Management Team

Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer

Paul E. Purcell is Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer of Baird Holding Company, Baird Financial Corporation and Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated. Purcell joined Baird in 1994 and served in a variety of capacities, including Chief Operating Officer, before becoming President & Chief Executive Officer in 2000. He added the title of Chairman in 2006. Purcell is a member of the Baird Financial Corporation board of directors and Robert W. Baird & Co. board of directors. Prior to joining Baird, he spent 22 years with Kidder, Peabody & Co., where he was a Managing Director and head of the Midwest Investment Banking Group.

In addition to his duties at Baird, Purcell serves on the RC2 Corporation Board of Directors, the Alverno College Board of Trustees, the University of Chicago Booth School of Business Advisory Council, the University of Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business Advisory Council, Schools That Can – Milwaukee Board of Directors, the Greater Milwaukee Committee Board and Executive Committee, the Board of Discovery World, the United Performing Arts Fund Board, the Junior Achievement of Chicago Board of Directors and the United Way of Greater Milwaukee’s Board and the Board of Directors of RiverFront Investment Group, LLC. He is past Vice Chairman and member of the Board of Directors of Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) as well as the former Chairman of the Board of Directors at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School.

He received an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business (1971) and is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame (1969). In 2009, he received the University of Chicago Booth School of Business Distinguished Corporate Alumni Award.

Managing Director
Chief Operating Officer and Director of Investment Banking

Steve Booth is Baird’s Chief Operating Officer and the Director of Investment Banking overseeing Baird's global corporate finance and M&A activities. Steve also co-manages Baird's Equity Capital Markets Group and is a member of the board of directors and Executive Committee of Robert W. Baird & Co. Steve has extensive experience originating and directing M&A and equity financing transactions in a wide variety of industries.

Before heading Baird's Investment Banking Group, Steve had previously led its Global M&A business and prior to that, its Industrials Group. Prior to joining Baird in 1994, Steve was at Kidder, Peabody & Co. in its Chicago Corporate Finance Office. Steve received his MM degree, with distinction, from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and holds a BBA in Finance and a BA in Economics, magna cum laude, from Southern Methodist University.

Managing Director
Vice Chairman

Dick Waid is a Vice Chairman of Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated, where he is responsible for working with the firm’s capital markets teams, particularly investment banking and private equity. Prior to joining Baird in 2002, he served as a Managing Director in the Investment Banking Division at Robinson-Humphrey, now part of SunTrust in Atlanta. He joined Robinson-Humphrey in 1992 and served as head of the firm’s National Real Estate, Energy and Industrial Practice Groups within the Investment Banking Division.

Prior to Robinson-Humphrey, he was with Kidder, Peabody & Co. in New York for more than 20 years, last serving as a Senior Vice President of Corporate Finance. Dick started his professional career with IBM and helped take a venture capital-financed business public, leading to his career on Wall Street. He is a former director of a number of public and private corporations, including North Carolina Natural Gas (now part of Progress Energy), and serves on the board of the University of Richmond.

Dick earned a BS in Business Administration from the University of Richmond, attended the Graduate School of Business and Public Management at George Washington University and completed the Advanced Management Program at the Harvard Business School. He also served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army.

Vice Chairman

Randy Lyon is a Vice Chairman of Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated and a member of Baird’s Executive Committee. He also is a member of the Management Committee of Baird’s Investment Banking group. Before joining Baird in 2006, he was a Managing Director and Head of Chicago Investment Banking for Lehman Brothers. Prior to that he was head of the Chicago offices of JPMorgan & Co. and The First Boston Corporation. Randy worked for First Boston in New York and London before moving to Chicago in 1982. Randy has acted as financial advisor to companies in a broad range of industries and has extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions and a wide range of debt and equity transactions for clients.

A graduate of Princeton University and The Darden School at The University of Virginia, Randy is a member of The Commercial Club of Chicago and The Economic Club of Chicago. He currently serves as a Director of Teach for America-Chicago and a Trustee of Woodberry Forest School. In addition, Randy is a member of the United Way of Metropolitan Chicago Community Impact Cabinet. He is a former Trustee of both The Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association and Ravinia Festival Association.

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Managing Director
Chief Investment Officer

Mary Ellen has over 29 years of investment experience managing various types of fixed income portfolios. Prior to joining Baird Advisors, Mary Ellen was President and Chief Executive Officer of Firstar Investment Research and Management Company (FIRMCO) and was Director of Fixed Income. She is responsible for the formulation of fixed income strategy as well as the development and portfolio management of all fixed income services.

Mary Ellen serves on the board of Robert W. Baird & Co., as President of the Baird Funds, and is chair of the Baird Diversity Steering Committee. Mary Ellen obtained her undergraduate degree from Marquette University and her MBA from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She received the Chartered Financial Analyst designation in 1983. Mary Ellen is currently a member of The CFA Institute and is a member of the CFA Society of Milwaukee.

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Managing Director
Corporate and Executive Services

Laura Gough is a Managing Director in Baird’s Corporate & Executive Services department. She is responsible for building sales and marketing opportunities across the firm’s different business units, as well overseeing the sales and marketing of Baird’s corporate and executive services with key clients.

Since joining Baird in 1991, Laura has managed Baird’s Retirement Plan Services Department and Corporate & Executive Services Department.

In 2012, Laura was recognized as a “Woman of Influence” by The Business Journal of Greater Milwaukee for her many professional and personal contributions. She currently serves as the Co-Chair of Baird’s Women Associate Resource Group, which received the Securities Industry Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) Diversity Leadership Award in 2011. She was involved in securing Baird’s participation as a founding member of the Milwaukee-Area Women’s Affinity Alliance. Laura also continues to serve on the SIFMA Retirement Savings Committee on which she previously served as Chairperson.

Laura earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from Virginia Commonwealth University. She is a CFA® charterholder and holds the FINRA Series 6, 7, 9, 10, 24, 63, 66, and 26 licenses.

Laura serves on the boards of a number of not-for-profit organizations including the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts where she chairs the Personnel Committee, Milwaukee’s United Performing Arts Fund Finance Committee and Allocation Committee, WUWM Advisory Board, Shorewood SEED Foundation, and the Fund Development Committee for the Girl Scouts of Southeastern Wisconsin. Laura is also very involved with her church where she serves on the Finance Committee and sings in the choir.

Managing Director
Chief Human Capital Officer

Leslie Dixon has more than 25 years of human resources experience. She has held numerous positions in human resources and training & development, primarily in the financial services industry.

Leslie joined Baird in 1987 and currently serves as the firm’s Chief Human Capital Officer. She focuses on strategic issues, and works with Chairman, President & CEO Paul Purcell and other members of senior management to further organizational effectiveness and associate development. She oversees Human Capital, Facilities, the Travel/Corporate Events Department, Marketing and Communications and assists with the administration of the Baird Foundation. She is most proud of Baird’s recognition of Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For – for the past 8 consecutive years.

Leslie holds a BS in Philosophy, with a concentration in business, communications and psychology, from Miami University of Ohio. She has been actively involved in the Human Resources Committee for the Securities Industry Association (now called SIFMA) since 1999, assuming the role of Chair in 2005-2006. In 2009, the group spun off from SIFMA after some reorganization and under Leslie’s leadership, they continue to meet and network throughout the year. In 2006 and 2007, she served as Co-Chair of the YWCA's Circle of Women event, the primary fundraiser for the YWCA of Greater Milwaukee. She is on the Board of Directors for the Milwaukee College Preparatory School, formerly the Marva Collins Preparatory School. She is a member of Professional Dimensions, a Milwaukee-based professional women’s organization. Leslie is also the Chair of the Executive Council for FUEL, an organization dedicated to attracting more diverse, young talent to southeastern Wisconsin.

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Managing Director
Director of Corporate Communications

John Rumpf oversees Baird's internal and external communications, including public relations. He sits on the firm's Diversity Steering Committee and the committee that administers the Baird Foundation.

Prior to joining Baird in 1999, he was Vice President/Director of Marketing of a marketing communications consulting firm, serving a wide variety of professional service, financial, consumer, real estate and health care clients (including numerous FORTUNE 500 companies) over the course of 20 years.

John is a trustee of the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music and trustee emeritus of the Public Policy Forum. He graduated with honors from the University of Wisconsin School of Journalism, where he earned the Harry J. Grant and Wallace Meyer scholarships.

Managing Director
Chief Operations Officer

As Chief Operations Officer for Baird, Russ oversees the Operations Administration, Cashiering, Cash Management, Client Services, Fee Based Administration, Purchase & Sales and Mutual Fund Operations Departments. He also served as the company’s Chief Financial Officer during 1999 as well as the Chief Information Officer from 2005-2009. Russ serves on multiple committees at Baird, including the Executive Committee, Product Strategy Committee, Risk Management Committee and Leadership Development Committee, among others. He has 28 years of experience in the industry

Prior to joining Baird in 1984, Russ spent three years with Arthur Andersen. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Marquette University and is a Certified Public Accountant. Russ also attended the Securities and Industry Institute at the Wharton School of Business.

Russ maintains an active role in the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) where he chairs the Private Client Operations Committee and is a member of the Operations and Technology Steering Committee.

Managing Director
Chief Financial Officer

Nick joined Baird in 1995 and currently serves as Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer. Prior to being named CFO in 2011, Nick spent 16 years in Baird’s Investment Banking Department where most recently he was Chief Operating Officer. Previously, he was responsible for managing the Investment Banking activities in the Services and Technology sectors, and his client activities were primarily focused on providing M&A advisory and financing services to growth-oriented companies in the Business Services industry.

Prior to joining Baird, he spent nine years in the Investment Banking Group at Kidder, Peabody & Co., where he focused on growth companies in service industries. Earlier, Nick spent five years with Beatrice Companies in various financial capacities, including Manager-Treasury for the International Food Segment.

Nick received an MBA from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business and a BS in Finance with highest honors from the University of Illinois.

Managing Director
Fixed Income Capital Markets Director

Pat serves as Managing Director of Fixed Income Capital Markets at Robert W. Baird & Co. He is responsible for all areas of Fixed Income Capital Markets, including Public Finance Banking, Sales and Trading.

Prior to joining Baird in 1988, Pat spent seven years with Merrill Lynch Capital Markets group, the last three in Chicago. He is a member of Baird's board of directors and serves on the Executive committee and Fixed Income Capital Markets committee. Pat also is a member of Baird's Audit, Finance and Diversity Steering committees.

Outside of the firm, he serves as chairman of the board of WaterStone Financial Inc. and is on the board of the BMO Harris Bradley Center. Pat is also a member of the Marquette University President’s Society and Business School Advisory Council.

Pat earned his bachelor degree in 1978 and MBA in 1980 from Marquette University.

Managing Director
Director of Equity Sales Trading

As head of Equity Sales Trading, Jim Herrick directs the activities of sales trading across the U.S. Since joining Baird in 1986, Jim actively covers accounts and oversees Baird’s trading operations in Milwaukee, Chicago, Boston, San Francisco and Stamford. Jim is a member of the Management Committee and is actively involved in all aspects of Baird’s Equity Trading Operations. Jim earned a BA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Managing Director
Chief Operating Officer and Director of Investment Banking

Steve Booth is Baird’s Chief Operating Officer and the Director of Investment Banking overseeing Baird's global corporate finance and M&A activities. Steve also co-manages Baird's Equity Capital Markets Group and is a member of the board of directors and Executive Committee of Robert W. Baird & Co. Steve has extensive experience originating and directing M&A and equity financing transactions in a wide variety of industries.

Before heading Baird's Investment Banking Group, Steve had previously led its Global M&A business and prior to that, its Industrials Group. Prior to joining Baird in 1994, Steve was at Kidder, Peabody & Co. in its Chicago Corporate Finance Office. Steve received his MM degree, with distinction, from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and holds a BBA in Finance and a BA in Economics, magna cum laude, from Southern Methodist University.

Chairman, Equity Capital Markets

Bill Mahler is Chairman of Equity Capital Markets for Robert W. Baird & Co. Bill works closely with Baird’s Investment Banking, Research, and Sales and Trading teams in the United States and international markets. Bill, who joined the firm in 1986, is a member of Baird’s Board of Directors, Executive Committee, Audit Committee and Marketing Committee. He is Co-Chair of the ECM Committee and a member of the Leadership Committee and Capital Commitment Committee.

Bill earned his bachelor’s degree in finance from Southern Methodist University. He sits on the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin Investment Committee and Finance & Audit Committee. In addition, he serves as chairman of the board for Marquette University High School, is chairman of their Investment Committee and a member of their Executive Committee.

Managing Director
President - Private Wealth Management

Mike Schroeder is President of Baird Private Wealth Management. Since 2001, he is responsible for all sales and operating activities of Baird’s Private Wealth Management network and oversees Financial Advisor Services, Private Asset Management and other units supporting the efforts of Financial Advisors, who serve Baird’s individual, institutional and corporate clients.

He is a member of the Baird board of directors and the firm’s Executive, Human Capital, Credit, Investment Advisory, Operations, Product Management and Diversity Steering committees. Prior to being named a Regional Director of Private Wealth Management in 1995, Mike was a Portfolio Manager, serving both individual and institutional investors. He joined Baird in 1986 and started his career as a Financial Advisor.

Mike received a BBA in Finance, Investments and Banking from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and is a graduate of the Securities Industry Institute at The Wharton School of Business.

Managing Director
Public Finance Director

Keith Kolb oversees Baird’s Public Finance Department and has been involved in the structuring and restructuring of virtually all types of tax-exempt and taxable financings. He has extensive experience working with cities, counties, school districts, villages, special taxing districts and economic development issues, and is a frequent lecturer on public finance issues. He is a member of the Fixed Income Capital Commitments committee of Baird.

Prior to joining Baird in 1985, he practiced municipal bond law, specializing in federal taxation and general finance areas. Keith graduated with a BBA from Marquette University and a JD from Marquette University Law School. He is a member of the Wisconsin Bar Association.

Managing Director
Director of Risk Management

Mark Roble is Baird’s Director of Risk Management. He joined Baird in 1993 and has served in a variety of capacities, including Chief Administrative Officer – Global Capital Markets, Director of Corporate Development and Chairman of Baird’s UK Equity Capital Markets Group. He is also a member of Baird’s Executive Committee. Prior to joining Baird, Mark spent 15 years in various roles within the financial services industry.

Mark received an MBA, with high honors, from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and is a graduate of Carroll University. He also holds the professional designation of Chartered Financial Analysis.

Managing Director
Chairman of Baird International

John Fordham is responsible for Baird’s international mergers and acquisitions advisory business, overseeing a dedicated team of M&A professionals who are part of Baird’s integrated U.S. and European M&A advisory business. A veteran of the financial services industry for over 30 years, John most recently was Chief Executive Officer of Baird’s European Equity Capital Markets business, which includes investment banking, equity sales, trading and research.

Prior to joining Baird in 2000, he was the London Corporate Finance Partner for William Blair LLC from 1998 to 2000. He was a Managing Director and head of European Investment Banking at Alex Brown from 1993 to 1998 and was a Managing Director and head of Mergers and Acquisitions at Hill Samuel Bank, where he worked from 1981 to 1991. Since the early 1980s, John’s principal area of focus has been cross-border acquisitions between the U.S. and Europe.