RPEA Announces Diana Hinchcliff Elected Board President and Mary Frye Elected Executive Vice President

The Retired Public Employees Association (RPEA), which represents the interests of nearly 500,000 retirees and beneficiaries from New York state and local governments, has announced the election of RPEA President Diana Hinchcliff and Executive Vice President Mary Frye. Both Diana and Mary officially transitioned to lead RPEA and its Board of Directors on October 16, 2019 at the 50th Anniversary Annual Meeting, which took place in Troy.

Diana Hinchcliff has been a member of the Retired Public Employees Association board of directors since 2015. She began her career in New York State government at the Department of Environmental Conservation, then joined the Environmental Facilities Corporation, becoming acting executive director. In that capacity she oversaw the creation of the first state wastewater treatment revolving loan fund in the country. She also was director of federal and state governmental relations at the State Education Department. During her career in the private sector, she was president of a statewide industry trade association, established government relations practices at a business and financing consulting firm and the Albany office of an international law firm, and served as special assistant to the president of the Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Diana is a past president of the (now called) Empire State Capital Area Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration, and a past president of the State Academy for Public Administration. Additionally, she is a past president of the Albany Torch Club and has been a board president or board member of numerous nonprofit organizations.

RPEA President Diana Hinchcliff said, “The Retired Public Employees Association has represented and advocated for the interests of New York state and local government retirees for 50 years. We work with lawmakers, public agencies and other organizations at all levels to ensure that government retirees continue to receive the healthcare, pension and other benefits they’ve earned through their service as public employees. I encourage all government retirees to become a member of RPEA and join our mission to protect the quality of life for present and future public retirees.”

Mary Frye has been a member of the Retired Public Employees Association board of directors since 2015. Mary retired from the state of New York in 2013 after having spent 32 years in public service. She spent a majority of her career with the State Department of Civil Service in the Employee Benefits Division (EBD). EBD administers the NYS Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP) and other employee benefit programs, and Mary worked in a variety of areas including financial management, contract management, communications, policy, and the administration of NYSHIP for other public employers, such as local governments. She served as director of Employee Insurance Programs from 1993 until the time of her retirement. Mary has served on the board of the Western Turnpike Rescue Squad, Inc. since 2011, and previously served on the Guilderland Public Library Board of Trustees. She earned a Bachelor’s in Economics from SUNY Albany and completed a Master’s in Organizational Communication at Purdue University.

RPEA Executive Vice President Mary Frye said, “It’s an honor to represent and advocate for those who have retired from public service. RPEA is the only organization whose sole purpose is to advocate on behalf of New York State retirees and retirees from local governments and school districts throughout the state. RPEA membership is diverse and active, yet the benefits we have earned are regularly challenged at the state and local level. I look forward to working toward achieving RPEA’s goals of increased leverage through growth in membership, enhancement of the many benefits and services we provide to our members and working to educate elected officials on how proposed legislation would affect state and local retirees.”

Additional Board Members and Officers elected at the meeting, include: