Stephen G. Aziz, Cincinnati

Cincinnati, Ohio's Steve Aziz presently works as Director of Business Development at Hyde Park Wealth Management. In addition to setting up meetings between the company's investment advisors, their current clients, and new leads for the business, he works on the Cincinnati firm's marketing and promotional campaigns and handles new client prospecting. Steve Aziz's efforts have led to the expansion of Hyde Park's client base, with its assets under management growing significantly during his six months with the company. He is currently studying for his Series 65 license, which will allow him to become an investment advisor at the firm himself.

Before joining Hyde Park, Steve Aziz founded Stephen G. Aziz Sales, a consulting business in Cincinnati where he served as President. The company advised small businesses on retaining customers and generating new business even during a down economy. Stephen Aziz came to the position after 20 years of sales successes for garment companies in Canada. Between entering the workforce in 1985 and moving to Cincinnati in 2006, he worked for Frenchmaid Lingerie Company; Saint Hilaire, Inc.; Gaylure Lingerie; and Howick Apparel Ltd.

At Howick, which posted $52 million in sales annually, Stephen Aziz managed retail sales in the United States and Canada for more than nine brands. He hired, supervised, and trained independent sales teams in both countries, creating strategies and working with retailers including Eaton's, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, and Sears. Stephen Aziz won Sears' Supplier of the Year Award for six years running in the course of increasing Howick's business from the company by 250%. He also helped expand Howick's placement in Eaton's stores and generated both branded and private-label business from Nordstrom through contract negotiation, administrative support, and customizing the company's product offering.