Robert Cox & Liz Kirby: Careered Entrepreneurs

Robert Cox & Liz Kirby: Careered Entrepreneurs

Robert Cox and Liz Kirby, who have been business partners for nearly thirty-five years, came to MGA in 2008 as they were looking for someone to help them correct some complex accounting problems.

They are in the insurance industry. They are used to the complexity. In insurance, sure, one plus one still equals two. But the verbiage used is different and can be foreign to those who have never been exposed to it.

It didn’t take them long to learn that MGA was no ordinary accounting firm.

Paul stepped right in to help and was able to understand their books from day one without any guidance. Because MGA knows the ins and outs of the insurance industry, we were ready to dive right in and help them, truly making the complex simple.

But their story doesn’t stop there. MGA works closely with Robert and Liz, always staying one step ahead for their business.

“We look to the MGA team to tell us what’s going on. We trust them to look at the documents we give them from all angles, noticing if they shed light on other issues that should be addressed. We look to them to ask the questions we don’t even know to ask.”

Paul and the MGA team assisted Robert and Liz as they recently sold their great business, when taxes were essential. Paul led them through how the numbers would fall so they wouldn’t be hit with future tax liabilities. He also reviewed the various drafts of the Purchase and Sale Agreement and worked with the attorneys to be sure the structure of the sale minimized the tax to the shareholders.

They both told us that Paul was instrumental in that process.

“Some people don’t want to spend money for a firm like MGA, but I’m not sure why because people like them can save you money in the long run. Making the wrong mistake can cost you with the IRS, so it’s worth it to hire professional experts like Paul and his team. They are very, very good at what they do.” — Liz Kirby

Robert and Liz’s relationship with MGA is an excellent example of how we do things differently. We are their partner and trusted advisors, always offering simple solutions to their complex problems.

To read more about Robert Cox and Liz Kirby’s successful business ventures over the years, click here.

Greenberg & Company

Greenberg & Company

David Greenberg, Founder and President of Greenberg & Company, is a long-time MGA client. As David and his company are out offering the best commercial real estate services to the Houston area, MGA is in the background managing all of their properties’ accounting and finance needs.

Having MGA as a trusted partner gives David peace of mind, allowing him to focus on the things that truly matter to his business, like being there for his clients and offering them the Greenberg experience—not the back-office duties.

“The MGA team is very diligent, very efficient, and offers phenomenal advice on a variety of circumstances that best fit our needs at any given time. It’s comforting to know you’re working with people like that. I like being able to trust the people I work with and also to trust their ability to do what they say they’re going to do. And I have that with MGA.” — David Greenberg

As David’s company has grown throughout the years, we have always been right there growing with them. We continue to provide services that encompass everything they need.

“When it comes to having new things come up, if they don’t have the answers, they get the answers. They are always readily available to assist with different opportunities that come up for our industry, too, like the 1031 tax-free exchange. We are always reaching out to them for their expertise in a multitude of areas.”

Greenberg & Company has put their trust in MGA for nearly thirty years because we do what we say we are going to do, and then some more.

Click here to read more about David’s business journey, and how MGA has been of help along the way.

Nailor Industries and CFO Scott Bork

Nailor Industries and CFO Scott Bork

Scott Bork, CFO at Nailor Industries, and MGA go way back. Scott was part of MGA 15 years ago before setting out on his entrepreneurial ventures. Since then, he’s held different CFO and controller roles which led him to where he is now with Nailor Industries.

His story captures the MGA approach in a highly personal and professional perspective. Seeing MGA from all angles, his story is a testament to us practicing what we preach.

“The one thing that always impressed me with the folks at MGA is their concern about their clients. Besides the compliance, they always wanted to learn more about your business so they could try to help in other ways or save taxes in other areas. That always mattered to me.” — Scott Bork

After Scott joined Nailor Industries in 2016, he had to reevaluate their current accounting firm and get new bids to assess what type of firm would be the best fit for Nailor. MGA was the first firm to come to mind. From Scott’s first-hand experience, the MGA team always went beyond expectations.

Out of the five different firms they bid, Paul Grossbard, partner at MGA, was the only one of the prospective firms who came out to their facility to learn more about their business—not just make the bid.

During that first introductory session, Paul made recommendations that Nailor Industries should do cost segregation studies on buildings they were in the process of finishing. He also made some suggestions to look into the R&D tax credit, as they might be leaving some legitimate tax credits on the table. Even though they had not as yet engaged MGA, Paul provided value-added suggestions to the Nailor team.

This stood out to Steve Nailor, COO. Since then, MGA has been their trusted partner, working together to help the Nailor team succeed.

While many firms say that they put their clients first, we do it. All of our staff, from the partners to the auditors, accountants, and support staff, get to know our clients and their business so we can make strategic recommendations and align ourselves around common goals.

As Scott shares with us, and you, “I will continue to recommend MGA to other business professionals that I know. They are just the first firm I think of when it comes to advisory and accounting services because they practice what they preach. They show interest in your business, and they’re not content with just doing the compliance work. It’s apparent. They want to understand what the company does, so they never leave anything behind.”

Click here to read more about why CFO Scott Bork chooses MGA time and time again.

Stephen Jurgella, CEO Fountain Forward

Stephen Jurgella, CEO Fountain Forward

Stephen Jurgella created Fountain Forward in 2011 with a simple goal in mind: to help solve business owners’ real-life marketing challenges.

Fountain Forward describes themselves as, “A complete outsourced and highly trained marketing team specializing in branding and customer acquisition. Instead of you having one of everyone “in-house,” you can have an outsourced team of subject matter experts there to help whenever you need them.”

Their approach is straight-forward. Just like MGA, they want to make the complex simple for their clients.

Stephen is anything but your average entrepreneur. The energy and passion that he puts behind Fountain Forward is unmatched. His clients trust him to have their best interest at heart. They trust the Fountain Forward team to care for them and get their business to the next level.

Fountain Forward’s success is a testament to the care they have for their clients.

Stephen tells us that he wouldn’t be able to care for his clients the way he does if MGA wasn’t in the background caring for him and his business. Knowing that he has an MGA expert to call at any time of the day for sound advice lets him focus on the road ahead.

When a problem arises, Stephen's first reaction isn't to freak out or make rash decisions. His first reaction is to call MGA, and Partner Brian Miller, in particular.

“Brian took the time to listen to my problems. He took the time to listen to me say, “Hey, I don’t know what I’m doing.” Not coming from an entrepreneurial family, this venture was completely off the cuff for me. I’m good at building brands, growing businesses, and analyzing data. That’s what I do. But I don’t know how to run my books or protect myself from IRS issues. MGA does. Every time I have a need, they are right there, creatively solving my problems. They don’t just say no if they don’t have the answers. They say we’ll help you find it.”

At MGA, our goal is to be our clients’ sounding board. Stephen’s story is a perfect example of that.

Wherever you are headed, MGA is here to help.

To learn more about Fountain Forward and how MGA gives them the confidence to continue pushing forward, click here.

C&D Scrap Metal

C&D Scrap Metal

The Houston-famous C&D Scrap Metal is currently celebrating their 40th year in business. They are a long-time client of MGA, and we are proud to be their partners in success.

Dennis Laviage, owner and CEO of C&D Scrap Metal, tells us, “They are always staying up to date on the new rules and regulations that our government sets in place. At any point in time, if we have an issue of any sort, we can call, and we’re going to get a response from one of their team members.”

C&D Scrap Metal is Houston’s premiere metal recycling facility. Dennis explains to us that it’s much easier to recycle scrap than it is to get the metal out of the ore or the ground. It’s an important industry, as you can’t simply put metal out to waste. So what Dennis and his company are doing is a great way to make that waste valuable again.

As this great company has grown its reputation within the industry and the local community, MGA has been in the background providing insights and technical support. “Any time that we need them, they are there.”

“They are very up on what they do. If any new laws are going to affect us, they’re going to let us know. We have a lot of different needs that require a full-scope firm. Russ and the MGA team are just that. They take care of our business and make sure that we’re legal all the way around.” — Dennis Laviage

As a full-scope accounting and advisory firm, we are here to help you with your unique challenges and needs. Just like Dennis, we will have your back as you grow your business. You will always get a timely response from our team of experts.

Click here to read more about C&D Scrap Metal’s great history and how MGA makes the complex simple for them.

Cindy Marion: Houston Entrepreneur and Founder of MMI Agency

Cindy Marion: Houston Entrepreneur and Founder of MMI Agency

For thirty-two years, Cindy has worked to build Houston’s third-largest marketing and advertising agency, which she recently sold in 2018. While she is no longer affiliated with the firm, she laid the groundwork for this reputable and trusted agency to carry on without her.

Her story is an excellent example of how MGA can step in to help business owners make the complex simple. The MGA team has been there to support Cindy and her great company through various stages and challenges.

When she first onboarded with MGA, her agency was in a very high growth mode. There were many moving pieces and a lot of fast-paced kind of decisions that needed to be made. Cindy tells us she felt very supported through that process with Brian Miller and the MGA team.

Years later, as Cindy focused on her exit strategy and built on the technology, talent, and clients that would appeal to potential buyers, MGA was right there by her side. Selling your business comes with many complex obstacles. MGA was there to support Cindy, helping to make sure the agency was properly poised to be bought by a bigger entity.

“There were a lot of moving pieces, and MGA worked with me to help me understand the pros and cons of each deal point and what was in my best financial interest. Ultimately, some decisions had to be made, and MGA gave me the tools and insight to make the decisions that I felt were best.”

Cindy tells us that the MGA team was very instrumental in making the sales process a success. As she needed resources, support, or knowledge, they were just a call away.

“Firms like MGA are very personal and passionate about their clients, and I think that's something that can be missing in service businesses. I never felt uncomfortable admitting what I didn't know or challenging what I did know with the team. I feel very good about what MGA is doing here, related to building a firm that cares about its clients.”Cindy Marion

Just like Cindy, we are here for our clients no matter what challenges they are currently facing in their business. We are more than just Cindy’s accountants. We are her trusted resource for sophisticated business advice.

Click here to read more about Cindy’s journey as an entrepreneur and how MGA has been a part of her great success.