Hefren-Tillotson's mission
Hefren-Tillotson’s first presence in the community was in 1948 in downtown Pittsburgh.
The first branch office opened 39 years later, in 1987, was the Butler office.
Willard Tillotson, founder, CEO and chairman of the board, since deceased, lived in the Butler area.
William “Bill” Wilson, senior vice president and branch manager of the newly expanded Butler office, joined Hefren-Tillotson in 1990 when there were just 40 employees.
He has been branch manager there since 1999.
Today, with more than 250 employees, the firm has experienced exponential growth with more than $13 billion under management while embracing the latest technology.
After all, even a 72-year-old firm must keep pace with their competition.
Consistency Pays Off
“As a firm, we take pride in our culture,” Wilson said. “Most would agree it couldn’t be any better.”
A family-type atmosphere is partially why the firm has been so fortunate, Wilson added. Having gone to high school with Kim Tillotson Fleming and Craig Tillotson, he has known them since he was 5 years old.
For its size, Hefren-Tillotson has been voted the best place to work in the state — a few times, actually — and clients, prospective clients, as well as potential employees have picked up on the fact that an employee-family owned firm is somewhat unique.
Family is what separates this firm from so many others.
“That translates into a very positive atmosphere when you know you have the ability to have ownership in the firm,” Wilson said.
The culture is clearly different than what people are used to dealing with, in terms of a corporate mentality. So many of these large national firms have 800 numbers to call.
“We put the client first. When a call comes in, a human being, not a computer, answers it,” Wilson said. “And that’s the way it will stay.”
This article was submitted by Hefren-Tillotson.
