TRADITION

Williams, Rogers, Lewis, Kaufman & Co., P.C. (WRLKCO) traces its roots to the opening of a Certified Public Accounting firm in Muleshoe in 1956. Alex H. Williams moved from Lubbock to open the office in Muleshoe under the firm name Williams and Merriman. The firm operated out of an office in the Griffiths building on Main Street in Muleshoe under the direction of Alex Williams. Mr. Williams was a graduate of Kress High School and Texas Tech. The Merriman in the firm name was Edwin E. Merrimanm one of the original CPAs in the Panhandle. Mr. Merrimans name is on many certificates as he was on the State Board and other organizations.

Alex moved into a town that had no experience with a certified public accountant at a time when very few people knew what a certified public accountant was. His approach to public accounting was highly enthusiastic while ethical and professional. Three rules he established early was that he would not work on Sundays, that he would not chase the low end of the market and that he wanted to provide the highest level of service based onthe clients perception, not just what the accountants saw as service. His business acumen and foresight have had a tremendous influence on the firm. He worked on the theory that a good person would always bring in business to justify their presence. He was among the first in the Panhandle to introduce full computerization in the accounting field and was the first firm within a 300 mile radius to have the IBM 360.

Out of that firm Don Williams moved to Plainview in 1977 to open the Plainview office. From himself and secretary in 1977, the firm has grown to 20 people in 1996.

REPUTATION

The number of our long-term clients and their willingness to refer additional clients to us speaks well for our reputation. We have a firm policy of strict confidentiality and adherence to professional standards which has contributed to that reputation. In addition, as mentioned in Tradition, the firm has put its money into modernized methods, equipment and quality of service. We have made a significant commitment to anticipating client needs, rather than reacting to them. We seek to focus on what is important to the client or accommodates the client, not on what is important or accommodating to the firm. Once client summed it up jokingly with a quote, "Blessed are those who arrange diverse elements into masterful works of fiction, for they shall be called Certified Public Accountants!" That quote could be read wrong but we prefer to see it meaning that we take the time early on in a transaction to help the client structure it so that it will clear hurdles to qualify the traction for favorable treatment.

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE:

The firm operates as a professional corporation with the stockholders being Jimmy Rogers, Martin Lewis and Randy Kaufman. A brief profile of these individuals is attached. The firm does function with a high degree of autonomy granted its Senior Level Accountants. These individuals are carefully cultivated and then given significant direct client responsibility early in their career, as opposed to the more traditional CPA firm of partners with their thumb on the staff.

Careful support is provided by the stockholders but the seniors are urged to develop their own solutions and play them out to the stockholder rather than come to the stockholder for canned solutions. This allows the senior rapid professional growth including handling their own billings and supervision of junior accountants. This method of operation goes back to Alex and his commitment to putting good people in the way of opportunity. It does require a significant degree of loyalty from these seniors as the firm is exposing its principal asset - its client base - directly to the senior and allowing a close personal relationship to develop with not only the stockholder but the senior.

The kind of person who will find WRLCO exciting is the kind of person who enjoys such responsibility as opposed to a more sheltered atmosphere. Development of an entrepreneurs outlook is critical to this process.

NATURE OF PRACTICE

The firm services a very diverse client base with no one client or group of related clients accounting for more than 4% of fees. The firm has developed significant expertise in farming, cooperatives, banking, fast food restaurants and cable television. The firm has developed special capabilities in tax planning for corporate liquidation, use of the research tax credit and bank acquisitions.

TRAINING

The firms training and professional development program centers around two key pivots. First, the firm makes extensive use of courses offered by the Management of Accounting Practice group of West Texas, (MAP). This is a coalition of twelve firms from San Angelo to Amarillo that have banded together to bring professional development programs to Lubbock for the members. Besides the cost savings we have the advantage of knowing that the courses will not be canceled due to inadequate attendance. Second, the firm make use of Grant Thornton for audit training. The firm is a Subscriber firm of Grant Thornton audit and tax materials and, as a result, has a right to send professional staff members to Grant Thornton Professional Development courses.

PUBLIC SERVICE

The firm has committed with time and energy to its belief that service to professional, community and civic organizations is a necessary ingredient in being a good business member of your community. As noted in the attached resumes, the firm stockholders are presently on the Texas State Societys Agricultural Committee, Past President of Chamber of Commerce, Past President of United Way, Past President of Hospice of the Plains, Inc., Past Chairman of MAP of West Texas, Member of the Nuveen Advisory Counsel and a member of the Presidents Round Table of H.D. Vest Financial Services.

Other members of the firm are active on the board of numerous civic and social organizations. This level of commitment can be traced back in the firms history to Alex Williams in his service on the City Council and as Mayor of Muleshoe, plus being representative to the South Plains Association of Governments. From that, we have developed a tradition of encouraging participation in the community to develop the total person.

GROWTH

The firm has experienced significant growth throughout its history. Attached is a graph summarizing several key ways to review that growth.

OUTLOOK

We plan to stay at the forefront of personnel, facilities, service and innovation. Additional offices are contemplated and the firm has developed a complete business plan to help it judge these opportunities as they arise.

If one takes a look at where the profession is headed in the future, we feel our mode of operation can be more easily understood. We are simply trying to go where we think the ball is going to be rather than where the ball is today.
     Listing # 099