The Partners Group hosted an event in June of 2016 to honor Bill Baldwin, one of their first generation co-founders, as he headed into retirement. Everyone was there to celebrate Bill. Those closest thanked Bill for his life lessons and humor while walking through life and work with them.
Left: Bill Baldwin as a child. Right: Mike Gano – Managing Partner of The Partners Group and Bill Baldwin – Co-Founder of The Partners Group.
Baldwin has had a flourishing career and a legacy of giving back to his community. He started out in the insurance industry in 1965, working as an underwriter/claims adjuster. He eventually moved on to purchase the Horace L. Miller Agency in 1974 after working there as an employee for three years. In 1976, Baldwin sold his first agency and moved to Seattle to join Erwin Dow. Subsequently in 1977 Baldwin formed Insurance Associates, which merged and sold before he became the Executive Director of the Washington Policy Center in 1993. Baldwin moved on to start the Baldwin Resource Group in 1998, which joined forces with The Partners Group in 2011.
Baldwin has contributed his time and sat on the boards of multiple organizations including CFO Selections Foundation, Evergreen Bank, City Club of Seattle, Washington Lodging Association, Washington Restaurant Association, WSU School of Hospitality, Washington State Benefit Exchange, Big Brothers – Big Sisters, Bloodworks N.W., and also Washington Association of Insurance Brokers as board President. Baldwin has been appointed to serve on boards by both Democrat & Republican Governors and asked to serve on the King County Financial Review Committee, by the King Conte Council, for the construction of the Mariner Baseball Stadium.
Jeff Dean, an ex-Fireman’s Fund co-worker who has known Bill for 36 years, spoke highly of Bill. Dean spoke of “Bill-isms” he experienced through the years, such as Bill’s ability to laugh in stressful times, making those around him feel at ease. Jim Addington, a long time business partner and good friend, said “Bill, if you’re half as good at retirement as you were in the insurance business, you are going to have a happy retirement.”
Greg Porter, who knows Bill from the Washington Policy Center, talked about how Bill always stood up for his principles, stating, “He truly, truly, truly cared about his clients and always did what was best for them before the company. That was a remarkable trait he built his career on.” The Partners Group employees, Kevin Lane and Ryan Stewart, who both worked with Bill Baldwin since around 2000, talked highly of Bill and thanked him for his mentorship and business coaching.
Founded in 1981, The Partners Group has been serving the financial and insurance needs of employers, medical professionals, and successful individuals for over 35 years. They are an independent consulting firm with over 140 employees, and services including employee benefits, business consulting, retirement planning and investment services, commercial and individual insurance. The Partners Group has offices in Bellevue, WA; Portland, OR; Lake Oswego, OR; Bend, OR; and Bozeman, MT. For more information, please visit https://www.thepartnersgroup.com. 800-722-6339.
