Our Story
100 years of excellence.
Bumpers Begins.
Alfred H. Coe, CPA, the founder of our company, was on the frontier of accounting in Delaware. In 1922, he became the eleventh CPA to be licensed in the state.
Management of the firm moved to Paul W. Lukens, CPA, during the 1950s. Mr. Lukens guided the firm through the inflationary growth of the economy and the progressive complexity of tax and accounting regulations.
Under his leadership, the firm’s reputation continued to grow, particularly in the areas of professional staffing, quality control and service to the client.
Growing into Bumpers & Company.
Other directors joined the firm over the years, and each time the firm’s name evolved to reflect their participation. Management of the firm moved to Wesley R. Bumpers, CPA, during the 1970s and 1980s. Mr. Bumpers directed the firm through years of significant growth.
As the reputation of the firm solidified within the community, it was decided to retain the name Bumpers & Company. By doing so, our clients and prospective clients would be assured that they were dealing with the same innovative and excellent firm that has been part of Wilmington for almost 100 years.
Adjusting to Modern Practices.
From 1999 until 2014, the firm was managed by John E. Mager, CPA (inactive). He guided Bumpers & Company through the economic ups and downs, as well as the increasing complexity of tax and accounting regulation, of the era. He always maintained the firm’s focus on community involvement and service, and passed this tradition onto his successors.
Bumpers & Company is a trusted advisor and a leader in their field.
I have been at Pratt Insurance for 48 years and the relationship between Pratt and Bumpers and Company was in place when I came to work. I believe that the relationship between our two firms is close to 60 years. We have worked with Wes Bumpers, John Mager, and we are now working with Doug Kook.
The transition between these three gentlemen has been seamless and we continue to get professional and concise, easy to understand financial advice. We consult with Bumpers and Company on all business and personal financial transactions.
Enhancing the Legacy of Quality & Innovation.
Douglas S. Kook, CPA, CVA, CEPA, joined Mr. Mager as a partner in 2006. From the start, in 2014 when he became managing partner, Mr. Kook, along with his partner Chadwick J. Milton, CPA, CVA, MBA took a strategic approach to grow the firm through a continuation of community involvement and excellent service. They expanded the service offerings for the firm by obtaining additional certifications for business valuations and exit planning, while continuing to expand the consulting offerings. They worked on fostering and building relationships to make Bumpers & Company better known locally and internationally. Both partners began as interns and grew into positions of leadership through their hard work and expertise. They use the experience obtained over the years to help guide their clients through the ever-changing landscape and regulatory environment. A commitment of timely service backed by knowledge and expertise is what makes Mr. Kook and Mr. Milton stand apart.
The Values of Bumpers.
The values are the most important beliefs and ingrained principles that guide the actions of all Bumpers & Company employees. The values exhibited by Mr. Coe from the start, the future leadership of the firm, and all employees continue to be the foundation for the firm’s reputation and success today. Those values are:
- Commitment to timely, quality service
- Inclusive environment that promotes success
- Strong client engagement built around trust
- Active community involvement
- Desire to achieve excellence and success for our clients, our community and our firm
