Press Release

National Institute of Pension Administrators Celebrates 2023 Award Recipients

Issued by NIPA [National Institute of Pension Administrators]

June 20, 2023

Chicago, IL — The National Institute of Pension Administrators (NIPA) celebrates the recipients of their 2023 awards, which recognize significant contributions to the organization and to the retirement plan industry. Recipients were recognized during the 2023 NIPA Annual Conference and Expo (2023NAFE) on Tuesday, April 25, 2023.

About NIPA Awards

NIPA celebrates the achievements of individuals within the industry and recognizes their contributions to our organization and the industry. 

Andy Lovell, MBA, ERPA, QKA, QPA, APR, APA, TGPC of FuturePlans received the NIPA Volunteer of the Year Award. This award recognizes an individual who has significantly contributed their time and expertise to NIPA. Lovell joined NIPA in 2013 and has volunteered with the organization, specifically on the NIPA Annual Forum and Exposition (NAFE) since 2016. He regularly presents at NIPA events and will be joining the NIPA Board of Directors on July 1, 2023.

William A. L. Barbato, M.Pl., ERPA, APA, QPA, APR, AKS, QKA of California Pensions received the NIPA Excellence in Education Award for his significant contributions to NIPA and its educational programs. Barbato, a NIPA member since 2015, has spent five years in NIPA volunteer roles, most notably on the Professional Development Committee. He believes that the retirement plan industry as a whole is stronger through collaboration and collective commitment to continued education.

The NIPA Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes an individual’s lifetime commitment to NIPA and its mission and to the retirement plan industry. Derrin Watson, JD, APM is the 2023 recipient of this award. Watson is an ERISA attorney and educator with over 45 years of experience in dealing with retirement plans. In addition to his solo practice, he is Of Counsel to the Ferenczy Benefits Law Center and works with FIS with their Relius line of plan documents.

Watson received his bachelor’s degree in accounting from BYU and graduated from UCLA Law School in 1980. He has been involved with qualified plans since 1977 and had his first case involving controlled groups shortly thereafter. He has maintained a strong interest in this area ever since and has become the leading authority on controlled group, affiliated service group, and leased employee issues. Watson’s published works include Who’s the Employer, now in its 8th edition, the 403(b) Plan eSource, and the 457 Plan eSource, all published by ERISApedia.com.

NIPA Executive Director Laura Rudzinski congratulated all three award winners, stating, “I cannot fully state the positive impact Andy, Bill and Derrin have made on NIPA as an organization and on the retirement plan industry. I thank them wholeheartedly for their contributions.”

About NIPA

The National Institute of Pension Administrators (NIPA) is the voice of retirement plan professionals looking to move TPA businesses forward. NIPA serves TPA business owners across the United States by creating environments with world-class education, best-practice exchanges, and deep peer-to-peer relationships. As a result, our members’ revenue grows dramatically, processes are streamlined, productivity increases, and life-long relationships are developed. For more information, visit www.nipa.org.

Editor's note: This press release has been issued by the company named above, not BenefitsLink. Reliance on information in this press release might be prudent only after an independent review of its accuracy, completeness, efficacy, and timeliness. Reference to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, service mark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not constitute or imply endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by BenefitsLink.