The Oklahoma Center for the Advancement in Science and Technology (OCAST) recently awarded a contract to Infinite Composites to help the company scale its products and production to meet the needs of the growing hydrogen economy. Oklahoma State University – Tulsa students will also benefit from experiential learning opportunities with Infinite Composites. Read more here.
Do you live in or plan on visiting the Glens Falls, NY area this winter? If so, you should try to make it out to an Adirondack Thunder hockey game at Cool Insuring Arena. Whether you’re looking for an awesome excuse to enjoy a few adult beverages with your friends, a unique date night with that special someone, or an affordable night out with your family that everyone will enjoy, the Thunder can provide it for you.
Early in his accounting career, Skip Tenney was working for Peat Marwick International, one of the largest accounting firms in the world at the time. During his time at the firm, he gained experience in many different parts of the business, from auditing to consulting, tax to business valuation. As his family grew, Skip wanted less late hours and less time on the road, hence the shifting to different departments within the company. “That was a great job,” Skip said. “They treated me like royalty. Anything I asked for, I got, including changing assignments.” But this varied background at a major accounting firm also gave Skip a very full understanding of accounting on many levels. When Pete Marwick and KMG were planning to merge into KPMG, Skip learned that his direct manager was starting to look for other jobs (unsure of what the merger may mean for him). As a result, Skip decided he would open his own practice, and Harrison Tenney & Associates was born.
Oddly enough, Skip’s manager ended up staying with KPMG for several years, and when Skip’s former clients would call into their office asking for Skip, the manager would let them know that he had started his own firm. This greatly helped Skip build his client base early on. And not surprisingly, as the practice continued to grow, acquisition through referrals consistently remained their best form of growth.
Skip realizes that his practice (and the way he works with clients) may not work for everyone. The first step he takes when speaking to a prospective client is to have them come to his office for a free consultation. During this meeting, Skip goes through the prospective client’s tax documents, gives recommendations of what he would do (that the previous CPA may have done differently), and determines the type of work required to service this client. This meeting also helps him estimate the fee structure. But before everything is contractually agreed to, Skip offers the prospective client a trial month to get a better idea of the full scope of the work, create a more finalized quote, and determine if this will be a good fit for both sides.
When looking at the services provided by Harrison Tenney & Associates, clients will often find out how knowledgeable Skip is in the field of accounting very quickly. His extensive background equipped him with the skills to handle virtually any situation a client may face. This includes working with clients in different countries, learning/understanding the different tax rules/codes that apply in those countries, and knowing how to then file it all accurately in the United States. Regardless of the client’s particular situation, Skip prides himself on finding the best solution for them, which sometimes involves negotiating with the IRS.
The interesting thing about the field of accounting is that most clients do not understand all of the services a good accountant can provide. For example, when a client’s family member passes away, Harrison Tenney & Associates can provide a final income tax return. What most people don’t realize is that the deceased family member’s estate needs to continue to have income tax returns filed for it until the estate is distributed. Skip can help a client in this situation determine the best way to proceed to limit their tax liability. He also has relationships with professionals in other fields that he can direct his clients to if they need help with something he can’t handle.
As evidenced by the strong referral base of clients, as much as Skip loves accounting, what he really enjoys the most is interacting with his clients and knowing that he’s helping them. Many people at this stage of their careers are contemplating retirement, but Skip has relationships with his clients that go beyond just merchant-to-customer. “I like our clients and I feel like I have to continue on for them so they don’t have to find someone else.” This is how you grow a client base worldwide.
The Birdhouse Challenge is Habitat for Humanity of Berks County‘s largest fundraiser of the year and includes a raffle of handcrafted birdhouses donated by local artisans. If you’re in the Reading, PA area at the end of April, you should check it out here!
Blue Boxer Plumbing is a family-owned business that started with founder Keith Owens’ service-industry background. Working in different contracting fields from the age of 16, Keith gravitated towards plumbing because of the joy it brings him. The company has grown to include several highly-skilled plumbers with a combined experience of over 70 years. Aside from the great workmanship and skill, what differentiates Blue Boxer from other companies, is their customer service.
In plumbing, a high-quality job doesn’t just come down to the skill of the worker, but also the quality of the materials, and Blue Boxer carefully choses the best materials and tools and for each client and job. However, as in all trades, sometimes an issue may arise, and this is where the team at Blue Boxer truly proves their commitment to their customers’ satisfaction. “When somebody calls, it’s addressed immediately,” says Keith. “Every concern is a major concern. We don’t categorize them into minor problems and larger problems. If it’s a customer’s issue, it’s going to be addressed.”
Because of this mindset, Blue Boxer often gets compliments from customers about how courteous their staff members are. From putting down drop-cloths in homes to removing shoes or wearing booties, they take pride in the way they treat their customers with respect. And no job is done until the work area has been thoroughly cleaned.
This high-level of customer service starts with the very first interaction the customer has with Blue Boxer. Keith’s wife Kathleen, the Office Manager and co-owner, is the first person a customer speaks to when they call the office. She enjoys getting to know their customers, identifying their issue, and assigning the project to a staff member in the field. Even if a call or email comes in after hours, the request is addressed promptly. Keith’s cell phone number is listed on the Blue Boxer website so that customers can contact him directly in emergency situations.
Emergencies tend to occur pretty frequently in the world of plumbing. The way Blue Boxer handles those situations, especially when something goes wrong (even if it’s out of their control) is what really sets them apart. Keith told a story about a brand-new water heater that went out on New Year’s Eve, one day after it was installed “the supplier and distributor were giving me a hard time about the unit, so I went out and purchased another water heater and installed it. Any other company would have just left it and let the customer just not have hot water. Whatever it takes, we make it right.”
Keith and Kathleen enjoy their work because they get to interact with people, learn about their backgrounds, share common interests, and hear stories. With that kind of desire to develop relationships with their customers, coupled with impeccable work and customer service, it’s no wonder that Blue Boxer Plumbing is one of the most sought-after plumbing companies in Central New Jersey and continues to grow.
As we approach Valentine’s Day next month, and you’re trying to think of a different kind of gift idea for that special someone, consider bringing them to an ice hockey game! The Wichita Thunder are hosting Suite Heart Date Night with suite tickets, dinner, and drinks to their game on February 14. Give it a try.
The NAPA name is synonymous with quality and the “know how” to help customers find the parts and acquire the knowledge they need to work on their vehicles. What makes North East Parts Group (with their 30+ NAPA locations) really stand out is the community-based nature of their business. Family-owned and operated for over 50 years, they continue to support others through initiatives like the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund and firefighter training through the National Fire Department Association. This is a business that is a true community stalwart.
At Jim Carl’s Auto Body Repair in East Windsor, NJ, you’re not only getting I-CAR Gold Class-certified collision repair, a staff with over a quarter-century of experience, and customer service that removes all the stress from having to deal with a vehicle repair. You’re also working with a company that feels strongly about giving back to their community. Check out what they did this holiday season.
DASH, the #1 Fan Activation Platform, not only provides a one-of-a-kind platform for sports teams to generate revenue through authentic memorabilia and experiences, but it also takes a lot of the work of promoting those items out of the hands of the team staff. They offer complimentary graphic design services for all clients, which will help make sure the word gets out about the items in a very appealing way.
When you work with Kel Tren WaterCare, you’re not just getting the cleanest, safest, most refreshing water right in your home, but you’re also getting their premier customer service. They’ll make sure that you are treated like their top customer with every interaction.