When Rebecca Tres ’93 first joined Wells Coleman in 2006, the Richmond-based accounting, tax and financial consulting firm was looking to start an internship program. She encouraged the company to recruit at her alma mater, and the results were better than anyone expected.
“I remember going to events and wanting to hire 10 people we talked to, but we could only bring in one,” she said. “One of my colleagues referred to Longwood as a best-kept secret.”
It’s not a secret anymore. Wells Coleman now boasts a strong contingent of Longwood alums, with five graduates currently among its 33-person workforce: Tres and Tonya Futrell 02, who are both partners; managers Tammy Herlinger ’93 and Nicholas Kinsler ’08; and Shelby Robertson ’13, a staff accountant.
Founded in 1945, the company provides services to about 2,000 individuals, private businesses and nonprofits, and takes pride in its tightknit, congenial atmosphere. It’s a good fit for the Longwood cohort, who Tres said share an abundance of skills that she attributes to the university’s training. “They have a strong work ethic. They’re able to think analytically,” she said. “They know how to solve problems.”
Kinsler added that Longwood graduates also have above-average communication skills—especially important at Wells Coleman, which encourages close working relationships with clients.
“They understand the importance of being able to talk one-on-one, and not just about accounting,” said Kinsler. “They know how to interact on a personal level.”
To Robert Cochran, an associate professor of accounting and a former member of the Virginia Board of Accountancy who has referred a number of students to Wells Coleman, there’s a benefit to having so many alumni at one firm. “I think the more your employee base feels connected to one another, the stronger your employee base is,” he said.
Robertson’s experience bears that out. When she started work at the firm right after graduation, the other alumni there went out of their way to check in with her. She says that helped relieve the anxiety of starting her first real job. “I immediately became part of the family,” she added. Right now, Kinsler is her manager and mentor, offering tips on how to manage her workload while she is sitting for the CPA exam. “He’s my go-to guy,” says Robertson.
The supportive environment helps especially during tax season, when employees can work 50-hour weeks performing audits and preparing returns. To help reduce stress, the firm also offers perks like minimassages at the office and dinner from area restaurants. Still, Tres notes that the days of having panicked clients show up with receipt-stuffed shoeboxes are over—thanks to improved technology like software that allows clients to upload financial information.
Staffers also start reminding clients of tax deadlines months ahead of time. “That helps us normalize our workflow instead of having bottlenecks,” she added.
And while it’s their busiest time, it can be rewarding, too.
“I’ve had some clients tell me that [we] make taxes fun—almost,” said Tres. “Our most wonderful clients are those who understand that we are constantly looking for ways to minimize their tax-related stress. We truly strive to partner with our clients vs. provide a commodity.”
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