Your Valuable Team at the Helm
Meet Our Team
Greg Sommersberger, QPFC
Senior Investment Consultant | Managing Director
With 20 years as an investment professional, Greg is a Managing Director and Senior Investment Consultant with Baird. He specializes in managing wealth for families, professionals, and business owners. Greg and his team provide comprehensive retirement planning, estate planning, and investment management by utilizing Baird’s unique consultative approach. Credentialed with the Qualified Plan Financial Consultant (QPFC) designation, developed by the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries (ASPPA), Greg is regarded as an expert in the highly specialized retirement plan industry.
Greg graduated Magna Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in finance with an emphasis on economics from Valparaiso University. He earned Academic All-American Honors for his performance and achievements on and off the football field. Greg also completed the Investment Consultant Program sponsored by Baird at the University of Chicago’s Booth Graduate School of Business.
Throughout his career with Baird, Greg has earned numerous recognitions. He is a current member of the Baird Chairman’s Club. FORBES ranked Greg as the #10th Best-In-State Wealth Advisor in Wisconsin.1 Ranked as Barron's Top 1,200 Advisors in America2, Financial Plannings’ Top Regional Advisors Under 403, On Wall Street’s Top 40 Advisors under 404, FORBES Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors5, and is a founding member of the prestigious 1919 Club. Past recognitions include Baird’s Presidents Club and Rookie Partner of the Year.
Greg is an active community member of Mequon-Thiensville Rotary. He served as President of the Saukville Chamber of Commerce and Phi Delta Theta Milwaukee Alumni Association. Greg resides in the Town of Grafton with his wife, Carrie, son, Oliver, daughter, Lena, and dog, Randy
1 Greg ranked No. 5 on the 2026 list for Wisconsin. Forbes/SHOOK Research Best-In-State Wealth Advisor published 1/7/26, rankings based on data as of 3/31/25. https://www.forbes.com/lists/best-in-state-wealth-advisors/
2 Greg ranked No. 15 on the 2026 list for Wisconsin. Barron’s Top 1,200 Financial Advisors In America was published on March 20, 2026. Rankings based on data as of September 30, 2025. https://www.barrons.com/advisor/report/top-financial-advisors/1000
3 Greg ranked No. 40 on the 2018 list. Financial Planning was published on Jan 16th, 2018. Rankings based on data as of Sep 30th, 2017. https://www.financial-planning.com/slideshow/top-40-advisors-under-40-2018-edition-31-40
4 Greg ranked No. 3 on the 2019 list. On Wall Street Top Regional Advisor Under 40 was published on Feb 1st, 2019. Rankings based on data as of Dec 31st, 2018.
5 Greg ranked No. 10 on the 2019 list. Forbes Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisor Award was published on Jul 24th, 2019. Rankings based on data as of Mar 31st, 2019.
Gil Cervelli, CFP®
Director | Associate Financial Advisor, PWM | Financial Planner
Gil celebrated a decade with The Sommersberger Group in 2023. He is a Director at Baird, and an Executive Council qualifier. Gil joined the firm in 2010. He has a passion for financial planning and technology. He specializes in developing custom financial planning, retirement savings, and distribution strategies. When he is not engaged with clients or a financial plan, he focuses his attention on employer retirement plans.
In 2021 Gil was elected as the inaugural co-chair of Baird’s Associate Financial Advisor Council. As part of his role as co-chair of this Baird Leadership Group, Gil represented a diverse, nationwide collection of Baird associates while mentoring the next generation of the firm’s financial planners.
Gil was an inaugural recipient of the Associate Financial Advisor All-Star award in 2022. This firmwide recognition acknowledged Gil’s outstanding performance, leadership, client engagement, relationship development and service to his community. In 2013 Gil was also named a Blue Chip Client Service Award winner. This is an honor bestowed upon 2% of Baird associates.
Gil graduated Summa Cum Laude from St. Ambrose University in 2006. Prior to joining Baird in 2010, Gil worked as a Financial Advisor with Edward Jones.
He currently resides in Cedarburg. He loves to travel with his family and play golf.
Kelley Kochendorfer, QPFC
Financial Advisor
Kelley’s mission is to empower individuals and families to achieve financial confidence. She is passionate about education and strives to help clients navigate the complexities of the financial world, while simultaneously building, protecting, and enjoying their wealth.
Kelley joined Baird in 2021 and has a background in consulting. She graduated Cum Laude from Texas Tech University, where she excelled in Track & Field competing in Pole Vault, making numerous appearances at the USATF Outdoor National Championships. Kelley holds the Qualified Plan Financial Consultant (QPFC) designation, developed by the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries (ASPPA), Kelley is regarded as an expert in the retirement plan industry.
Kelley is an active community member, currently on the board of UW Initiative to End Alzheimer's, a member of Sun Prairie Lions Club, Wisconsin Dells Visitor Bureau and serving as Chapter Director for Wisconsin Power Partners Wauna-Fo Chapter. She was on the board of Waunakee Neighborhood ConnectionsShe currently resides in Wisconsin Dells with her husband, Blake, and two children, Sloane, and Ari. In her free time, she coaches club volleyball, enjoys golfing, working out, and embarking on family adventures.
Thomas J. Lane, CFP®
Senior Vice President | Associate Financial Advisor | Financial Planner
Thomas J. Lane (TJ) joined the team in 2019 as an Associate Financial Advisor. He is a Vice President at Baird and is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional with over 10 years of experience developing tax-efficient retirement income plans, optimizing investment allocations, and designing long-term asset protection strategies. He monitors the legislative and tax law changes that affect our client base and has extensive knowledge on employer benefits, including equity compensation.
Prior to joining the group, Thomas was employed at UBS Financial Services in Boston, MA. He holds his FINRA Series 7 along with Wisconsin life and health insurance licenses.
Thomas graduated Magna Cum Laude from Ithaca College with a B.S. in Business Administration and Finance concentration. He currently resides in Germantown, WI with his wife, Kristina, and four children, Jake, Cassidy, Cameron, and Ryan. In his spare time, he enjoys playing soccer, hockey and golf.
Ashley Strickland, WMCP®
Senior Client Specialist
Ashley joined the group in the spring of 2021 as a Client Specialist and currently serves as the Director of Client Experience. She holds the FINRA Series 7 and 66 licenses and earned her Wealth Management Certified Professional (WMCP) designation in 2024. In her role, Ashley manages day-to-day operations and is responsible for delivering an exceptional client experience. Her responsibilities include handling inbound client requests, executing account transactions, delivering the group’s service model, and coordinating client events.
Ashley grew up in Wisconsin and moved to Arizona to attend Arizona State University. After graduating, she began her career in financial services at Moors & Cabot before joining Baird’s Phoenix branch in 2015.
Ashley now resides in Franklin, Wisconsin with her partner, Brett, their son, Henry, and their two dogs. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, hiking, and cheering on the Green Bay Packers.
Gunner Gonzalez
Client Specialist
Gunner joined The Sommersberger Group in spring of 2022. Holding the FINRA Series 7 and NASAA 66 Licenses, along with his Wisconsin life, accident & health and variable life/variable annuity insurance licenses, he manages the daily operations and services for the team. He coordinates retirement income distributions, account transactions and schedules review meetings to build long lasting relationships with clients and their families.
A Wisconsin native, Gunner graduated from Concordia University-Wisconsin with a B.S. in Business Management and a Psychology minor in May 2022. During his time at Concordia, he served as the head student worker for the psychology department assisting with academic research, helping students plan their academic careers and assisting in various service projects.
Gunner currently lives in the village of Grafton with his fiancé Casey and their dog Kodak. In his spare time, he enjoys running and fitness, as well as travelling to various National and State Parks for hiking, adventure and photography.
Michelle Lemler
Client Assistant
Michelle began her career at Baird in March 1992. In between raising a family and assisting with family businesses, she has held several positions in Asset Management and Private Wealth Management. She joined the group in September 2022 and currently works part-time assisting with client service and scheduling.
Michelle currently lives in West Bend with her husband Roger and has two grown sons. In her free time, she enjoys walking, biking, and traveling.
Raymond Ripplinger
Client Assistant
Ray graduated from the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse in December 2023 with a Bachelor of Science in Finance, with a concentration in risk, insurance, and financial planning, along with a degree in Business Management and a minor in Accounting. During his academic career, he was actively involved in several student organizations, including Delta Sigma Pi, Financial Management Association, and Investment Club. His eagerness to learn and contribute led him to serve in multiple executive leadership roles, providing meaningful opportunities to engage more deeply with the university’s academic environment and the surrounding community.
Prior to joining the Sommersberger Group, Ray worked as an associate in Baird’s Private Wealth Management Operations department, where he provided support to advisory teams and developed a strong foundation of Baird's processes.
Ray currently resides in Hartland. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with family, staying active through both winter and summer sports, and traveling. He is also an avid sports fan, closely following Formula 1 and all Wisconsin sports teams.