Client Stories

We have worked hard to build a secure future for ourselves and our family, and ATKG has been by our side for a good portion of it – almost two decades!  We needed a trusted advisor who would take the time to understand our family business and various real estate, ranch, and personal investments. ATKG took the time to get to know us, visit our properties, and ask the more profound questions to provide insightful solutions. Over the years, we have had them perform cost segregation studies, business valuations, tax, and estate planning.

ATKG has a strong and innovative team that gives you a feeling of family. We know they have our best interests in mind, such as after identifying the need for a cost segregation study on a new property purchase, they recommended securing a specialist consultant in the area because it would be more cost-effective for us. And when it came time to sell our businesses and restructure our estate plan, ATKG was heavily involved and even helped facilitate family meetings with the next generation.

What it comes down to is the level of customized service we have received. The reason we have stayed with ATKG all these years is simple – they are great partners to have.

Charley & Cindy Whelan

For nearly 75 years, Commercial Kitchen has been living out its mission to keep Texas cooking through fanatical services and unrivaled expertise. With an exceedingly collaborative team and a high level of job integrity, we are committed to providing customers with personalized attention and reliable delivery.

As our business grew, so did our need for a highly responsive public accounting firm, one that would invest quality time to understand the financial needs of my family and business. After being referred to ATKG and seeing the level of strategic expertise their team members had to offer, we knew we had found the right accounting firm for us.

ATKG is part of our team. We know that when we need insightful solutions and advice, we can turn to them. We consider them more than an accounting firm. Because, when needed, their team can address topics that go well beyond finances. The sense of comfort they offer is like experiencing the calm within a storm. I value and trust the work they do for my family and business.

Brock Coleman, President
Commercial Kitchen Parts & Service

When I completed the 'Find Your Why.' exercise designed by Simon Sinek, I came to realize my WHY was helping others succeed. It led to building an enterprise-level IT business model that could be scaled down to meet the needs of small to medium-sized businesses. From there, helping others succeed became my desire for our team, clients, and community.

IronEdge now has offices in Houston and San Antonio. Our first public accounting firm was in Houston. Over time, we came to realize we were not a cultural fit for each other. They often missed the mark on providing the right solutions and guidance our growing business required. We knew it was time for a change, so we moved to ATKG and have never looked back.

We value the approach they take to getting to know our business and providing us the level of customized service we had been seeking. Each team member is passionate about the work they do, and if you spend enough time with them as we have, you quickly realize they are a whole lot of fun. Like IronEdge, their culture makes them unique and their uncanny ability to select the perfect person for each position they seek to fill. But the most significant similarity between our two organizations is the "Do whatever it takes" attitude every team member shares. It leaves a lasting impression on clients, so they know you are not merely a transaction but a valued partner.

Ryan Lakin, President
IronEdge

We established Elder Bray (Elder Bray & Bankler) in 2012 as a compelling alternative to large law firms for business and estate matters and transactions of critical importance. We serve as a trusted advisor for businesses, owners, investors, and entrepreneurs in a variety of commercial and business transactions. We have a high-level team of experts committed to providing clients with exceptional client service, which is why our business model is devoted to client expectations of service and value.

For the last decade, Elder Bray and ATKG have collaborated on numerous client matters, and our law firm has turned to them for professional and personal accounting services. We value the similarities in our team structure and business model. The ATKG team is entrepreneurial, communicative, and client-centric. We can count on them to be responsive, thorough, and insightful. They are developing the next generation of exceptional leaders in the public accounting industry.

When you provide elevated levels of service to clients like Elder Bray and ATKG, you must be adaptable and forward-thinking, which is why we are pleased to work with ATKG on projects of all levels of size and complexity.

Dan Elder, Corporate Attorney
Elder Bray & Bankler PC

In 2009, I contacted ATKG about starting a consulting firm. What I needed, at that moment, was a trusted adviser to work through the finite details. By the second quarter of that year, our Houston office was launched. A few months later, we opened the doors to a second location in San Antonio.

Much to our surprise, not only did ATKG expertly guide us through the process of establishing our business, but they also offered us unused space in their office. Over the time we leased space in ATKG’s office, we had the unique opportunity to witness firsthand what makes ATKG special – the depth of expertise shared by a close-knit team committed to serving their clients and community.  We were truly grateful for ATKG’s expertise and support and felt a special bond with the ATKG family.  Because of ATKG’s desire to enhance the prosperity of its clients, we were able to build our business into a company that has employed hundreds of professionals in San Antonio over the years.

More than a decade later, ATKG remains our trusted adviser. We leverage almost every service they offer. We value their proactive approach because it keeps us looking toward the future. If I were to capture the creativity and insightfulness of ATKG in a few words, I would say they are focused on our goals and genuinely concerned about me and my business ventures. In the end, it comes down to the mutual trust we have developed in one another.

Dixie Iron Works has been in operation since 1933 in Alice, Texas. In 1987, we formed Manifold Systems, Inc. which is our main product line today. We truly believe pure luck wasn’t what earned us nearly 90 years in the oilfield business. Instead it was a company-wide commitment to quality of output, customer satisfaction, and respect for our employees. These are the same values we have seen ATKG exhibit over the years. Our industry is known for experiencing countless fluctuations which is why having a proactive, forwarding thinking accounting firm working alongside you is the difference between getting by and forming a strategy to reach the next level. We know ATKG takes an active role in understanding where we are headed and is prepared to provide insight on our top 3 things to avoid or to take advantage of, such as research and development credits. There have been times when I have mentioned to others, I was just getting off a call with our accounting firm. Only to hear them respond, “That couldn’t have been much fun.” But the fact is even when our conversation starts with “bad news” which typically means we owe taxes; we end on a positive note. Why? Because the team at ATKG is exceptional at what they do and fun to work with.

Gerard Danos, II
President

Our office furniture manufacturing company was started by our father in Sheffield, England in 1982. We began operations in the U.S. in 2003. Since then, we have seen our business grow every year because of our agility and innovation in adapting to change and challenges such as the economic crisis of 2008. Through it all, Clear Design has remained true to its values, such as Customer Focus – every service we offer, the customer is top of mind. We believe in placing team before self and being authentic and trustworthy is how our clients and team should be treated. When we needed stronger review and attestation expertise, we wanted an accounting firm that not only had the expertise we were looking for but shared our company values. Whether helping us navigate GAAP changes, especially in revenue recognition, or purchasing property to meet our continued growth, ATKG was there. Our team at ATKG understands the value of partnership. We are not a transaction or check the box client. We are in it together. They are committed to understanding the uniqueness of our business, because they too keep their customer’s top of mind in all they do.

Luke Warrilow
Director

As a Clinical Research Organization, Cancer Insight is deeply devoted to discovering, developing, and testing emerging bio-technologies related to cancer therapies. We are passionate about the work we do because we know we are transforming impossibilities into hope. After feeling lost in the shuffle when working with a large national firm, we knew we needed an accounting firm who was as committed to helping others as we are. ATKG came highly recommended. After meeting with them, we knew they were a natural fit and a visibly unique firm. Their team members like where they work and believe in the difference they are making for their clients - that resonated with us. Cancer Insight works to provide a higher standard of care for cancer patients and ATKG does the same for its clients. We wouldn’t be where we are today without the specialized expertise and insight, we receive from them. The ATKG way means our success is their success which is why we value their commitment to Cancer Insight and its mission.

Steven White
Chief Operating Officer

When it came time for us to choose a CPA firm to team up with, we asked our colleagues in the food and beverage industry which companies they recommended. Finally, we found ATKG! We knew we had finally found people we could trust and who really wanted to be involved in our success, and not just their own. [They] have the qualities we were searching for: kindness, integrity, patience, and a true interest in helping us make our business more successful. As our business continues to grow, we look forward too many more years working with the entire ATKG team!

We switched our outside accounting firm to ATKG because as our company grew over the past 22 years from seven founding partners to a firm of 115 professionals, the job outgrew our previous CPAs. ATKG guided us through a change in accounting methods, which has been a huge benefit to our firm and to the partners here. Additionally, we now get prompt financial advice we can count on when we need it. We receive the type of exceptional service from ATKG that we strive to provide our own clients. We are 100% satisfied with the work ATKG does for us.

In early 2008 we began to realize that we were outgrowing our “mom and pop” CPA firm and hoped to find someone in Houston to take care of our ever-mounting task of staying on top of all tax reporting responsibilities and the financial complexities of a growing business. Another business in the area told us about their switch to San Antonio-based ATKG and what a pleasurable experience it was to deal with a company that was very knowledgeable not only in accounting and tax law, but most any challenge a business may face. After years of testing ATKG with many complex issues, we are convinced they can not only work on any accounting, tax planning or human resource issue, but most likely can walk on water. While the end results have been amazing, we really are most impressed with the people who have helped us achieve those results. We very much appreciate the relationship they’ve invested in with us.

In the same way that I care about delivering a great experience to my customers, that’s why I came to ATKG years ago. I admired [ATKG’s] above and beyond care for us as a restaurant client because restaurants have specific criteria when it comes to managing the big picture. As I think about my relationship with ATKG, I find them to be proactive. They’re never in crisis mode because they plan accordingly. It’s also good that they’re approachable. I find that important when you’re dealing with someone who’s helping to manage your business. They are a team of dedicated professionals. They follow through on the things they say they’re going to do, and most importantly, they really care about my success. It’s refreshing to work with the team at ATKG.

We began working with ATKG in 2003. We had an Employee Stock Option Program (ESOP) in place that was threatening to destroy our cash flow and decided our current firm wasn’t quite up to the task of assisting in its demise. [With ATKG], Infinity Systems was able to shut down the ESOP in a way that was both beneficial to the employees affected and lifesaving to the company’s bottom line. Along the way, [they were] right there to assist us in making the best decisions for our firm. Today, our partnership with ATKG is more than 15 years old! We’ve seen each other’s children grow, our companies flourish, and our employees blossom. We couldn’t be more pleased with the service, quality, and expertise of the employees at ATKG and can’t wait to see what the next 10 years have in store!

We’ve been together [with ATKG] a long time, and the people there know us well. There’s a lot of stuff going on and the laws are always changing, so we can’t afford to keep up with it. But ATKG is always there when we need them. It’s nice to talk to the same person, too. We appreciate that they retain their staff much like we do, as we value long-term relationships. If asked, I couldn’t come up with three adjectives to describe ATKG, but I would say they’re not stodgy old accountants. And this matters to us as we appreciate their energy, their commitment to customer service and their loyalty because it feels a lot like what we, ourselves, have built with our own company.

On the advice of one of our trusted bankers, we started talking with ATKG. They were known, even 15+ years ago, as a firm that specialized in family ranches. Ten Triple X has been a great business venture, and it’s nice to see it succeeding.  Perhaps more importantly, however, ATKG ensures that I leverage the benefits from our Ten Triple X operations – profit wise and with proper planning – as they pertain to all our other endeavors.  The team at ATKG sees the big picture, and provides great insight, perspective and advice on how we can have this same type of success in everything we’re involved in.

When 3 Star and ATKG began working together, we knew it was going to be a lasting relationship. We have a very personal relationship. They are always willing to take on additional tasks or research issues to give us the most accurate accounting or tax information. They’re also the first ones to bring a piece of wisdom or current events, long before I get it from another source. They are forward-thinking, progressive, responsible. ATKG not only stands behind us and always supports us, but they stand with us and work as a team. We appreciate ATKG’s integrity and honesty, but we also appreciate their friendship. They help us make smart business moves, utilizing all the resources at our disposal. It’s a very good partnership, and one we’re looking forward to continuing for a long time.

Our relationship started small, with the firm doing the accounting for one of our ranches. It scaled relatively quickly as we began to see the value in our partnership. ATKG offered a lot of planning advice that helped us get the most significant benefits for our numerous family-run businesses in a way that was advantageous to us as owners. Today, we see how working together has evolved into a real personal relationship with ATKG. 

We look to ATKG to proactively guide us in determining how to structure our companies, organize entities for our children, and identify pitfalls we might be missing. More than anything else, we want things done right.  We believe in following the rules, but also in obtaining our qualified benefits. We have confidence ATKG has the expertise to help us achieve our objectives. There is no question ATKG has saved our family millions of dollars over the years.

Joe & Connie Mitchell

The client service team at ATKG has played a key role in supporting Bosque’s growth from the start and has continued to be a valuable business partner as the company has grown. The professionals at ATKG have excellent practical business knowledge and use it to help their clients by being proactive, insightful and responsible. They are great at understanding your business and asking questions. They identify issues and changes before they become problems and give advice that is not only tax-efficient but also addresses business issues outside of just tax and accounting. It’s easy to see that the team at ATKG are talented businesspeople who truly care about enhancing their clients’ businesses. It’s great to know someone has your back and isn’t just calling you for tax documents.