The 2021 Top 25 Consultants: Chad Wekelo

Chad Wekelo is the founder and one of two Principals at Actualize Consulting. In addition to his firm management responsibilities, Mr. Wekelo leads the Capital Markets practice group for the firm and specializes in the areas of accounting and treasury with a specific focus on trade execution, compliance and processing of complex financial products.

Prior to Actualize Consulting, Mr. Wekelo served as Manager with Capital Advisory Services and as a Senior Auditor with KPMG.

Mr. Wekelo received his B.S. in Accounting from the University of Virginia's McIntire School of Commerce. He is a licensed CPA in Virginia and holds the CFA designation. He is a member of the AICPA, CFA Institute and the Mortgage Banker's Association.

Chad founded Actualize Consulting with a vision shaped by his previous Big Four accounting firm experience. He created a niche firm that allowed everyone to participate as a teammate instead of an employee. His plan for success was focused on specialized skills, a keen focus on customer satisfaction, and a strong entrepreneurial spirit.

What does winning this award mean to you?

"I started Actualize Consulting with a vision to be a niche consulting firm; I knew that offering a broad range of services often means sacrificing quality and expertise. Instead, I saw Actualize as a workplace centered around its people and specialized skills. I desired to recruit only subject matter experts in order to create a hub for innovation and collaboration in the industry. Although I have our client base and excellent satisfaction rates as a testament to our success, to me, winning this award would give me further tangible proof that creating a niche firm such as Actualize has paid off. It would signal that my dedication as a consultant and a leader has been successful and that I have not been spreading my skillset too thin by attempting to play such an active role in the firm's operations. Actualize Consulting's current success is a result of over 18 years of teamwork, course correction, and staying true to the same vision with intentional leadership. Never wavering from our focus has enabled us to become the industry leader we are today."

What's been the biggest factor in your success?

"Our tagline is 'Our Expertise and Commitment – Driving Your Success.' Everything that goes into our operations is based on the desire to be the best for our clients. Where we stray from traditional consulting firms is that we are not focused on profit. Naturally, you can't have a successful business without making a profit, but that is not the center of our operations. What comes first is adding value to clients, being honest, and staying fair – we don't try to upsell or over-market what we do. The quality of our services speak for themselves. The trust we build with our clients comes out of honest business and cultivating relationships shape our success. We often score repeat business as a result of creating these long-lasting partnerships. Many clients also pass along our name to other firms seeking Treasury Management solutions. Word-of-mouth is the best form of advertisement, especially since it acts as a personal vouch for our services."

What has motivated you to excel over the course of your career?

"Growing up in a family business, I learned the importance of hard work and determination first-hand. I have had the unique front-row perspective on the varying aspects that go into running a successful business. Watching visions become reality, especially at a young age, has inspired me to create and actualize my own. Staying true to my desire of a niche focus to serve clients and seeing the success multiply has served as motivation to continue excelling and continue to innovate in the industry."