Happy Hour Career Chat: Michael Gardner, William O'Neil + Company

The CFALA Career Development Committee would like to invite you to attend our next Happy Hour Career Chat. The Happy Hour Career Chat events are good for networking and refining your skill set to help you reach the next level in your career. Each Happy Hour Career Chat features a short presentation to discuss the topic of the event and a mingling session for you to socialize and network with your peers and the presenters. Appetizers will be provided along with one drink per attendee.

Michael Gardner, CFA has a broad and diverse background in the investment and finance industry, having worked in a variety of senior management roles. Michael is currently Executive Vice President and Director of Research at William O’Neil + Company in Los Angeles, where he has been since 2014. In this capacity, he is responsible for overseeing the research team and ensuring the output and delivery of high quality timely investment research targeted to the firm’s clients and prospects. In his previous roles, he served 20 years in various senior executive positions with Los Angeles-based Wedbush Securities, the largest west coast based investment bank and brokerage firm, including Managing Director of Wedbush Asset Management, Head of the Private Client Services Group (wealth management and retail brokerage), Co-Head of Capital Markets, Head of the Investment Banking Division, Director of Equity Research, and in Corporate Research as Assistant to the CEO. Michael began his finance career as a Credit Analyst with the First National Bank of Boston.

Michael’s overall academic record and active participation in the CFA program is a testimony to his commitment to a career of continuous learning and achievement. He is a CFA charterholder, active participant in the CFA Society Los Angeles, and has completed over 10 consecutive years of CFA Continuing Education credits after obtaining his charter. He graduated with a Master’s of Business Administration (Strategic Management) studying under Dr. Peter F. Drucker and a Master’s of Science in Management Information Systems from Claremont Graduate University, in Claremont, CA, where he was also a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma international honor society for business schools. He has achieved professional designations from UCLA in International Trade and International Business Management. He also holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration (Finance) from Salem State University.

With his significant senior level investment experience in numerous segments of the finance industry, Michael will provide insightful and unique perspectives on starting a career in investments, his current role at William O’Neil, and broad trends in the Los Angeles finance community and overall field of finance as a whole. This informal gathering will allow attendees to have up close and personal interaction with one of the key leaders in the investment industry.