The Big Timer

Businessman Kevin Ahern ’85 if faced daily with million-dollar decisions.

| Alumni Profile | by Nicole Nelsestuen ’08

Sitting at his mahogany desk in a high-rise building in the heart of Denver, Kevin Ahern ’85 is faced daily with million-dollar decisions, demanding clients and an endless sea of competitors. While this might sound like an insane amount of stress and pressure for any one person, Ahern simply views his job as president and COO of Braddock Financial as a constant opportunity to challenge and push himself. To him, the pressures are “no big deal”—they are just part of the job.

Ahern was originally attracted to the University of Northern Colorado by the programs at the Monfort College of Business. His interest in business came at an early age. “My father was in the insurance business, and I always admired his work ethic and what the world of business did for him,” Ahern says.

After graduating from UNC in 1985 with a bachelor’s degree in business, Ahern decided to give the Big Apple a shot. He began training as an analyst for Johnson and Higgins Inc., an insurance and investment firm. After completing his training, Ahern moved on to the big-time—Wall Street. He worked in the fast-paced world of Wall Street for a little over a year and ultimately realized that hearing the words buy and sell thousands of times a day wasn’t for him. So Ahern and his wife, Annie, whom he met as a freshman at UNC , packed their bags and moved to Hartford, Conn., where he began to work for Aetna Investment Management.

While working for Aetna during the following five years, Ahern met people who would greatly influence his future. One of these people was Stu Reese, the current CEO of Mass Mutual. “Stu taught me a very valuable lesson,” Ahern says. “He told me that even if it means less money early in your career, the money will come if you build knowledge.” Ahern heeded Reese’s advice and went back to school to earn his master’s degree in finance from the University of Connecticut in 1991. Soon after graduation, IN G Investment Management hired him as a senior portfolio manager. After five years at IN G, Ahern went on to hold a variety of executive positions at a number of financial and investment firms.

Ahern has now worked for Braddock since 2005 and his responsibilities range from overseeing marketing, finance, research and trading, and client service functions. He also manages the company’s private equity investments, which requires frequent travel to expand business and maintain solid professional relationships. Ahern also serves as chairman of the board for Colorado Capital Bank. “My schedule is fairly hectic, and my days involve a wide range of issues and decisions. Sometimes it can be overwhelming,” Ahern says. “Working for Braddock and being involved in a number of private investments, including my role with Colorado Capital Bank, has given me so many opportunities,though, that it’s worth it.”

Ahern still keeps close ties with UNC. He has been on the Monfort College of Business Leadership Council since 2006 where he provides input and feedback on what is happening in the Colorado business community; he served on the board of the UNC Foundation from 1995 to 2006; and chaired the UNC Investment Committee from 2001 to 2006. And this past fall, he served as a visiting professor at the Monfort College for the SAFF class that involves students managing $1 million of the UNC Foundation’s assets. Ahern stays involved with the university because he wants to give students the same opportunities to learn and succeed that he had. Many of his mentors are still professors at UNC , and he wants to give back to them by volunteering his time and helping with new projects.

Although he deals with a level of pressure and stress that would make most people break down, Ahern has an uncanny way of taking the demands of his job in stride. “I have to remember that when all is said and done, this is just my job,” he says. “As long as I can find a balance between work, family and fun then I’ll be able to do this for a long time.”

Alumni Snapshot

Name: Kevin Ahern
Professional Title: President and COO of Braddock Financial
Hometown: Denver
Current residence: Morrison, Colo.
Hobbies: Golfing, skiing, fly-fishing and working out.