Since our founding in 1999, Bluestem has forged a strong connection with those in higher education in our community. We have worked with, and continued to work with, many university professionals as they navigate retirement decisions within the State Universities Retirement System (SURS), and as a result, we’ve continued to deepen our expertise in this area. Recently, we’ve connected with the State University Annuitant’s Association (SUAA), an advocacy group for those participating in SURS, as there is great overlap in those we serve. Bluestem will be offering a series of webinars to SUAA members, as part of the ongoing educational opportunities they offer.
I reached out to Bryan Soudy, Executive Director of SUAA, and asked him to share a bit about the organization and the work that they do.
Can you share a bit about yourself, and your path to becoming the executive director of SUAA?
Bryan Soudy: My path to becoming an executive director started with the Illinois Society of Association Executives (ISAE), an allied organization with the American Society of Association Executives. My career started in legislative advocacy and by attending networking events with ISAE, and it evolved into first learning about the role of an executive director and the Certified Association Executive (C.A.E.) accreditation. I started attending the events primarily as a lobbyist seeking clients and ended up becoming one instead. ISAE helped me to learn and grow into the position of executive director. In 2012, I began lobbying for the American Red Cross in Illinois and in 2014, was promoted to executive director. After a few years in this role, an opportunity to serve as the executive director of the statewide Illinois Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs, a 501(c)(4) organization, came up and I had the honor of serving there for several years before ultimately getting the opportunity to come “back home” to SUAA, which is also a 501(c)(4) organization.
I call SUAA home because my father was a SURS participant, and although he passed many years ago, his SURS pension is still of great importance to the family. When I advocate for the mission of SUAA, I always have my own family in mind and consider it a blessing to be able to serve in this way, and to bring the years of experience in both legislative advocacy and non-profit organizational management to work for SUAA, or my extended family, you might say.
What would be your SUAA elevator pitch, for those who might be curious about the organization?
Soudy: SUAA serves all SURS participants, whether currently employed or retired. We are not a union, and we are not a state agency. We’re an advocacy group, and I believe we’re the only advocacy group working exclusively to engage, empower, and educate public higher education employees and retirees (SURS participants) to protect their pension and health care benefits while working to increase higher education funding, too.
SUAA membership is an amazing bargain with annual dues less than a dollar a week, yet SUAA has been at the forefront of every pension debate and battle in the State since 1971. SUAA also created, and continues to grow, a legal fund to ensure the fight for your earned benefits will continue in the courthouse, when the statehouse lets us down. The State of Illinois has a long track record of falling short in this regard. SUAA is an organization working and advocating in your interest to Illinois policymakers at every opportunity.
Can you share an example or two of what advocacy might look like, or share some wins the organization has had on behalf of its members?
Soudy: Absolutely and thanks for the opportunity to brag a little bit. One of SUAA’s biggest victories would have to be the passage of the compounded Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for higher education employees. I’m new to the organization as of January 2024, so I can’t share any exciting stories from the time, but it is an accomplishment that benefits all Tier 1 SURS participants with every payment they receive. The COLA is something that SUAA and the chapters at public higher education institutions around the state were apparently very effective in working to enact. That said, it’s important to remember all the other advocacy groups, unions and coalition members that made something like that possible. SUAA didn’t do it alone, but I think it’s fair to say they couldn’t have done it without us.
In the short space we have here it would be difficult to cover everything accomplished in nearly 60 years. Many legislative accomplishments could be listed, and I believe most would likely fall into the category of defending the benefits created, of protecting existing benefits and ensuring proper operations of government when necessary. But then Tier 2 happened in 2010, and it caught all the coalition partners by surprise due to an expedited legislative process that many still question its constitutionality to this day. I believe our greatest legislative accomplishment is yet to come. Fixing Tier 2 is our focus and our charge currently.
What are some of the benefits of becoming a SUAA member?
Soudy: We inform members when there is an issue that may impact you and your family’s well-being, and we provide networking events to make new friends and create opportunities to learn from experts on topics like financial planning, wealth management, and Social Security. There are also many member benefits through SUAA’s partner organizations. Unlike AARP or other retiree-focused organizations, people of all ages can join SUAA and take advantage of these benefits. Why wait until your 55 for a discount on a rental car? Discounted trip to Disney? A trip to Hawaii is offered currently if you get signed up in time. You can learn more about available benefits here.
What do you find most rewarding about the work that you do?
Soudy: I love serving in a member-driven, mission-focused organization dedicated to such a clear purpose and audience. As mentioned above, I welcome the opportunity to advocate for my (extended) family and its legacy. By extension, I believe every other SURS participant deserves the same. It may sound trite, but I feel like SUAA is working to ensure the benefits you earn today will continue to arrive as promised for you and yours, and that we all work together as one to ensure the continued viability of the overall Illinois Pension system itself. Although it can be very challenging, at SUAA we read that word as opportunity. We hope SURS participants will take the opportunity to join us.
You can learn more about SUAA by visiting their website.
Bluestem is independent of SURS. SURS remains the authoritative source for plan provisions and benefits.