When AnswerPro Limited opened for business in 1956, it wasn’t AnswerPro.

Back then, it was Lee’s Secretarial Service. But the company decided to hone in on a larger opportunity: One of its most popular offerings was the receptionist service it offered to other businesses in its office building in Mission.

Now this virtual receptionist service is offered across the metro—and soon all over the United States.

Today, AnswerPro handles more than 1 million calls per year for doctors, utilities and other clients who need highly skilled call-center staff at all hours of the day.

And the company keeps evolving. Owner Doug Gregg, whose parents founded AnswerPro, makes a point of incorporating the latest technology into AnswerPro, which also offers expanded voicemail and text messaging services. The staff is HIPAA-certified, which helps AnswerPro’s medical clients stay compliant with the law.

Gregg gives credit to his team, which tends to have low, low turnover. Many on the staff are second and third generation with AnswerPro.

“We’re a small company,” Gregg said, “and we’re a family.”