The firm’s leadership earned three individual nominations: President and CEO Michael A. Baker is a finalist for CEO of the Year for the third consecutive year, while EVP and General Partner Sheila Cuffari-Agasi was recognized for her role in driving enterprise growth. Additionally, Vice President and Chief Technology Officer Aaron Spradlin received a nod for his work in AI implementation and cybersecurity. The firm’s 'Independence Delivered' campaign also secured a finalist spot in the Digital Marketing category.

Baker’s tenure has overseen a period of record-setting financial performance and recruiting, including the onboarding of a network representing $5 billion in assets. Under Spradlin’s technical direction, the firm successfully transitioned to AI-driven automation, reducing manual back-office tasks by more than 60%. These nominations follow a series of previous wins for the firm, including a 2025 technology award for AI-powered workflows and a 2024 recognition for the LEAPS succession program. Winners will be announced in New York City on September 10.