Heather Gardner is the National Accounts Director for William Blair & Company with product placement responsibility for mutual funds, separately managed accounts, and sub-advisory relationships for outside financial institutions. Ms. Gardner joined the firm in 2001 as an External Sales and Marketing Executive dedicated to the national wirehouse channel. Prior to joining William Blair & Company, Ms. Gardner was an Institutional Equity Research Sales Executive with Stephens Inc. She is currently a member of the following organizations: Investment Management Consultants Association (IMCA), Association of Investment Management Sales Executives (AIMSE), Money Management Institute (MMI), Women Investment Professionals of Chicago, Junior League of Chicago (JLC), and The Springboard Foundation. Education/Designations: Hendrix College, B.A. in Business/Economics, Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA), certificate of completion from the University of Chicago, Booth Management School of Business for the Chicago Management Institute program.