CHICAGO, SEPTEMBER 3, 2013 – Baird Capital, the direct private investment arm of Robert W. Baird & Co. (Baird), today announced the addition of Nicole Walker, Director, and David Gregorka, Venture Partner, to its Venture Capital group. Both will focus on investment opportunities in the healthcare sector.
Walker joins Baird Capital with 20 years of operational and investment experience in the healthcare industry, particularly in medical devices and diagnostics. Based in Chicago, Walker was previously Director of Venture Investments for Abbott Ventures, where she was responsible for the evaluation and management of equity investments in emerging healthcare companies, and before that served in an operating role in Global Strategic Marketing in Abbott’s diabetes division. Prior to Abbott, Walker spent three years as a Principal with ONSET Ventures where she specialized in seed and early-stage medical technology investments and ten years with Guidant Corporation where she held multiple operating roles including multiple R&D roles and Head of Marketing, Asia in the Vascular Division. . Walker holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University, as well as MBA and Masters of Engineering Management degrees from Kellogg and Northwestern University.
Gregorka is based in Ann Arbor, Mich. and works to source, evaluate, and oversee investment opportunities in the healthcare sector, with a particular emphasis on healthcare IT. Previously, Gregorka co-founded HealthMedia, now called Wellness & Prevention, Inc. (a Johnson & Johnson Company), where he served in multiple roles, including CFO and Operations VP. In prior organizations he served on the executive management teams of a start-up company that developed tools for managing and analyzing large data sets and an international public health and environmental standards and certification organization. An active member of the Michigan entrepreneurial community, Dave serves as a member of the Oversight Committee for the University of Michigan – Michigan Translation and Commercialization for Life Sciences Program (U-M MTRAC), the State of Michigan Advisory Board of Examiners and the advisory boards of several emerging companies. Gregorka received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Rochester, as well as MBA and M.S. degrees from the University of Michigan.
“We are extremely excited to welcome Nicole and David to Baird Capital,” said Mike Liang, Partner with Baird Capital’s Venture group. “They are very talented professionals who bring deep investing and operating experience as well as tremendous relationships in our core subsectors of interest. They are valuable additions to our investment efforts.”
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About Baird Capital
Baird Capital makes venture capital, growth equity and private equity investments in strategically targeted sectors around the world. Baird Capital’s venture team invests in early and expansion-stage technology-enabled services and healthcare companies. Having invested in more than 270 companies over its history, Baird Capital partners with entrepreneurs and, leveraging its executive networks, strives to build exceptional companies. Baird Capital is the direct private investment arm of Robert W. Baird & Co. For more information, please visit www.BairdCapital.com.
For additional information, contact:
Angela Pittman Taylor
Baird Public Relations
414-298-1902
apittmantaylor@rwbaird.com
