Market Director: Steve Binder serves as Market Director for Baird’s offices in Cherry Creek, Boulder, Grand Junction, Durango, and Anchorage, Alaska.

Ring The Bell: Baird’s Executive Committee rang the closing bell on the New York Stock Exchange on March 4 as part of their celebration of 100 years in business.

Baird, an employee-owned, international wealth management, asset management, investment banking/capital markets and private equity firm, is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. To commemorate the milestone, members of Baird’s Executive Committee rang the closing bell on the New York Stock Exchange on Monday, March 4.

Since the firm’s founding in 1919, Baird associates have focused on providing the best financial advice and service to clients and giving back to their communities. This “service to others” has been faithfully followed since firm namesake Robert Wilson Baird led the union of two bond departments that formed the First Wisconsin Company in 1919. Today, the company bears the same name as it did 100 years ago. “It’s unique to have the same name and a partnership where employees own it,” said Steve Binder, Market Director for Baird.

Baird also has a long tradition of giving back to the communities where its associates live and work. Baird Foundation provides support to many charitable organizations supported by their associates, and in 2018 contributed $4.1 million to non-profit organizations. Through the Baird Cares program, associates receive two paid days off each year to volunteer for the charity of their choice. Associates also organize Baird Gives Back Week, an event held annually in the spring. In 2018, nearly 1,800 associates and family members volunteered nearly 7,100 hours to 149 non-profit organizations.

Baird, a proud Chamber member located in Cherry Creek, supports many local charities including Freedom Service Dogs of America, one of the leading service dog training organizations in the country and Rocky Mountain Human Services, a nonprofit organization that serves over 6,000 Colorado residents through case management and direct service programs.

Today, Baird has approximately 3,500 associates serving the needs of individual, corporate, institutional and municipal clients through more than 100 offices in the United States, Europe and Asia.

“As we celebrate 100 years, we reflect on our commitment to client service that started in 1919 with Robert W. Baird and his guiding principle: ‘Clients come first,’” said Steve Booth, Baird President & CEO. “This ideal, which we continue to hold true today, has helped fuel a century of success for our firm, during which we’ve grown our capabilities and expanded into new businesses and strategic markets around the world, all to best meet the evolving needs of our clients.”

Revenues in 2018 were $1.78 billion, the ninth consecutive year of record results, and client assets entrusted to Baird exceeded $208 billion. At the Cherry Creek branch alone, which includes 26 advisors, assets total $4.5 billion. “This is unique because we are in the Glendale/Cherry Creek area,” said Binder. “It is cool to be in Cherry Creek and not in the Tech Center.”

In February, Baird was named to FORTUNE magazine’s 2019 list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For, ranking No. 16. It was the firm’s 16th consecutive year for this recognition.

“Our commitment to being a great place to work has enabled us to attract and retain talented professionals, who in turn, provide the best financial advice and service to our clients,” said Paul Purcell, Chairman of Baird. “I couldn’t be more proud of our associates and what we’ve accomplished together. We have given back time, talent and treasure to our communities, inspired by the example set by Mr. Baird himself. A century of success proves that our associates have translated the Baird values into reality.”

To learn more about Baird’s 100th anniversary and success over the years, please visit www.baird100.com and follow the hashtag #Baird100.