Where the Past Fuels the Future
An evolving story of growth, grit, and what keeps us going.
From the Ground Up: Our Oil & Gas Story
We didn’t start with big rigs or million-dollar contracts. We started with trust, long hours, and a few too many cups of coffee.
Those early days in Shawnee were filled with trial, error, and grit. Every ledger balanced and every challenge met helped shape the foundation of our Oil and Gas work.
It was here, in the heart of uncertainty, that we learned how to fuel futures.
Small Rig, Big Lessons.
One of our first clients, Don Bodard, ran what he called a “small” rig, small enough that it barely made a dent in Oklahoma’s oil scene.
Drew Finley, one of our founding partners, remembered balancing Don’s books while wondering if the paycheck would ever come through. Their agreement was simple: pay when you can.
It wasn’t glamorous, but it was real—long days, unpredictable cash flow, and a crash course in resilience. Those early years taught us how to think on our feet, trust our clients, and build relationships grounded in persistence rather than perfection.
What began with one small rig and a handshake became the foundation for the adaptability that still drives our firm today.
Boom. Bust. Pivot. Repeat.
1965–1974:
1981–1985:
1983:
1996-1998:
2000:
2004–2005:
2008:
2005–2010:
2011:
2012–2020:
2020–Present:
The Continental Challenge
When Continental Illinois Bank took over foreclosed oil and gas assets, chaos followed.
Files were scattered, ownership was unclear, and no one wanted to take on the challenge. But where others saw confusion, we saw opportunity.
Our team rolled up their sleeves, dug through the details, and pieced together order from uncertainty. It was the kind of work that required patience, precision, and creativity all at once.
In the end, we turned a near-impossible task into a defining moment for our firm.
Mastering Complexity
As the oil and gas industry evolved, so did the work.
We began preparing thousands of partner K-1s each year, tax documents showing each partner’s share of income and expenses for drilling partnerships. Our team navigated complex tax structures long before integrated systems existed, connecting data across dozens of moving parts.
Early software demanded as much intuition as technical skill, and every project strengthened our ability to think critically, stay flexible, and bring order to complexity.
Our Legacy, In Motion
The oil and gas industry taught us more than accounting. It taught us to pivot, innovate, and thrive in uncertainty. Decades later, that spirit drives every client engagement.
Precision, adaptability, and insight aren’t just buzzwords. They’re how we built our legacy.
