Staff
Charles E. Kostro
Executive Director
Charles E. Kostro was appointed as the Executive Director of the Essex Regional Retirement System in March of 2011 and is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the organization. Prior to his appointment, Mr. Kostro served in state and local government for twenty-seven years, including as the Undersecretary of Transportation for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and as the Deputy Commissioner of the state highway department. During his tenure as Executive Director at ERRS, Mr. Kostro has been appointed to PERAC's Public Pension Advisory Group and presently serves on the PRIM Board's Investment Advisory Committee. In addition, from 2018 to 2023, Mr. Kostro was a member of the Beverly Retirement Board. To view the employment agreement for the Executive Director, you can click here. You can contact Mr. Kostro at (978) 739-9151, extension 105, or via email at ckostro@essexrrs.org with any question relating to the retirement system, including retirement benefits and eligibility, service purchases, or other related information.
Paige Martin
Executive Assistant
The Executive Assistant provides general office administrative support to all staff and is also specifically responsible for providing logistical support for public meetings, greeting visitors to the office, distributing correspondence as appropriate, and processing mailings to members and retirees. The Executive Assistant can assist you if you have a retirement question and are uncertain with whom to speak. You can reach the Executive Assistant at (978) 739-9151, extension 101, or via email at pmartin@essexrrs.org or by using the general email address at info@essexrrs.org.
Andrea Thibault
Board Secretary/Minute Taker
The Board Secretary/Minute Taker is responsible for recording public meetings of the Essex Regional Retirement Board and the ERRS Advisory Council. This position is also responsible for producing meeting minutes in accordance with the requirements of the Massachusetts Open Meeting Law. You can reach the Board Secretary/Minute Taker at athibault@essexrrs.org.
Juanita Escobar
Deputy Executive Director
The Director of Finance is responsible for management of all accounting and financial functions, including the processing of the monthly benefit payroll. The Director of Finance handles the retirement system's accounting and financial reporting, the retiree payroll, including insurance changes and issuing Notices of Deposit, and receives death notices and manages the payment of survivor benefits. Ms. Escobar can be reached at (978) 739-9151, extension 104, or via email at jescobar@essexrrs.org.
Angela Tonnemacher
Senior Retirement Counselor
The ERRS Senior Retirement Counselor is responsible for overseeing the processing of superannuation and disability retirement applications. For questions regarding retirement estimates, retirement applications, or the disability process, please call (978) 739-9151, extension 123, or contact the Senior Retirement Counselor via email at atonnemacher@essexrrs.org.
Stephanie Croston
Retirement Counselor
The Retirement Counselor works in conjunction with the Senior Retirement Counselor and is responsible for the processing of superannuation retirement applications and the refund/rollover/transfer warrant. For questions related to these issues, or for any retirement related question, please contact the retirement office at (978) 739-9151, extension 121, or via email at scroston@essexrrs.org.
Lori O'Donnell
Employer Reporting Representative
The ERRS Employer Reporting Representative is responsible for the enrollment of new employees into the retirement system, the posting of monthly member retirement contributions, and the transfer of new member's accounts to ERRS from their prior retirement system. If you have a question about retirement deductions or the enrollment process, or any question regarding your retirement account, please call the Employer Reporting Representative at (978) 739-9151, extension 103, or via email at lodonnell@essexrrs.org.
Lindsay Turner
Financial Analyst
The Financial Analyst provides technical and administrative support to the Director of Finance in the day-to-day management of the retirement system’s accounting and financial reporting. The Financial Analyst coordinates insurance premium deductions, tax withholding, direct deposit changes, and assists with the processing the monthly retiree payroll. You can reach the Financial Analyst at (978) 739-9151, extension 106, or via email at lturner@essexrrs.org.