manager-Alternative Investments, and Investment Operations Analyst-Risk Management. She serves on the NASP (National Association of Securities Professionals) Africa Advisory Board, NCPERS (National Conference on Public Employee Retirement Systems) CIO Advisory Board, SEO’s Limited Partner Advisory Council, Accelerate Investors’ Asset Owner Advisory Council, and participates in several other organizations that work to encourage Diversity and Inclusion. Miller-May has been an active WIP member for more than five years.
As noted in her nomination by her peers, “Miller-May is a first-generation college graduate whose intellect, natural leadership skills, hard work, and perseverance paved the way for her role as Chief Investment Officer for the nearly $11 billion Fund. Angela not only drives investment performance through her self-forged path, but she also goes above and beyond her role to promote diversity & inclusion in the financial services industry.”
For more information about the WIP event, visit WIPchicago.org.
About CTPF
Established by the Illinois state legislature in 1895, CTPF is celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2020. The $11.0 billion Fund, the oldest in Illinois, manages members’ assets and administers benefits. The Fund serves more than 88,000 members and provides pension and health insurance benefits to more than 28,300 annuitants. About 90% of CTPF members, including 83% of annuitants, live in Illinois. CTPF makes $1.4 billion in annual pension payments in Illinois, which help generate $1.98 billion in total economic impact and support more than 13,000 jobs in the State.
For press inquiries, contact Michelle L. Holleman, Director of Communications at Hollemanm@ctpf.org or 847-624-3470.