Human Resources: BAIRD RANKS #14 ON FORTUNE’S 100 BEST COMPANIES TO WORK FOR® LIST

MILWAUKEE, Jan. 22, 2009 – Baird, an employee-owned, international wealth management, capital markets, private equity and asset management firm, ranks number 14 on FORTUNE magazine's 2009 list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For®. The firm also ranks third among “small companies” (2,500 employees or less). This is Baird’s sixth consecutive year on the list, a prominent annual ranking of top U.S. companies based on workplace attributes and employee feedback.

“Achieving this tremendous recognition six consecutive years is a testament to the care, commitment and dedication Baird’s more than 2,300 associates bring to addressing clients’ needs every day,” said Paul E. Purcell, Baird Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer. “Attracting and retaining the absolute best talent is a key strategic priority for Baird. In light of that, being named by FORTUNE as one of the nation’s best places to work is a high honor and a significant point of distinction.”
FORTUNE’s 100 Best Companies to Work For® are identified through a detailed analysis done by the Great Place to Work® Institute. Companies are ranked based on an extensive two-part questionnaire, which covers employment and benefits data and quality-of-workplace topics, and on surveys completed by randomly selected employees. Employee responses constitute two-thirds of a company’s total score.

In naming Baird to the list, FORTUNE noted, “This Midwest-based employee-owned investment advisor thrived despite the melt¬down, hiring more than 200 people in 2008.”

“It is an honor to be recognized on this list, and particularly so given the tough environment” said Leslie Dixon, Baird’s Chief Human Resources Officer. “This would not be possible without the loyalty, passion and support of our associates. Being a great place to work is central to Baird’s mission, culture and the way we do business. Receiving this recognition, and doing so consistently since 2004, underscores our commitment to being the best place to work for the best people in the industry.”
Other notable companies on FORTUNE’s 2009 100 Best Companies to Work For® list include: Google, Cisco Systems and Goldman Sachs.

A Great Place to Work

Baird’s commitment to providing a great workplace starts with the firm’s culture, which incorporates the shared values of honesty, integrity and genuine concern for clients and respect for associates. Baird actively encourages associates to find a balance between work, home and the community, and provides perks such as flexible work arrangements, tuition reimbursement, and online and classroom training through the firm’s in-house Baird University.
Core to Baird’s culture is a commitment to the communities in which its associates live and work . This caring commitment is a tradition built through the efforts of the firm, the Baird Foundation and the community involvement of Baird associates. As evidence of this commitment, nearly 98 percent of Baird’s Milwaukee-area associates donated to the 2008 United Way campaign and 96 percent donated to the United Performing Arts Fund in 2008. To recognize the generosity and commitment of Baird associates, the United Performing Arts Fund created the Robert W. Baird Outstanding Achievement in Employee Giving Award in 2005.
Baird’s firmwide Charitable Gift Matching Program provides a match for associates’ financial contributions to eligible nonprofit organizations. Associates also receive an additional paid day off each year to perform volunteer service through the “Baird Cares” program.

About Baird
Baird is an employee-owned, international wealth management, capital markets, private equity and asset management firm with offices in the United States, Europe and Asia. Established in 1919, Baird has more than 2,300 associates serving the needs of individual, corporate, institutional and municipal clients. Baird oversees and manages client assets of more than $66 billion. Committed to being a great place to work, Baird ranked number 14 on FORTUNE’s “100 Best Companies to Work For”® in 2009 -- its sixth consecutive year on the list. Baird’s principal operating subsidiaries are Robert W. Baird & Co. in the United States and Robert W. Baird Group Ltd. in Europe. Baird also has an operating subsidiary in Asia supporting Baird’s private equity operations. For more information, please visit Baird’s Web site at www.rwbaird.com.