Cray Kaiser Employee Spotlight: Colt Adams

In Cray Kaiser’s Employee Spotlight series, we highlight a member of the CK team. We couldn’t be prouder of the team we’ve grown and we’re excited for you to get to know them. This month, we’re shining our spotlight on Colt Adams.

Getting to Know Colt

Colt Adams is a Staff Accountant at Cray Kaiser, handling a broad caseload that spans individual, S-Corp, C-Corp, and partnership returns. He’s recently expanded into payroll and sales tax return preparation, adding another layer to his skill set. As for an area of expertise, Colt is enjoying his time learning across a broad mix of tasks, and he’s in no rush to narrow his focus. He’d rather build a wide foundation now and let his specialty reveal itself along the way.

Colt’s path into accounting started at Sauk Valley Community College, close to his hometown. He wasn’t sure what career direction to take, but a couple of accounting classes changed that. He carried that interest to Aurora University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting.

Why CK?

Colt joined CK as an intern in January of 2026. What stood out right away was the team around him.

“Everyone genuinely wanted to see me learn, grow, and succeed, and they were always willing to help in a supportive and encouraging way,” Colt shares. “I immediately felt welcomed and like I was part of the team.”

That welcome made the decision to stay after his internship ended an easy one. Colt saw firsthand how CK’s diverse client base translates into a diverse range of work, and he knew that kind of variety would push him to grow into a well-rounded accountant. He made the move official on June 1, 2026, joining the team full-time as a Staff Accountant.

Since coming on board, Colt has noticed a strong sense of unity across the team, with people genuinely invested in helping each other succeed rather than competing for the spotlight. “It feels like one big family,” he says, “and I think that’s a hard thing to find.”

Of CK’s core values, Care is the one that resonates most with Colt. “Knowing the work we do here at CK matters and helps people and businesses is an awesome feeling,” he says. “They come to us and trust us with very important matters, and that is not something to take for granted.”

Colt’s advice for anyone new to the field comes from experience: don’t be afraid to ask questions, and don’t be afraid to get something wrong. “You will not know everything and that’s okay. Also, be open to making mistakes, but when you make them, learn from them.”

More About Colt

What motto do you live by?

A motto that I try to live by is that it is completely free to be kind. You never know what someone else is going through so being kind could really impact their day in a positive way.

Do you have a special/hidden talent or hobby?

Golf. I started playing during COVID when there weren’t many other things to do, and I’ve gotten pretty good at it since. It can be a very humbling game, but I really enjoy it.

What’s your favorite vacation spot or what’s on your list?

Rather than one specific trip, I’d love to spend time traveling to different National Parks. I enjoy hiking and being outdoors, so it would be a fun way to see parts of the country I haven’t experienced yet.

What’s your favorite movie or TV show?

My favorite movie is Forrest Gump, and my favorite show is Peaky Blinders.

What’s on your music playlist?

I let the Spotify DJ play a wide variety of songs from different genres throughout the day. My favorite type of music is country, and when I want a specific artist, I go with Tyler Childers.