Press Release

The ERISA Industry Committee Appoints Tom Christina as Executive Director of ERIC Legal Center

Issued by ERIC [ERISA Industry Committee]

Mar. 1, 2024

Christina Strogis Promoted to Director of Health Policy, Federal Affairs

WASHINGTON – The ERISA Industry Committee (ERIC) has appointed veteran employee benefits attorney Tom Christina as Executive Director of the ERIC Legal Center and promoted Christina Strogis to the position of Director of Health Policy, Federal Affairs.

In his new role, Mr. Christina will guide and coordinate the ERIC Legal Center’s participation in cases that could have significant effects on employers sponsoring benefit plans for their workforce. The ERIC Legal Center engages in litigation to preserve ERISA preemption, fights against state mandates and other burdensome measures, and intervenes in matters that have the potential to significantly affect the design and administration of employee benefit plans.

Mr. Christina has broad experience with significant ERISA litigation in courts across the country, including the Courts of Appeals and the Supreme Court, as well as counseling employers that sponsor ERISA-governed retirement and health and welfare plans. He joins the ERIC Legal Center after 18 years at the Greenville, SC office of Ogletree Deakins, where he was a shareholder until 2021 and of-counsel through 2023. Previously, he had founded the employee benefits practice at Haynsworth Baldwin, which merged with Ogletree in 2005. Mr. Christina received a Bachelor’s degree from Cornell University’s College of Arts and Sciences and a law degree from the Harvard Law School in 1980.

“Our addition of Tom to the team will significantly enhance the capacity and effectiveness of ERIC’s legal advocacy work,” said James Gelfand, President and CEO of ERIC. “For 30 years, Tom’s work in employee benefits law has included representing ERIC and our member companies, as well as leading high-profile litigation from inception through consideration at the U.S. Supreme Court.”

Ms. Strogis has been with ERIC since February 2020 supporting legislative and regulatory initiatives in health and retirement and compensation policy. Starting as a Staff Associate, she joined at a critical point during the COVID-19 pandemic and worked with the ERIC team to advocate for policy solutions and secure guidance for employers and their employees. Previously, Ms. Strogis worked for both Delaware Senators Tom Carper and Christopher Coons, served as Legislative and Communications Director of the Direct Primary Care Coalition, and as a Legislative Assistant for Capitol Advocates, a Washington, DC-based government relations, public policy, and strategic consulting firm. A graduate of Saint Joseph’s University, she received a B.A. in Political Science and a minor in Justice and Ethics in the Law.

“Christina has been central to the success and continued growth of ERIC’s federal health policy and advocacy initiatives,” Gelfand said.  “Her promotion to Director of Health Policy, Federal Affairs is a reflection of the tremendous contributions she delivers every day for ERIC’s members and staff.”

About The ERISA Industry Committee

ERIC is a national advocacy organization that exclusively represents large employers that provide health, retirement, paid leave, and other benefits to their nationwide workforces. With member companies that are leaders in every sector of the economy, ERIC advocates on the federal, state, and local levels for policies that promote flexibility and uniformity in the administration of their employee benefit plans. Learn more at eric.org.

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