Gordon Hartogensis Receives 2025 Public Service Award

Washington, D.C.— Gordon Hartogensis, Former Director of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC), was awarded the 2025 Public Service Award by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans on Monday, May 19 at the Foundation's annual Washington Legislative Update event.

Hartogensis is a U.S. businessman, investor and government official. He served as the director of PBGC from 2019 to 2024. During his tenure, he worked on addressing the multiemployer pension crisis and implemented the Special Financial Assistance (SFA) program as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Hartogensis has a background in technology and investment, having founded and led several companies before his role at PBGC.

Since 1979, the International Foundation’s Public Service Award has recognized those who have publicly demonstrated acts of awareness and concern, or those who have made personal contributions beneficial to participants of employee benefit plans and the employee benefits industry.

“Over the years, an esteemed group of individuals has been honored with the Public Service Award, and this year is no exception,” said Julie Stich, CEBS, Vice President of Content at the International Foundation. “Leadership from Hartogensis provided relief to financially distressed multiemployer defined benefit pension plans, protecting the retirement benefits of approximately two million workers and retirees.”

The Foundation's Washington Legislative Update, held May 19 and 20 at The Mayflower Hotel, Autograph Collection, is an annual event that helps employee benefit specialists keep informed of the latest regulatory changes affecting the benefits industry. Participants hear from political and policy insiders on how events in Washington will impact their organizations.