Christopher Gardner

Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Gardner has spent most of his professional career in the brokerage and investment field. A native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, his initial position in the securities industry was with Dean Witter Reynolds. Later, he became a top producer at Bear, Stearns & Company, first in San Francisco and later in New York.

Mr. Gardner has brought an unconventional perspective to the investment business: prior to his positions at Bear, Stearns and Dean Witter, he was a research biologist at the University of California Medical Center where he co-authored and published eight articles on the preservation of myocardial high energy phosphates. Prior to that, he was enlisted in the U.S. Navy Hospital Corp.

In October 1987, Mr. Gardner established Gardner Rich as an institutional brokerage firm specializing in the execution of debt, equity and derivative products transactions. Through Mr. Gardner’s brokerage expertise, Gardner Rich has grown by focusing on its commitment to provide quality service and excellent trade executions for clients. Under Mr. Gardner, the Firm has been a benefactor to many thousands of students, teachers and other school employees around the nation. Mr. Gardner has directed his firm to contribute 10 percent of all profits to communities where the company does business. Gardner Rich has donated more than $1 million to public education institutions in the communities it serves. “Our motto is simple,” says Mr. Gardner, “equal opportunity also means equal responsibility.”

Mr. Gardner currently holds series 3, 7, 27 and 24 FINRA licenses.

Information on Chris Gardner's books and public speaking is available at ChrisGardnerMedia.

   

Curtis Spears

President and Chief Operating Officer

Curtis Spears is President and COO of Gardner Rich, LLC. Curtis brings with him twenty years of experience in the field of asset management. His ability to cultivate strong client relationships and his strong leadership skills were honed in his prior position at Fifth Third Asset Management where Curtis held the position of VP/Managing Director of Public Fund Sales. Curtis also served as Vice President at The Northern Trust Company where he was responsible for client service and marketing investment products and services to the institutional marketplace. Before taking on client responsibilities, Curtis managed domestic and international equity index portfolios for Northern Trust.

Throughout his career, Curtis’s level of excellence has enabled him to build strong relationships with top-tier financial firms and institutional investors. A native of Chicago, Curtis also sees it as his duty to give back to the community. He has served on auxiliary boards for the Steppenwolf Theater, the Field Museum, and the Primo Center for Women and Children, where he has raised funds crucial to operations, and helped to increase awareness.

Curtis received his B.S. in computer science from Northwestern University and an M.B.A. from DePaul University. Mr. Spears currently holds series 7, 63 and 24 FINRA licenses.

   

Colleen Carlson

Chief Compliance Officer

Colleen Carlson joined Gardner Rich in May of 1994. Mrs. Carlson is responsible for directing Gardner Rich’s business operations. As Chief Compliance Officer, she develops, initiates, maintains, and revises policies and procedures for the general operation of the Compliance Program and its related activities to prevent illegal, unethical, or improper conduct.

Ms. Carlson currently holds series 7, 63 and 24 FINRA licenses.