Is Selling a Viable Option with an Unresolved PPP on the Books?
April 26, 2021
Brand Story - When the second round of PPP funding became available in January 2021, our firm saw a significant drop off in the number of clients seeking a second PPP loan.
I view this is a positive indication that the first round did its job, and that we are in a different economic environment today than at this point last year. For the new lending round, businesses must demonstrate at least a 25% reduction in gross receipts between comparable quarters in 2019 and 2020. Logically, certifying that the loan is necessary is also going to be difficult for clients who have done fairly well. That said, a lot of businesses continue to struggle and the latest round of funding is going to really help them survive during this current phase. I’m seeing a notable split between businesses that are doing well, and those that are really hurting. For those in the latter category, M&A is a welcome and sound strategy
The Future of Work and Reinventing the Status Quo
March 10, 2021
Brand Story - Lessons 2020 Taught Us About Remote Work and Rethinking Work
Until 2020, champions of remote work faced an uphill battle. Companies, entire industries, and much of the public sector questioned whether remote work at any scale was worthwhile or even possible. A year ago when offices were suddenly forced to shutter and employees had to work from home, it succeeded with even minimal preparation, busting long-held myths about remote work and illuminating new possibilities for how we work.
The steady growth of remote work over the past decade pales in comparison to the numbers witnessed during the pandemic when as many as 95 percent of U.S. office employees worked from home at least part time, according to Global Workplace Analytics, a consultancy specializing in modernizing workplace strategies. Eighty-two percent wished to continue, indicating a big shift in expectations and norms.
An Employer s Dilemma: To Mandate (or Not) the COVID-19 Vaccine?
February 26, 2021
Brand Story - Capping off a year that was in great need of some brightness, December brought good news.
After emergency Food and Drug Administration approvals, first Pfizer and then Moderna shipped COVID-19 vaccines to locations throughout the United States, kicking off a mass-immunization campaign that is fast-tracked for delivery across the country. The unprecedented speed of the vaccine’s development is the result of Operation Warp Speed, a public-private initiative which trimmed the lengthy timeframe generally associated with vaccine development.
While the success of this effort was lauded by many as a medical marvel, others were more skeptical. A Pew Research Center poll and a Gallup survey, both conducted in November, found that approximately 60% of Americans are willing to receive the vaccine leaving 40% either reluctant or opposed to vaccination.
Anna Sortun Joins Oregon Humanities Board of Directors
February 26, 2021
Tonkon Torp litigation partner Anna Sortun has been elected to the Board of Directors of Oregon Humanities.
Oregon Humanities was established in 1971 and works to connect Oregonians to ideas that change lives and transform communities through programs such as Humanities in Perspective and The Conversation Project. In 2016, Tonkon Torp began hosting Conversation Project lunches for lawyers and staff as a way to engage in thoughtful dialogue about aspects of diversity. Tonkon Torp partner Jeff Cronn previously served on the board.
“The Conversation Project lunches have been impactful for me and for our firm. I was impressed with how the talented facilitators guided us through such nuanced conversation about important and timely topics in our community,” shared Sortun. “I’m proud to join the Oregon Humanities board and be a part of helping in the mission to bring people together and inspire understa
Oregon-based accounting firm Kernutt Stokes is commemorating their 75th anniversary by donating $75,000 to support scholarships, local nonprofits, and.