Research Leadership

Director of Research

Bob Venable leads Baird’s Equity Research Department, co-manages the Equity Capital Markets business and is a member of Baird’s Board of Directors. Bob is also a member of Baird's Capital Commitment and Investment Policy committees, as well as the Investment Committee for both 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 professional career with Procter & Gamble. Bob is Treasurer and a member of the Board of Trustees of The University School of Milwaukee. He also serves on the Executive Board of Directors of the YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee.

Bob received an MBA with honors from the University of Chicago, a BS in Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

Director of Research Operations
Senior Research Analyst

Craig Kennison is Baird’s senior analyst covering Consumer Leisure and Automotive Services as well as the Director of Research Operations. Prior to joining Baird in 1999, Craig worked in marketing and sales for the Eureka Company (now Electrolux Home Care Products). Craig received a BA in Economics, English and Philosophy, and an MBA in Finance from the University of Wisconsin, where he is an alumnus of the Applied Security Analysis Program.

Associate Director of Research
Senior Research Analyst

Jon Langenfeld is Baird’s senior analyst covering Transportation/Logistics as well as the Associate Director of Research. Prior to joining Baird in 2000, he was a senior manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers, providing supply chain consulting services. In 2008 and 2007, StarMine ranked him Top 3 Industry Estimator in the Air Freight & Logistics Industry and in the Road & Rail Industry. In 2006, StarMine ranked Jon first for his accuracy in estimating earnings in Air Freight & Logisitcs and third in Road & Rail; he received a similar recognition for his coverage of Air Freight & Logistics in 2003. Jon earned a BS in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA from the University of Notre Dame.

Associate Director of Research
Senior Research Analyst

David Tarantino is Baird’s senior analyst covering Restaurants as well as the Associate Director of Research. Prior to joining Baird in 2003, he held a variety of positions in Brand Management and Product Development at The Procter & Gamble Company. David received a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame and an MBA with concentrations in Finance and Accounting from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business.

Managing Director
Director of Research, Products, & Services, Private Wealth Management

Tim Byrne is Director of Research, Products and Services for Baird’s Private Wealth Management business. His responsibilities include outside money manager and mutual fund research, equity and fixed income securities research & portfolio consultation, financial & estate planning services, best practices research, and oversight of investment products and services.

Prior to joining Baird’s Private Wealth Management business, Tim was Baird’s Senior IT Services Analyst in Equity Research. Forbes recognized him as a “Top Equity Analyst - Best Earnings Estimator” for his IT Services coverage, and he was a member of the Baird team ranked first for “IT Services Research” in the Greenwich Associates Survey of Small/Mid-Cap Funds. Tim was at Mercer Management Consulting, Inc. for nearly eight years before joining Baird; as a partner in Mercer’s strategy group, he focused on high-tech industries and helped to launch Mercer’s digital strategy practice. Tim is on the board of directors of the Harvard Business School Club of Wisconsin and Fairfax Publishing Company, Inc.

Tim has an AB magna cum laude in Chemistry from the College of the Holy Cross and a MBA from Harvard Business School, has earned his CFA charter, and is a member of the Investment Management Consulting Association (IMCA).