It is with great pride and elation that we celebrate A Better Answer’s 55th Anniversary! Back in 1971, as the only employee, with six telephones for six customers, Dee Hawkins started a small operation called Keystone Park Secretarial & Answering Service in Dallas, Texas, becoming one of the first women-owned and operated answering services in the state. Five and a half decades later, that small startup secretarial service has grown into A Better Answer Call Centers, but the heart behind it hasn't changed one bit.

Then and Now

In the beginning, our agents took messages by hand, kept track of who was on call, and even billed clients by weighing stacks of paper messages. Today, our Telephone Service Representatives answer live calls from all over the world and pass along thousands of messages a day by voicemail, text, email, and web. The tools have transformed completely but the care behind every call remains the same.

Still Family-Owned. Still Texas Through and Through.

For 55 years, ABA has remained proudly 100% woman-owned and operated; a Certified Minority Owned Business with deep roots in Dallas, Fort Worth, and Houston. Our teams don't just answer phones for clients, they become an extension of their businesses, learning the details that make every caller feel truly taken care of.

That kind of consistency doesn't happen by accident. It happens because of our incredible staff in Dallas, Houston, and across the country, and every Call Handling Hero® who has picked up a phone on our behalf over the years. Collectively, our managers bring well over 100 years of combined call center experience to the table, and our representatives' experience adds up to over 300 years of taking and delivering messages!

A Legacy Built on Recognition

We've been fortunate to have that hard work noticed along the way. Dallas Magazine voted us the city's best answering service all the way back in 1982. Our ABA Houston office is the only-ever recipient of ATSI's "Miss Emily" award for courtesy and professionalism. This year, we are so proud to receive the  ATSI Award of Excellence for the 27th year.

Here's to the Next 55

Anniversaries like this one are a chance to look back with pride and forward with excitement. Our team is skilled, experienced, and professional, our clients keep us energized, and our mission hasn't wavered: no matter what, 24/7/365, we are your call handling heroes and we create memorable customer experiences people will want to share.

Thank you to every client, every customer, and every community we've had the privilege of serving over the past 55 years. Here's to being your better answer for many more to come!

There's something special about bringing the A Better Answer family together under one roof, and our annual fall company party at Dave & Busters proved once again why these gatherings are the highlight of our year! Seeing everyone's faces light up as they reunited with colleagues they don't see every day reminded us that while technology keeps us connected, nothing replaces the warmth of in-person connection.

Another wonderful company spring picnic is in the books! This cherished annual tradition brought our team together for a perfect day of relaxation, delicious food, and meaningful connections outside the office.

Staying connected with customers is more crucial than ever. Enter the game-changing solution of Virtual Receptionist Services, a blend of technology and human touch designed to manage your incoming calls with unmatched efficiency. Whether you're a bustling startup, a growing SME, or a professional juggling multiple hats, these services ensure your customer's calls never go unanswered, offering a seamless experience that mirrors the attentiveness of an in-house receptionist.

Ensuring every customer call is answered promptly and professionally can be a game-changer for small to medium-sized businesses. Enter the virtual receptionist service: a modern solution that combines technology and remote human touch to manage calls and customer interactions efficiently. This article dives into the nuts and bolts of virtual receptionist services, highlighting their pivotal role in enhancing customer service and retention.

In today's fast-paced business world, staying ahead of customer service demands is a must, and integrating Virtual Receptionist Services into your business operations could be the game-changer you need. Imagine never missing a call again, providing stellar customer service around the clock, and doing so without the hefty overhead of a traditional receptionist. Sounds too good to be true?

Professional call handling is a nuanced strategy that transforms every customer interaction into an opportunity to strengthen brand loyalty and enhance satisfaction. It operates on the premise that each call is not just a query or concern but a pivotal touchpoint with your brand. By prioritizing elements like empathetic communication, prompt issue resolution, and personalized service, businesses can significantly elevate the quality of their customer interactions. Moreover, leveraging cutting-edge technologies and implementing robust training programs for staff further enrich this strategy's effectiveness. This exploration into professional call handling sheds light on its critical components, the role of technology and training, and its measurable impact on customer satisfaction, offering a comprehensive guide for businesses seeking to refine their customer service approach.

A Better Answer's annual spring cookout is a tradition that has been going on for decades, thanks to our boss, Dee Hawkins. We all look forward to this event and the opportunity to relax, socialize, and enjoy some delicious food!

Growing a business is tough. Maintaining top-tier customer service as your customer count skyrockets is even tougher! As you scale your business from a small operation to a medium-sized or even large company, you’ll still need to keep your customers happy, answer complaints effectively, and constantly operate the phones or chat lines.

There’s a lot that goes into a successful business: brand identity, marketing style, product quality, and, perhaps most importantly, customer service. In fact, good customer service is often what separates subpar brands from companies that dominate distinct industries or niches.