Leadership Team

Jacquie Hughes

Vice President, Human Resources

Jacquie Hughes, (SHRM-SCP, SPHR) is the Vice President of Human Resources. She joined the team in 2017 and comes on board with HR experience in several different industries including, entertainment, retail and non-profit. Her passion for people led her to a career in HR over 18 years ago, and she is excited to bring her experiences to help TRI-AD succeed.

Jacquie received her BA from California State University San Marcos and currently holds certificates from SHRM with SHRM-SCP certification and from HRCI with an SPHR certification. She also formed a resource support and teamwork group for HR professionals starting in 2012. Currently, she is serving on the board of advisors for San Diego’s Best & Brightest Companies to Work For and enjoys networking and learning.

Aside from her Human Resources career, Jacquie celebrates life with an amazing family and her animals. She also enjoys a second career in art and teaching, and believes strongly in giving back and being a part of the community.

Christopher Cerone

Executive Vice President of Health and Wealth Strategic Partnerships, Sales and Marketing

Christopher V. Cerone, CEBS, is an Executive Vice President and member of TRI-AD’s Executive Management team. Chris directs and oversees business development activities, while also serving as a strategic Relationship Manager for many of TRI-AD’s largest clients.

Chris brings over 25 years of industry experience and an extensive background in Health & Welfare plan design, underwriting, benefits administration, and consumer-directed health plans. Chris’s consultative approach to both business development and relationship management ensures that new clients to TRI-AD fully understand the TRI-AD service model with a clear delineation of roles and responsibilities. With over 21 years of TRI-AD tenure, Chris’s access and accountability to clients, both during and after the sales process, has led to numerous successful long-term client relationships.

As a member of the Executive Management Team, Chris is also involved in corporate strategic planning, project management, as well as overall Sales and Marketing management. Chris holds a degree in finance from Siena College in Albany, NY, and received his Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) designation in 2001. He has been with TRI-AD since 1998.

George Naset

Vice President of Wealth & Retirement

George Naset, AIF, leads TRI-AD’s Retirement and Advisory Practices. His range of responsibilities includes client and participant service, operations, relationship management, and sales support across a full spectrum of retirement products including Defined Contribution (DC), Defined Benefit (DB), ESOP, and non-qualified plans. Mr. Naset also serves as a member of the Executive Management Team.

Prior to joining TRI-AD, Mr. Naset was with Wells Fargo Institutional Trust as Senior Vice President and Director of Client Services. Mr. Naset’s responsibilities at Wells Fargo included oversight of the plan controller team, Transition and Conversion, daily DC operations, participant service center, defined benefit administration, compliance, trust and custody, Stock Plan Services, Compliance, Business Analysts, and Asset Retention. In addition, Mr. Naset was a member of the DC product steering committee, senior strategic planning committee, client advisory board, New Business Acceptance Committee, and chaired the DC Customer Service Council. He also worked extensively in new business development. Prior to joining Wells Fargo, Mr. Naset spent 14 years with the Principal Financial Group, managing client services, and operations for large market DC clients in the southeast US.

Mr. Naset earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Grand View College. He received his FLMI designation in 1994. In 2005, Mr. Naset completed a certificate program in Business Process Analysis at the Carlson School of Business, University of Minnesota.

Jennifer Thomas

Executive Vice President of Health and Wealth Solutions

Jennifer D’Isidoro Thomas is Executive Vice President of Health and Wealth Solutions, a member of the Executive Management Team, and is responsible for managing all of TRI-AD’s Benefits Administration practices. In her role, Jennifer has direct oversight of the Client Service, Operational and Technological/Production Support teams. Jennifer is also actively involved in corporate strategic planning, technology development, business development, and client relationship management.

Jennifer’s title reflects her passion and vision for TRI-AD’s delivery of holistic benefits administration services. Jennifer is uniquely experienced and positioned for this role, having spent the bulk of her career in the Retirement plan industry, most recently as Client Services Director for TRI-AD’s Retirement plan practice. Jennifer’s extensive background and working knowledge in both the Retirement and Health & Welfare arenas, combined with her professional mission to make benefits fast, simple, and easy to use, makes her an ideal fit for this role.

Jennifer has worked in the Retirement plan industry since 2000 and joined TRI-AD in 2004. Jennifer is a Qualified Pension Administrator (QPA), Qualified 401(k) Administrator (QKA), a Registered Investment Advisor, and an Accredited Investment Fiduciary^® (AIF^®). She is also a member of Vistage International, a CEO membership organization specializing in executive leadership development and coaching.

Doug Calapan

Vice President, Information Technology

Doug Calapan is the Vice President of Information Technology for TRI-AD. He joined the team in 2003 after spending many years in the technology industry serving in different capacities at high-tech firms. Mr. Calapan is responsible for TRI-AD’s overall IT infrastructure and developing and managing the associated policies and procedures around security, availability, and processing integrity. His duties also include optimization of key areas including network infrastructure, network security, server and storage infrastructure, user systems, data and voice communications, and enterprise corporate and line-of-business applications. He also manages the TRI-AD Team of IT Associates who support the business.

Mr. Calapan provides input in the strategic development and implementation of TRI-AD’s corporate risk assessment, gap analysis, compliance, and auditing initiatives.

When not working at TRI-AD, Mr. Calapan enjoys spending time with his family, golfing, riding his motorcycle, and playing cards with his family.

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Bob Krier

CFO & COO

Robert Krier is TRI-AD’s Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operations Officer. He is a member of the Executive Management Team and is responsible for the internal operations of the firm including finance, accounting, risk management, information security, and other compliance functions.

Mr. Krier joined TRI-AD in 1990. Prior to serving as CFO, he held positions as controller and as a benefits administrator in both the Retirement and Health & Welfare benefit practices. These positions provided him a strong working knowledge of TRI-AD’s benefit plan services. Before joining TRI-AD, Mr. Krier worked in finance positions in the aerospace and banking industries.

Mr. Krier is responsible for both internal and client-related projects, including the selection, design and implementation of enterprise-wide IT, accounting and benefits administration systems and software. He is also fundamental in the strategic development and implementation of the TRI-AD’s business process management, risk management and compliance systems and processes.

Mr. Krier holds a bachelor’s degree in Management Science from the University of California, San Diego and a Masters in Business Administration in Finance from San Diego State University.

Thad Hamilton

President & CEO

Thad D. Hamilton, AIF, CEBS, SPHR, is TRI-AD’s Chief Executive Officer and President. He holds primary responsibility over the firm’s strategy and direction, including management of the Executive Team. He has comprehensive experience consulting and administering employee benefit plans, including retirement plans, health and welfare plans, Section 125 and other reimbursement plans, COBRA and benefit communications.

Mr. Hamilton joined TRI-AD in 1992. As a member of the Executive Management Team, he is involved in corporate strategic planning, new business development, software development and client relationship management for some of the firm’s largest clients. Mr. Hamilton earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Corporate Finance from California State University at Chico. He has obtained the Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF) designation from the Center of Fiduciary Studies, the Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) designation from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans (in conjunction with the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania), and the Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) designation from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). He has also been an active member of Vistage (formerly known as TEC) for several years and recently completed the Strategic Leadership program through the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Mr. Hamilton currently serves as the President of the DLH Foundation, which is a non-profit organization committed to providing college scholarships to families affected by gastro-esophageal cancers. Other previous volunteer roles include a position on the Charles Schwab Trust & Custody Advisory Board, Advisory Board for the California State University San Marcos College of Business, a Board Member for the San Diego Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), and as a Board Member of the San Diego Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), including a term as President in 2003. He has taught the Pension Plans course for the University of California at San Diego Extension Program, PHR/SPHR certification courses, Lorman Seminars, and served as guest speaker for CEBS classes. In addition, he frequently speaks at conferences and workshops regarding employee benefit plans and has had articles published or been quoted in HR Magazine, Compensation & Benefits Review, Parents Magazine, and the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Mr. Hamilton resides in San Diego with his wife, son, and black lab. Thad enjoys cooking with his wife and entertaining friends and family. In addition, he enjoys snow skiing, golf, running, and ultra-distance hiking.

Curtis D. Hamilton

Founder, Chairman of the Board

Curtis D. Hamilton, MSPA, EA, MAAA is the Founder and Chairman of the Board of TRI-AD (corporate name is TRI-AD Actuaries, Inc.) based in Escondido CA. TRI-AD is recognized as one of the leading benefits and design administration firms in California.

Curt Hamilton attended University of Oregon and California State University Long Beach, where he studied Business Administration. Prior to launching TRI-AD in 1974, Mr. Hamilton worked at Connecticut General Life Insurance Company. With more than 35 years of experience as an actuary and retirement plan consultant, his primary responsibility is now the management and growth of TRI-AD.

Mr. Hamilton has been active in the actuarial profession as a member of the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries (ASPPA), the American Academy of Actuaries (AAA), and the International Actuarial Association (IAA) and has been a frequent speaker to industry professionals throughout the U.S.

He has served as President of the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries, participated in the Task Force for Strengthening the Actuarial Profession, and received special recognition for his work in developing a National Retirement Income Policy. He was an initial member of the Actuarial Board for Counseling and Discipline (ABCD).

Mr. Hamilton was the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries 2002 recipient of the Harry T. Eidson Founders Award for lifetime achievement for ASPPA and the pension profession.

Judy Simons, CPC, QPA, QKA

VP, Compliance

Judy Simons, CPC, QPA, QKA is a Senior Consultant and Vice President of Compliance at TRI-AD. Ms. Simons currently oversees retirement and health and welfare regulatory compliance. She has many years of experience designing, administering and consulting for defined benefit plans and defined contribution. She also has extensive experience with cafeteria plans, COBRA and employee benefit merger, and acquisition compliance. As a member of the Senior Management Committee, Ms. Simons is also involved in strategic planning for the firm. Beginning in 2016, she oversees compliance for TRI-AD Capital Management, Inc. as its Chief Compliance Officer.

Ms. Simons received her Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from San Diego State University. She has obtained Certified Pension Consultant (CPC), Qualified Pension Administrator (QPA) and Qualified 401(k) Administrator (QKA) designations through the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries. She has also obtained her Section 125 and COBRA administrative certifications from HRcertification.com.

Ms. Simons participates in a number of industry organizations. She currently is a Past President of the San Diego Chapter of the Western Pension & Benefits Council and a member of the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries. She is a frequent speaker on retirement design and administration topics and health and welfare topics and has spoken for Lorman Education Seminars, Western Pension & Benefits Council, American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries, PIHRA, and San Diego SHRM.

TRI-AD Leadership Team

Do the Right Thing

The success and complete satisfaction of our clients, partners, and participants is how we define our success. We firmly believe if we always do the right thing for employees and clients, we will generate better outcomes.

Jennifer Thomas
Executive Vice President of Health and Wealth Solutions

Christopher Cerone
Executive Vice President of Sales and Strategic Partnerships

Bob Krier
CFO & COO

Judy Simons
Vice President of Compliance

Jacquie Hughes
Vice President of Human Resources

Doug Calapan
Vice President of Information Technology

TRI-AD Leadership Team

Do the Right Thing

The success and complete satisfaction of our clients, partners, and participants is how we define our success. We firmly believe if we always do the right thing for employees and clients, we will generate better outcomes.

Jennifer Thomas Executive Vice President of Health and Wealth Solutions

Christopher Cerone Executive Vice President of Sales and Strategic Partnerships

Bob Krier CFO & COO

Judy Simons Vice President of Compliance

Jacquie Hughes Vice President of Human Resources

Doug Calapan Vice President of Information Technology