Wally Fikri is responsible for consultant relations and business development in the Western region of the U.S. He joined William Blair & Company in 2004 after nearly 12 years with Brinson Partners (now UBS Global Asset Management). He has 18 years of experience in the institutional asset management industry, including extensive work with asset allocation, equity, fixed income and hedge fund strategies. Mr. Fikri began his career in the financial services practice at KPMG Peat Marwick in 1991. He is a board member for the CFA Society of Chicago, a member of the CFA Institute, and a member of the advisory board for Goldie’s Place (a charitable organization helping homeless adults become self-sufficient). Education: B.S., Accountancy, Northern Illinois University; M.B.A., Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management.