Optima Tax Relief CEO David King Named a Top CEO in 2018

CEOs have a difficult job. They must lead, inspire, coach, and ensure long-term profitability for investors. What qualities do you need to be a successful CEO? A recent study by the Harvard Business Review boiled it down to four core behaviors: 1) make decisions with speed and conviction, 2) engage effectively with stakeholders, 3) proactive adaptability, and 4) deliver results reliably.

A quality you won’t find in that study is being liked by your employees or creating an environment where people enjoy coming to work. However, isn’t a happy workforce and the respect of your employees the natural consequence of effective leadership?

This is particularly true in service-based companies, such as accounting, insurance, treatment, or landscaping businesses, where customer service is really the product on sale.

Among chief executives recognized by employees in the U.S., King received an impressive 97 percent approval rating based on the anonymous and voluntary reviews Optima Tax Relief employees shared on Glassdoor throughout the past year.

“I am truly humbled to be named to this prestigious list. Optima has been fortunate to receive many rewards in our short history, but the awards related to our employee experience are always the most meaningful,” said King. “Our people are our product and although I am being recognized, this award is a direct reflection of the world-class team that I have the opportunity to work with every day.”

“Winning a Glassdoor Top CEO award is a true acknowledgment of exceptional leadership, as it reflects the opinions of the employees who work with a chief executive every day. I congratulate all of this year’s winners on this significant achievement,” said Robert Hohman, Glassdoor co-founder and CEO. “It can be a real recruiting advantage to have a top-rated CEO at the helm of a company who has strong support from his or her employees. The best CEOs are inspiring, trustworthy, innovative and can be great motivators for people to bring their best selves to work.”

Harry Langenberg, Optima’s co-founder and managing partner, agrees, saying, “David is incredibly passionate about helping others develop and succeed both inside and outside of the workplace. He takes the time to get to know staff on a personal level and despite his rigorous schedule, he stays connected with the team and utilizes feedback from all levels of the organization to constantly improve. David inspires all of us through his example of putting ‘People First,’ empowering our staff and our clients to achieve their goals, which is key to Optima’s success.”

Among the 770,000 companies reviewed on Glassdoor, the average CEO approval rating is 69 percent. With a 97 percent approval rating, King was one of only 50 elite CEOs honored this year among small and medium-sized U.S. companies.

Optima Tax Relief was launched in 2011 by Wharton Business School graduates Harry Langenberg and Jesse Stockwell. It has a staff of +400 that includes enrolled agents, tax preparers certified by the California Tax Education Council (CTEC), and tax attorneys with a background in economics, taxation, and business management.

Optima Tax Relief uses a proprietary two-step tax relief process to assess and resolve tax cases. Due to its focus on customer care and experienced tax professionals, Optima Tax Relief is now the largest firm in the business. Since 2011, it has resolved the tax issues of over 10,000 clients. In 2015, Inc. 500 accredited Optima Tax Relief as #1 fastest growing financial services company.

In addition to this most recent award from Glassdoor, Optima has been named to multiple Top Workplaces lists by the Orange County Register and Best Places to Work lists by the Orange County Business Journal.