Honored Leader: Stephen W. Baird, President and CEO
Company Name: Baird & Warner
Location: Chicago, Ill.
Nature of Business: Real estate brokerage and provider
of mortgage, title and home services.
Founded: 1855
Revenue: Over $100 million
Growth Rate (2003): 13.5 percent
Number of Employees: 247
Average Tenure: 5.5 years
Assuring that a 150-year-old, 240-employee, independent real estate firm remains competitive in an industry that is redefining itself and consolidating is a daunting undertaking. Steve Baird, who leads the firm founded by his grandfather, is not afraid to take risks and make tough decisions in order to maintain the independence of the firm and assure its future viability. He has successfully linked his vision of the company as an integrated, technologically empowered service provider with workplace practices that result in a loyal and productive workforce. Working from an ethical, values-based foundation, Baird has focused on attracting and retaining talented people. The organization invests in training and creating career paths for workers, and engages them in solving critical problems. The business is continually moving into uncharted territory, providing an increasingly broad array of services related to the home-ownership experience, and Steve has created an environment in which employees feel safe to experiment and make mistakes.