WSIB's Chief Investment Officer receives award for excellence in investment management (October 31, 2006) Olympia - Gary Bruebaker's work building the Washington State Investment Board (WSIB) into one of the nation's largest and most respected institutional investors was honored this week when he was selected for the 2006 Award for Excellence in Investment Management by Institutional Investor. Bruebaker, Chief Investment Officer for the WSIB since 2001, received the award for Public Plan Sponsor of the Year. The WSIB manages more than $72 billion in 35 separate funds. Among other investment responsibilities, the WSIB manages the financial future of more than 400,000 public servants through the management of defined benefit and defined contribution retirement plans. As Chief Investment Officer, Bruebaker is responsible for the design and implementation of the overall investment strategy and policy for these funds. "In accepting the award, I said I was accepting it on behalf of the excellent staff and Board with whom I am fortunate to work," Bruebaker said. "I believe this award is formal recognition of the great work we are all doing together on behalf of those we serve." Prior to joining the WSIB, Bruebaker served as Deputy State Treasurer for Oregon for eight years, director of the Oregon State Treasury for five years, controller of the Oregon Housing Agency for four years, and senior auditor for the Oregon Secretary of State Division of Audits for five years. He received his Master's Degree in Business Administration from the University of Oregon and his Bachelor of Science Degree with honors in business administration from Oregon State University. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst, a Certified Cash Manager, and a Certified Public Accountant. The award was announced at the third annual Institutional Investor Awards for Excellence in Investment Management Oct. 23 in Chicago. The awards honor the outstanding achievements of the executives who manage U.S. pension plans, endowments and foundations on behalf of the nation's millions of retirees and other beneficiaries. Bruebaker was honored last year by the Institute for Fiduciary Education with the Leadership Award for his important contributions to the pension industry.