DRS Leadership
Governor Bob Ferguson appointed Kathryn Leathers to serve as the Director of the Department of Retirement Systems in January 2025. In addition to her role as Director, Kathryn serves as an ex officio member of the Washington State Investment Board, the Pension Funding Council, and the Select Committee on Pension Policy.
Kathryn brings extensive public service experience to her role. Appointed by Governor Jay Inslee as General Counsel for the Office of the Governor in 2017, she provided critical legal and strategic advice on statewide issues. Before that, Kathryn served as Senior Counsel to the Washington State House Democratic Caucus, where she supported legislative efforts and policy development. She also spent nearly five years advising the Washington State Bar Association on legislative
affairs and over five years delivering non-partisan legal counsel to both Democratic and Republican members of the House of Representatives.
Earlier in her career, Kathryn clerked for a superior court judge in Alaska, prosecuted criminal cases in King County, and worked in complex civil litigation at Preston, Gates & Ellis (now K&L Gates).
A lifelong learner with a global perspective, Kathryn grew up in a military family, living abroad and in various U.S. states before settling in Gig Harbor in 1981. She graduated from Gig Harbor High School in 1983, earned a Bachelor of Arts from Western Washington University in 1987 and obtained her JD from Gonzaga University School of Law in 1993.
Leadership team
Director Kathryn Leathers has 6 people that report directly to her: Chief Operating Officer Amy McMahan, Chief Benefits Officer Seth Miller, Chief Legal Officer Sarah White, Director of People and Culture Chris Johansen, Executive Operation Manager Rubi Reaume and Chief Equity Officer Marika Barto.
On Amy’s team are Chief Information Officer Jay Walsh, Chief Financial Officer Cathy Cale and Budget and Performance Director Marcus Ehrlander.
Amy McMahan oversees Strategic Planning, Project management, Organizational Change Management and Contracts Management.
Jay Walsh oversees IT Policy & Vendor Management, Cybersecurity, data Management, Software Delivery and Information Technology Services.
Cathy Cale oversees Account Services, Employer Compliance, Financial Reporting and Trust Accounting.
Marcus Ehrlander oversees Budget Management and Agency Performance Measurement.
On Seth’s team are Communications Director Adam Torgerson and Member Operations Director Candice Myrum.
Seth Miller oversees Contact Center, Central Reception, Defined Contribution Plans, Education and Outreach, Employer Support, Legislative & Community Relations and Performance Excellence.
Candice Myrum oversees Workload Management, Retirement Specialist Training, DEORR, Processing Center, Death & Disability and Admin & Disability Review.
Adam Torgerson oversees Internal Communications, External Communications, Plan 3 and Record Keeper Communications and Records & Information Management.
On Sara White’s team is Risk Management Director Julie Amos.
Sarah White oversees Legal Services Management, Litigation Management, Petitions and Public Records.
Julie Amos oversees COOP, Enterprise Risk Management, Fraud Management, Internal Controls and Privacy.
Chris Johansen oversees Culture & Engagement, Employee & Labor Relations, Leadership Development, HR Compliance & Risk Management, Training & Development and Performance Management.
Rubi Reaume oversees Executive Office Administration, Administrative Policy Administration and Facility Services.
Marika Barto oversees Equity & Inclusion.
Special reporting requirements to the Director are Laura Muphy in Appeals and Kelsey Kalkwarf in Internal Audit.
