Robert (Bob) Gruendyke is a senior portfolio manager for the Growth Equity team at Allspring Global Investments. He joined Allspring from its predecessor firm, Wells Fargo Asset Management (WFAM). Prior to his current role, he was a senior research analyst covering the financials and health care sectors. Before joining WFAM, Bob served as a senior research associate and, earlier, as a senior compliance advisor for Raymond James Financial. Prior to that, he was a financial consultant for A. G. Edwards and Sons. He began his investment industry career in 1999. Bob earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and history from Duke University. He has earned the right to use the Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) designation.

Michael (Mike) Smith serves as a senior portfolio manager and head of the Growth Equity team at Allspring Global Investments. In this role, Mike has oversight and portfolio management responsibility for all growth equity portfolios managed by the team. He joined Allspring from its predecessor firm, Wells Fargo Asset Management (WFAM). Prior to WFAM, Mike was at Strong Capital Management, where he served as a senior research analyst focusing primarily on the health care sector. Before that, he served as a research analyst and trader at Conseco Capital Management. Mike began his investment industry career in 1999 and has been a member of the Growth Equity team at Allspring or predecessor firms since that time. He earned a bachelor's degree in economics from DePauw University. Mike has earned the right to use the Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) designation.

Chris Warner is a senior portfolio manager for the Growth Equity team at Allspring Global Investments. He joined Allspring from its predecessor firm, Wells Fargo Asset Management (WFAM). Prior to joining WFAM, Chris worked as an equity research associate following the enterprise software, systems management, and data storage industries for Citigroup in San Francisco. He has also worked as an equity analyst at Morningstar and PPM America, Inc. Chris’s related professional experience includes technology-consulting positions at Evolve Software and PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP. He began his investment industry career in 2002. Chris earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Illinois and a master’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in finance and corporate strategy from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. He has earned the right to use the Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) designation.