Baird hired Rob Ketner as director for public finance in the Winston-Salem, North Carolina, office, where he will provide advisory and consulting services to higher education and nonprofit institutions. 

Baird has expanded its higher education and nonprofit practice by adding Ketner and, in mid-August, Tim Kelly. for its Florida office.

Ketner previously worked for Baird’s national quantitative resource group, so this is a return for him.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Rob back to our public finance group,” said director of public finance Brian Brewer. “His advisory and quantitative experience working with higher education institutions augments our ability to serve more institutions. As we continue to grow our team of advisors and underwriters, clients benefit from expanded capabilities and greater flexibility to meet their financial needs.” 

“I couldn’t be happier to rejoin Baird and I look forward to leveraging the firm’s full-service platform to deliver exceptional service to clients,” Ketner said. 

Ketner has nearly 15 years of experience in public finance. He joins Baird from First Tryon Advisors, where he was one of two leaders of the firm’s higher education advisory practice. 

Ketner has a bachelor’s degree in political science and master of management studies degree from Duke University.