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. Paul 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. Paul 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, Paul Purcell is chairman of the Cristo Rey Jesuit High School board of directors, and vice chairman and member of the board of directors of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA). He also serves on the Alverno College board of trustees, the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business Advisory Council, the University of Notre Dame Mendoza School of Business Advisory Council, the board of directors of RC2 Corporation and the Greater Milwaukee Committee board and executive committee.

He received an MBA from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business and is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame.

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. Before joining Baird in 2006, he was a Managing Director and Head of Chicago Investment Banking for Lehman Brothers. Previously, 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.

Randy is a graduate of Princeton University and The Darden School at The University of Virginia. He is a member of The Commercial Club of Chicago and The Economic Club of Chicago and currently serves as Vice Chairman of The Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association, a Director of Teach for America Chicago, a Trustee of Woodberry Forest School and an Advisory Director of Flying Food Group.

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
Chief Investment Officer

J. Bary Morgan is the Chief Investment Officer of Baird Investment Management, which provides investment advisory and portfolio services to individual and institutional clients. Prior to joining Baird in 1992, he worked as a Certified Public Accountant in the Chicago office of Arthur Andersen, where he focused on personal finance issues, including retirement and estate tax considerations for high-net-worth individuals, as well as family wealth planning.

J. Bary Morgan earned a BS in Finance from Louisiana Tech University, graduating summa cum laude, and an MBA, with honors, from the Indiana University Graduate School of Business. He also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

Managing Director
Director of Baird Private Equity
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Managing Director
Corporate and Executive Services

Laura Gough is responsible for developing and directing the cross-marketing of services among different departments at Baird. She is active in organizations identifying industry issues and contributing to industry outreach. Laura is a member of the Baird Management Committee and the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association Retirement and Savings Committee where she served as the Chair in 2004. Laura earned a BS in Economics from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Managing Director
Chief Human Resources Officer

Leslie Dixon has more than 20 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 Resources Officer. She focuses on strategic issues, and works with senior management to further organizational effectiveness and associate development. She oversees Human Resources, Baird University, Real Estate & Facilities, the Travel/Corporate Events Department and assists with the administration of the Baird Foundation.

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.

Managing Director
General Counsel & Secretary

Glen F. Hackmann is a Managing Director, as well as the General Counsel and Secretary for Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated. He is also a member of the board of directors of Robert W. Baird Group Limited, Baird’s European operation. In addition, he is Chairman of Baird’s Audit Committee and Risk Management Committee.

Prior to joining Baird in 1984, Glen was Chief Counsel for ContiCommodity Services, Inc. in Chicago and, prior to that, was General Counsel of Reinholdt & Gardner in St. Louis. Glen is a former member of the District 8 Committee of the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD). He is also a former member of the Executive Committee of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association’s (SIFMA) Legal & Compliance Division, as well as the former Chairman of the SIFMA’s State Regulation & Legislation Committee.

Glen earned an AB in English Literature and a JD from the University of Missouri. He is currently a member of the board of directors for the United Performing Arts Fund (UPAF), a board he chaired for two years. In addition, he served six years each on the boards of the Milwaukee Ballet Company and the Florentine Opera Company, including serving as Florentine Opera president from 2001-2003. Glen was honored nationally with the Americans for the Arts Michael Newton Award in 2005 in recognition of his commitment to the united arts fund movement. In 2009, UPAF awarded Glen the Mrs. Walter H. Stiemke Award, its highest honor, in recognition of his extraordinary dedication to the performing arts and UPAF.

Managing Director
Director of Corporate Communications

John Rumpf oversees Baird's internal and external communications, including eBusiness and public relations. He participates in the committee that administers the Baird Foundation and sits on the firm's Diversity Steering Committee. Prior to joining Baird in 1999, he was Vice President/Director of Marketing of a marketing communications consulting firm.

Over the course of 20 years, he served a wide variety of professional service clients, financial institutions, major U.S. and international corporations (including numerous Fortune 500 companies), national commercial real estate developers, medical centers, educational institutions and non-profit organizations. John is a trustee of the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music and the Public Policy Forum and a member of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association’s Investor Education Advisory Committee.

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 Financial Officer

Len Rush is the Chief Financial Officer of Baird, Baird Holding Company, Baird Financial Corporation and is the Treasurer for Baird Funds. Prior to joining Baird in 2000, he spent nine years at Fidelity Investments, where he was CFO of its four broker dealers, Vice President/Head of Compliance and Assistant Treasurer for the funds.

Prior to Fidelity, Len was a Vice President at Credit Suisse First Boston, a Manager with Goldman, Sachs & Co. and a Senior Manager with Deloitte & Touche. He holds a BBA, with a focus in Accounting, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an MBA from New York University. Len is also a Certified Public Accountant.

Managing Director
Chief Operations & Information Officer

Russ Schwei oversees the Operations Administration, Cashiering, Cash Management, Client Services, Fee Based Account Administration, Purchase & Sales, Mutual Fund Operations, Facilities Management and Information Technology Departments. Russ serves on the Executive Committee, Risk Management, Human Capital, Product Strategy, Management, and Technology Committees.

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

Managing Director
Director of Investment Banking

Steve Booth is 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
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 Research

Bob Venable is co-head of Baird's Equity Capital Markets business and leads Baird’s Equity Research. He is a member of the Board of Directors, Executive Committee, Capital Commitments and Investment Policy Committees. Bob also sits on the Investment Committees for Baird Capital Partners and Baird Venture Partners.

Prior to joining Baird in 1996, Bob was with Ameritech Venture Capital and co-founded and took public a wireless technology firm. He began his career with Procter & Gamble.

In the community, Bob is a member of the Executive Board of the YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee; Treasurer and a Trustee of The University School of Milwaukee; and a member of the Board of Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital.

Bob received an MBA with honors from the University of Chicago, and a BS in Agricultural Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Managing Director
Director of Risk Management

Mark 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 and Audit Committee. Prior to joining Baird, he spent 15 years in various roles within the financial services industry.

Mark received an MBA, with high honors, from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business and a BA in Business Administration and Theatre from Carroll College. He also holds the professional designation of Chartered Financial Analyst.

Chairman, European Investment Banking
Director of European M&A

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.

Chairman and CEO
Baird Private Equity - Europe

Michael Proudlock has led Robert W. Baird Group Limited’s private equity business since 1985. Having spent some time in industry with GKN, he then moved to County Bank in Birmingham, England. There his responsibilities included making, monitoring and managing investments in unlisted companies.

Managing Director
Fixed Income Capital Markets Director

Pat Lawton is the Managing Director of the Fixed Income Capital Markets Group. He is also on the Baird Fixed Income Capital Markets Committee and the Diversity Steering Committee. Prior to joining Baird in 1988, he spent seven years at Merrill Lynch in the Fixed Income Capital Markets Group in Chicago.

Prior to Merrill Lynch, he worked for three years for the Milwaukee Investment Center of M&I Bank. Pat earned a BSBA, with majors in Economics and Finance, and an MBA from Marquette University.

Managing Director
Director of Equity Trading

As head of Equity Trading, Jim Herrick directs the activities of sales and over-the-counter traders. Since joining Baird in 1986, he has held a number of positions, including retail trader, sales trader and listed block trader. Jim earned a BA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Managing Director
Institutional Equity Services Director

William Mahler is Co-Head of Equity Capital Markets and Director of Institutional Equity Services. Bill works closely with Baird’s Investment Banking and Research teams and directly oversees sales and trading of U.S. equities in the United States and international markets. Joining Baird in 1986, Bill is a member of the board of directors of Robert W. Baird & Co., the Executive Committee, the Audit Committee, Strategic Planning Committee and Baird’s Research Oversight Committee. He also is a member of the Management and Capital Commitment committees.

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, is on the board of the Children’s Health Education Center and a member of the CHEC Finance Committee. In addition, he serves on the board of directors for Marquette University High School and is chairman of its Investment Committee and a member of its Executive Committee.