What led you to Baird?

I joined the industry after I left the army in 2000. At the time, I lived in New York, and a friend who worked at Smith Barney suggested I apply. I started as a mail clerk and, overtime, cross-trained on a variety of jobs, eventually becoming a junior Operations Manager. Unfortunately, the firm was bought by Morgan Stanley in 2009, and they closed my branch. 

I knew I liked supporting people, so I decided to apply for a client-facing role with another firm in New York where I worked for a few years. In 2011, I moved to Milwaukee, so I began searching for similar roles at Milwaukee firms. A branch manager from Baird contacted me to set up an interview. Even though there were not any jobs available, the manager felt I was a good fit and said, “We will find you a home.” And they did.

What keeps you at Baird?

The support staff role at Baird is different from many other firms. People misunderstand the role. I am not an assistant – I am a partner in my team: I contribute to the team’s success and share in team victories.

I’m supported at Baird by the firm and my team. If I want to learn planning, my team will mentor me and help me learn. And I can be a leader at the firm: I was a founding member of Patriot, an associate resource group for veterans and their allies; I mentor interns and train new staff; I speak to next generation advisors who are part of our Foundations Program. There are countless paths for growth and leadership at Baird. I am excited to come to work every day. I cannot imagine working anywhere else.