Executive Leadership & Key Staff

Amy Herron

Retirement Administrator

Amy was appointed by the Board of Retirement as VCERA’s Retirement Administrator, effective January 2024. The Retirement Administrator is the chief executive officer for VCERA, and as such oversees all administration of the plan, including Operations, Fiscal, Information Technology, Communications, Human Resources, Board Support, and all other office and administrative functions.

Previously, Amy had served as VCERA’s Chief Operations Officer since January 2023. Prior to this, she was the Chief Deputy over Payroll & Accounts Payable at the County of Ventura Auditor-Controller for about six years. She also held various positions with the County of Santa Barbara Auditor-Controller for 20 years, finishing the latter half of her tenure there as the Financial Systems Division Chief.

Amy is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Public Finance Officer (CPFO) and Project Management Professional (PMP). She holds a bachelor’s degree from UC Santa Barbara (UCSB) in business economics with an emphasis in accounting.

Dan Gallagher

Chief Investment Officer

Dan Gallagher serves as Chief Investment Officer of the Ventura County Employees’ Retirement System (VCERA), where he oversees an $8.5 billion investment portfolio. With over three decades of public pension investment leadership, Dan brings a wealth of experience in portfolio management and strategic asset allocation.

Prior to joining VCERA, Dan established himself as a transformative leader during his 25-year tenure as the founding CIO of the Los Angeles City Employees’ Retirement System, where he managed a $12 billion portfolio. His investment acumen is complemented by a deep commitment to public service, including leadership roles in local government and community initiatives.

Dan’s unconventional career path—from taxi driver to pension fund executive—reflects his adaptability and unique perspective on risk management. His collaborative approach and strategic vision have been instrumental in navigating complex market environments while maintaining strong returns for VCERA’s beneficiaries. Beyond his professional achievements, Dan is an avid cyclist, musician, and dedicated family man.

Lori Nemiroff

General Counsel

Lori A. Nemiroff serves as General Counsel to the Retirement Board of the Ventura County Employees’ Retirement Association (VCERA), bringing over 35 years of legal experience to the role. Appointed in October 2016, Lori has long been a trusted legal advisor to VCERA, having previously served the Board for nearly two decades as Assistant County Counsel for the County of Ventura.

During her tenure with the County, Lori also provided counsel to the Treasurer’s and Auditor-Controller’s offices and handled litigation in property tax, land use, and retirement cases. Her legal career began in private practice, where she spent four years as an associate attorney focusing on business litigation in Ventura County.

Lori earned her J.D. from the University of Oregon School of Law, where she was a Staff Editor for the Journal of Environmental Law and Litigation and earned a Certificate in Ocean and Coastal Law. She holds a B.A. in Business Economics and Environmental Studies from the University of California at Santa Barbara.

Betsy Byrne

Chief Operations Officer

Betsy oversees all member services, including the benefits teams (active members, community property, retiree payroll, deaths, and disability retirement) as well as customer service (front desk reception). Betsy has over 20 years of government administration experience across several public agencies. Previously, she served as Payroll Services Manager in the County of Ventura Auditor-Controller’s Office. She also held various positions with other agencies, such as the County of Santa Barbara Auditor-Controller’s Office, Montecito Sanitary District, and Santa Barbara Superior Courts.

Betsy is a Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) and received Bachelor of Science degrees in Business Management and Accounting from Western Governor’s University.

La Valda Marshall

Chief Financial Officer

La Valda Marshall is the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of VCERA, overseeing financial strategy and operations, and the organization’s fiscal health. With over 20 years of public sector experience, she brings deep expertise in financial planning and analysis, financial reporting and accounting, risk management and compliance, and business performance optimization. Her background includes financial modeling, investment oversight, and team leadership.

Prior to VCERA, La Valda held senior finance roles at Marin County Employees’ Retirement Association (MCERA), various county agencies, and numerous aerospace companies. She led initiatives in cost reduction, financial system implementation, revenue growth, and restructuring. Known for driving operational efficiency, she is highly skilled in managing large budgets and strategic planning.

La Valda holds an MBA in Finance and a BS in Business Administration from the University of La Verne, and an AS in Accounting from Oxnard Community College. She also completed the Executive Development Program through the UC Berkeley Bay Area Social Services Consortium (BASSC).

She enjoys reading, writing, cooking, lifelong learning, and family time—especially doting on her grandsons.

Leah Oliver

Chief Technology Officer

Leah Oliver is a seasoned technology leader with over 25 years of experience in IT.  As a key executive at VCERA, she provides leadership advancing the organization’s IT framework, ensuring systems operate efficiently, securely, and in alignment with business objectives. She leads cybersecurity initiatives to safeguard sensitive data and mitigate evolving threats, while driving departmental growth and development through strategic planning, technology modernization, and talent cultivation. Her commitment to innovation and operational excellence drives her leadership approach, ensuring that IT capabilities continuously evolve to support VCERA’s mission, enhance operational resilience, strengthen technological infrastructure, and serve as a catalyst for organizational success.

Anikka Abbott

Communications Officer

As the Communications Officer for VCERA, Anikka Abbott oversees all internal and external communications, including forms, publications, website content, videography, presentations, and responses to public information requests.

She is an Emmy-nominated journalist and formerly served as the Chief Weather Forecaster for News Channel 3-11-12 (KEYT) in Santa Barbara. Anikka graduated summa cum laude with her Master of Mass Communication at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. While at the Cronkite School, Anikka was a reporter and weather anchor for Cronkite News on Arizona PBS, and her work was featured nationally on PBS NewsHour.

Prior to a career in broadcasting, Anikka worked in communications and marketing in commercial real estate offices and insurance agencies in the greater Seattle area. She started her career in communications as a titleholder within the Miss America Organization, and created a statewide public-speaking campaign to educate community and government groups about domestic violence policies and solutions.

Chris Ayala

Clerk of the Board/Human Resources

Chris is the Program Assistant for VCERA and fulfills multiple roles, including Clerk of the Board, Human Resources Representative, Payroll Clerk, and Safety Officer. Chris started his career with the County as an Office Assistant II in the District Attorney’s Office in March 2003. He was later promoted to Office Assistant III in the Assessor’s Office, and subsequently to Office Assistant III-Confidential at VCERA in 2012. Prior to his work with the County of Ventura, Chris worked in the private sector as a Retirement Specialist and as a Quality Assurance Technician for various companies in Santa Barbara County.