Baird Advisors Team

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.

Full Biography

Managing Director
Senior Portfolio Manager

Gary has more than 29 years of investment experience managing various types of fixed-income portfolios. Prior to joining Baird Advisors, Gary was a Senior Vice President and Senior Portfolio Manager with Firstar Investment Research and Management Company (FIRMCO). He is Director of Fixed Income Research, overseeing all credit-related decisions and responsible for setting and implementing investment strategy. Gary obtained his undergraduate degree and MBA from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, and received the Chartered Financial Analyst designation in 1982. Gary is currently a member of The CFA Institute and the CFA Society of Milwaukee.

Managing Director
Senior Portfolio Manager

Charlie has more than 27 years of investment experience managing various types of fixed income portfolios. Prior to joining Baird Advisors, Charlie was a Senior Vice President and Senior Portfolio Manager with Firstar Investment Research & Management Company (FIRMCO), where he played a lead role in the overall management of major fixed-income client relationships. His responsibilities include setting investment policy with a major portion of his time allocated to security analysis, credit research, and implementing the long-term investment strategy of the firm. Charlie received his undergraduate degree from Texas Christian University and his MBA from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.

Senior Vice President
Senior Portfolio Manager

Warren has more than 21 years of investment experience managing various types of fixed-income portfolios. Prior to joining Baird Advisors, Warren was a Senior Vice President and Senior Portfolio Manager with Firstar Investment Research and Management Company (FIRMCO), where he managed municipal bond portfolios and intermediate taxable bond portfolios. A major portion of his time is allocated to yield-curve analysis and credit research. He plays a lead role in coordinating and implementing all fixed-income strategy at the firm. Warren received his undergraduate degree from Lawrence University and was awarded the Chartered Financial Analyst designation in 1990. Warren is currently a member of The CFA Institute and is past President of the CFA Society of Milwaukee.

Senior Vice President
Senior Portfolio Manager

Jay has more than 23 years of investment experience managing various types of fixed-income portfolios. Prior to joining Baird Advisors in late 2004, Jay was a Senior Vice President and Senior Portfolio Manager for 15 years with Putnam Investments in Boston. At Putnam, he was responsible for strategy formulation and portfolio construction across a wide variety of multi-sector fixed-income mandates. Jay obtained his undergraduate degree in finance from Marquette University, and received the Chartered Financial Analyst designation in 1987. Jay is currently a member of the CFA Institute and the CFA Society of Milwaukee.

Senior Vice President
Senior Portfolio Manager

Dan has more than 18 years of investment experience managing various types of fixed income portfolios. Prior to joining Baird Advisors, Dan was a Senior Vice President and Senior Portfolio Manager with Firstar Investment Research and Management Company (FIRMCO), where he did quantitative fixed-income analysis and portfolio management. A major portion of his time is allocated to mortgage-backed and asset-backed research. Dan received his undergraduate degree and MBA from Marquette University, and earned the Chartered Financial Analyst designation in 1993. Dan is currently a member of The CFA Institute and the CFA Society of Milwaukee.

Senior Vice President

Heidi has more than 12 years of experience in finance and accounting. Prior to joining Baird Advisors, Heidi was the Controller for the Private Wealth Management division at Baird. She began her career as an auditor for Arthur Andersen. Heidi received her undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater. She received the Certified Public Accountant designation in 1999. Heidi is a CFA Level II Candidate. She is currently a member of The CFA Institute and the CFA Society of Milwaukee.

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First Vice President
Portfolio Manager

Sharon has more than 15 years of investment experience managing various types of fixed-income portfolios. Prior to joining Baird Advisors, Sharon was an Assistant Vice President and Portfolio Manager with Firstar Investment Research and Management Company (FIRMCO), where she did quantitative fixed-income analysis and portfolio management. She received her undergraduate degree from Eastern Illinois University. Sharon is currently a member of The CFA Institute and the CFA Society of Milwaukee.

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First Vice President
Portfolio Manager
Meg has more than nine years of investment experience managing various types of fixed-income portfolios. Prior to joining Baird Advisors in 2007, Meg was a Vice President and Portfolio Manager with Deerfield Capital Management in Chicago, where she was a member of the Asset Backed Securities team focusing on Collateralized Debt Obligations. She currently focuses on mortgage-backed and asset-backed research. Meg obtained her undergraduate degree in economics from Boston College, and received the Chartered Financial Analyst designation in 2005. Meg is currently a member of the CFA Institute and the CFA Society of Chicago.

First Vice President
Portfolio Manager

Jeff has more than 14 years of investment experience managing various types of fixed-income portfolios. Prior to joining Baird Advisors, Jeff was the Director of Corporate Bonds at Clarica Life Insurance for seven years. He began his career as an auditor at the Chicago Board of Trade. Jeff currently focuses on credit research and strategy. He obtained his undergraduate degree from Carroll College and his MS in Finance from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He received the Chartered Financial Analyst designation in 1998, and successfully completed the Certified Public Accountant exam in 1991. Jeff is currently a member of The CFA Institute and the CFA Society of Milwaukee.

First Vice President
Client Services

Dick has more than 28 years of administrative experience working with institutional trust clients. Prior to joining Baird Advisors, Dick was a Vice President at Firstar Bank in the Institutional Trust Division where he served as Market Manager for the Master Trust/Custody Group. Dick obtained his undergraduate degree from Carroll College and received the Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) designation from the International Foundation of Employee Benefits and the Wharton School of Pennsylvania. Dick is currently President of the Greater Milwaukee Employee Benefits Council and is former president of the Wisconsin Retirement Plan Professionals and the Milwaukee Chapter of the International Society–CEBS.

Vice President
Portfolio & Quantitative Analyst

Awuori has over 11 years of investment experience. Prior to joining Baird Advisors Awuori performed quantitative research and analysis at Robert W. Baird & Company. He has significant experience with investment systems and technology. Awuori received his undergraduate degree from Lawrence University and his MBA from the University of Chicago. He received the Chartered Financial Analyst designation in 2004. Awuori is currently a member of The CFA Institute and is a member of the CFA Society of Milwaukee.

Vice President
Client Services

Randy has over 15 years of experience working with institutional trust and investment clients. Prior to joining Baird Advisors, Randy was Vice President at Nicholas Company, Inc., a Milwaukee based investment advisory firm, managing the firm’s institutional relationships. His experience also includes extensive trust experience servicing as a Institutional Relationship Manager with Firstar Trust and Marshall & Ilsley Trust. Randy received his undergraduate degree and his MBA from Marquette University.