Yessica Perez, Tax Partner, Calvetti Ferguson

In an interview with Invest:, Yessica Perez, tax partner at Calvetti Ferguson, noted renewed client confidence in 2025, driven by legislative changes and economic incentives. The firm remains focused on manufacturing, private equity, and maintaining independence amid industry consolidation. “We’re proud to say we’re not, and do not plan to be, private-equity owned. We’re committed to organic growth and building long-term relationships. That’s resonating in the market,” Perez added.

What changes in the Texas business climate have had the biggest impact on your advisory work in the past year?

2025 has been an interesting year. We saw a positive outcome right after Jan. 1. Companies began moving past the uncertainty around interest rates and were ready to grow. Many clients became more intentional about their growth strategies, and we focused on aligning our services with their goals.

Toward the end of Q1, tariffs began to take effect. This led to a significant increase in business-related questions, especially about how tariffs impact not just our clients, but their clients as well. We worked closely with them to navigate those challenges.

Eventually, the noise around tariffs began to settle. Then, on July 4, a major bill was signed into law, and we started receiving an exponential number of questions from investors about its implications: how it would impact them, benefit them, and benefit their clients. We’re currently in deep conversations with bankers because we anticipate a heavy Q4 due to all the bonus depreciation and economic incentives available to companies.

Overall, it has been a busy and optimistic year. At Calvetti Ferguson, we continue to grow. We’ve doubled our size in the past 10 years. Ten years ago, we were only in Houston. Now we’re also in San Antonio, Fort Worth, Dallas, and Nashville, our newest market, where we’ve been for two years. On Aug. 1, we acquired Randy Walker & Associates in San Antonio, doubling our presence there.

What makes Houston an ideal location for your headquarters, and how does it differ from other Texas markets?

Houston is often viewed as an oil and gas city, but it’s much more than that. With the port nearby, the city is unique. We see a significant number of foreign investors, along with local investors, conducting business related to the port.

Houston also has a strong medical community and a growing number of private equity firms investing, not just in the firms themselves but also in their portfolio companies. While energy remains central, we also see growth in alternative investments, manufacturing, and privately held businesses.

There’s also notable expansion north of Houston in areas like The Woodlands, Conroe, and Montgomery, where there’s substantial private wealth.

Where are you seeing the strongest demand, and what sectors are you targeting for future growth?

We’re focusing heavily on manufacturing companies. With the full suite of services we offer, this is a sector where we can invest and partner meaningfully to help them reach their goals.

We’re also targeting private equity firms more intentionally. While we’ve always had the capacity to perform private equity fund audits, we’re now being more proactive about it. We can implement automation and efficiencies that we believe will bring them significant value.

Given the ongoing consolidation in the industry, what is your outlook for independent firms like Calvetti Ferguson?

One of our biggest differentiators is that we remain independently owned. In recent years, private equity has actively acquired CPA firms, leading to widespread consolidation. Many clients have told us they’re seeing declining service quality despite increasing fees.

We’re proud to say we’re not, and do not plan to be, private-equity owned. We’re committed to organic growth and building long-term relationships. That’s resonating in the market; new prospects frequently ask whether we plan to sell, and hearing that we’re staying independent is a major relief for them.

We believe this commitment gives us a lasting competitive advantage, and we will maintain it.

How is your firm incorporating AI and automation to improve efficiencies while maintaining strong client relationships?

AI is a sensitive topic, especially in our field, where we handle confidential data: Social Security numbers, financial details, and more. We are using automation tools to streamline data entry, making it more cost-effective and allowing us to focus on delivering value.

We also utilize bots for process automation and global resources to improve efficiency. However, when it comes to AI, we’re cautious. We have strict policies in place: not everyone has access to AI tools, and any implementation must be approved by our CIO and management committee. We require human oversight in AI use to ensure client data is protected.

How would you assess the talent pool in Houston, and how are you attracting and retaining top professionals?

Finding CPAs has become more challenging. It’s a more limited pool now, but cities like Houston, DFW, and Nashville still offer strong talent. We actively encourage our employees to earn their CPA licenses. We provide bonuses and incentives for those who pass within their first year, along with access to learning tools and support for exam preparation.

To retain talent, we focus on making employees feel valued and invested in. We prioritize learning, growth opportunities, and recognition. Pairing that with competitive compensation helps us maintain low turnover and a strong, motivated team.

How is your firm building strategic partnerships and contributing to the community?

Relationships are at the core of what we do. We are active in many local organizations, and our partners are deeply involved in the community, whether through food banks, cultural institutions, churches, or children’s museums.

We also support educational outreach. For example, we partner with a program that brings underprivileged high school students into our firm for internships. We expose them to different departments and help them understand what it’s like to work in a CPA firm. Our goal is to inspire them to pursue college and consider a future in our industry.

What are your top priorities for the firm and the tax practice over the next few years?

Our No. 1 priority is to impact our communities and give back. Our founding partners are Christian-based and strongly committed to community service. We believe that what goes around comes around.

We’re also focused on investing in our people. Happy employees provide better service, so we want to continue showing our team they’re valued. And of course, we remain committed to helping our clients meet their goals and get there faster with our support.