The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Roberts Tax Group celebrates expansion
TORRINGTON — Staff members and friends of the Roberts Tax Group came together this week to celebrate its expansion on Main Street.
Owner Kris Roberts said she started the business in 1998 and moved to downtown Torrington six years ago. Now, it has grown to take over the entire second floor of the building at 49 Main St. and two new staff members were recently hired.
Roberts said it was important to her to keep the business in the city center. She said she feels a commitment to the city — she considers Torrington her home and believes the city is making strides.
She said the event Tuesday was designed to show off progress in the community and other businesses — the Honey Bee Florist, Zach & Lou’s Barbecue, Café 38 and First Act Bakery had offerings featured at the party.
In addition to sponsoring community events, Roberts is the president of Main Street Torringthing,” ton, which runs the Main Street Marketplace, and founded the Performance Hub with her husband, Jay.
“(The expansion is) great for me because my business is growing, but I think it’s also a great testament to the climate here — that Torrington is growing as well, and that we are able to attract young people for professional jobs, and that’s an awesome said Roberts. “I just have a lot of faith and love for the community.”
That loves comes naturally, Roberts said — she was raised in the Northwest Corner with a sense of community that was passed down from her parents.
“I just think when we give of ourselves, we get so much more in return,” said Roberts. “So I’m always so willing to give to the community and do whatever I can to help ... and I just see the potential, and the people down here, and everybody I deal with, are just awesome.”
As a young person, she said she had always been interested in numbers and thought she would be an accountant. After working in finance for private schools, she struck out on her own and began to do taxes by happenstance — after someone walked in and asked.
The work allows her to pursue her love of entrepreneurship and help businesses stay sustainable and viable, as they seek to navigate the economic landscape, she said.
She has found she particularly likes helping folks with their taxes and applying the law to each case — it’s in her blood, she said.
“I love it, because think about it — we all pay taxes, right?” Roberts said. “I want to be on the side of somebody, to keep as much money in their pocket as possible.”
There are now five employees at Roberts Tax Group. Laura Matthews, a Torrington native, came to the business after previously taking Roberts’ class at Post University.
Matthews said she became interested in the profession as a child — filling out the forms at the post office fascinated her. She had an affinity for math, and clicked with Roberts when they met.
“She’s amazing. Being in downtown Torrington is amazing. Born and raised here — it’s a wonderful community,
I’ve always said that, I love my town,” said Matthews. “To stay here and work with people that feel the same way — and yes, we wear jeans and we have Nerf guns — how could you not love that, you know?”
Roberts said the business aims for a relaxed, informal atmosphere — helping folks feel less intimidated as they come in.
She’s confident about the expansion and the team of staffers at Roberts Tax Group, and remains optimistic about the city’s future.
“I think that the beauty of Torrington is there if you want to see it. You can see the ugliness if you focus on that, but I
don’t want to focus on that. We have so much going for us as a community and so many great people and great opportunities,” said Roberts. “I think when people focus on that negative, it’s just a selffulfilling prophecy. I just focus on the good stuff, and the growth.”
More information about the Roberts Tax Group is available on its website at www.rtg.tax.
The business serves individuals and businesses, and offers tax preparation, bookkeeping, business and financial planning and guidance for start-ups, according to its website.