Baird Again Named to Milwaukee Magazine's Best Places to Work in Southeastern Wisconsin

For the fourth consecutive time, Baird has been recognized by Milwaukee Magazine and MRA-The Management Association as one of the Best Places to Work in Southeastern Wisconsin. Baird ranked fourth in the Large Companies category on this year’s list, which will be published in the magazine’s April issue. Baird, an employee-owned, international wealth management, capital markets, private equity and asset management firm, was also included on the magazine’s 2001, 2003 and 2005 Best Places to Work lists.

“We are pleased to again be honored by Milwaukee Magazine and MRA for being a great place to work,” said Paul Purcell, Baird Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer. “This recognition is a result of the efforts of Baird’s more than 2,300 associates and their dedication and passion for achieving great results for clients, for each other and for the communities we serve.”

The list ranks companies based on a detailed employer survey, which covers issues such as pay, benefits, work/life balance, training and employee development, and anonymous feedback from employee surveys.

“We’re proud to be recognized with other local companies that share our passion for being a great workplace,” said Leslie Dixon, Chief Human Resources Officer and Chair of FUEL Milwaukee’s Executive Council. “When area companies provide great workplaces, the entire region benefits because it helps us attract and retain talented professionals in Southeastern Wisconsin.”
 
A Great Place to Work
Baird was also recently honored on FORTUNE magazine’s 2008 list of “100 Best Companies to Work For^®” a prominent annual ranking of top U.S. companies based on workplace attributes and employee feedback. This was Baird’s fifth consecutive year on that list.

Baird’s efforts to provide a great workplace start with the firm’s culture, which incorporates the shared values of honesty, integrity and genuine concern for clients and respect for associates. Baird actively encourages associates to find a balance between work, home and the community, and provides perks such as flexible work arrangements, tuition reimbursement, and online and classroom training through the firm’s in-house Baird University.

Core to Baird’s culture is a commitment to the communities in which its associates live and work. This caring commitment is a tradition built through the efforts of the firm, the Baird Foundation and the community involvement of Baird associates. As evidence of this commitment, 98 percent of Baird’s Milwaukee-area associates donated to the 2007 United Way campaign and 97 percent donated to the United Performing Arts Fund in 2007. To recognize the generosity and commitment of Baird associates, the United Performing Arts Fund created the Robert W. Baird Outstanding Achievement in Employee Giving Award in 2005.

Baird’s firmwide Charitable Gift Matching Program provides a match for associates’ financial contributions to eligible nonprofit organizations. Associates also receive an additional paid day off each year to perform volunteer service through the Baird Cares program.

About Baird
Baird is an employee-owned, international wealth management, capital markets, private equity and asset management firm with offices in the United States, Europe and Asia. Established in 1919, Baird has more than 2,300 associates serving the needs of individual, corporate, institutional and municipal clients. Baird oversees and manages client assets of $77 billion. Committed to being a great place to work, Baird is one of FORTUNE’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” in 2008 -- its fifth consecutive year on the list. Baird’s principal operating subsidiaries are Robert W. Baird & Co. in the United States and Robert W. Baird Group Ltd. in Europe. Baird also has an operating subsidiary in Asia supporting Baird’s private equity operations. For more information, please visit Baird’s Web site at www.rwbaird.com.