Business Profile Feb2010 by Lewiston Tribune

An Interview with

John Blankenship A MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE LEWISTON TRIBUNE яБо FEBRUARY 15, 2010

Owner of H&R Block in Lewiston and Moscow ~ PAGE 8

SMALL TALK

CALENDAR  Feb. 16 — Lewis-Clark Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, noon, Elk’s Temple, Al Reagan, (208) 7435441.  Feb. 17 — Orofino Chamber of Commerce, noon, Ponderosa, (208) 476-4335.  Feb. 17 — Lewis-Clark Association of Realtors, 11:30 Elk’s Temple, (208) 746-2019.  Feb. 18 — Lewiston Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours, 5-7 p.m.  Feb. 18 — Port of Whitman County, 10 a.m., (509) 397-3791.  March 3 — Grangeville Chamber of Commerce, 1:30 p.m., Oscar’s, (208) 983-0460.  March 3 — Orofino Chamber of Commerce, noon, Ponderosa, (208) 476-4335.  March 3 — Kamiah Chamber of Commerce, 7 p.m., chamber building, (208) 935-2290.  March 5 — Lewiston Chamber of Commerce general membership, 7 a.m., Red Lion, (208) 743-3531.  March 9 — Grangeville GEM Team, 7 a.m., Oscar’s.  March 9 — Pullman Chamber of Commerce, noon, location TBA, (509) 334-3564.  March 9 — Port of Lewiston, 1:30 p.m., (208) 743-5531.  March 10 — Clarkston Chamber of Commerce general membership, noon, Quality Innd, (509) 758-7712.  March 10 — American Business Women’s Association, 6 p.m., Rowdy’s Steakhouse, Carol Pretz, (208) 750-7251.  March 11 — Cottonwood Chamber of Commerce, 8 a.m., Coffee Mill Creations, (208) 962-3231.  March 11 — Port of Clarkston, 1 p.m., (509)7585272. 2

Home is where your small business tax deduction is NEW YORK — Many people who received buyouts and severance packages last year used the money to start home-based businesses. Now, they’ll want to take tax deductions for their home offices. The deduction for using part of your home for business purposes — popularly known as the home office deduction — used to be something scary. It was widely believed that taking the deduction would automatically land you an IRS audit. Tax advisers say that’s no longer the case, especially since there are so many businesses being run out of homes, garages and apartments. But if you don’t follow the rules and try to take too big a deduction, you could still draw the attention of IRS employees.

Get To Know The IRS Rules IRS Publication 587, Business Use of Your Home, spells out the rules under which you can take a deduction for using your home as your office, manufacturing facility or warehouse. Your home office should be used: l Exclusively and regularly as your principal place of business, or l Exclusively and regularly as a place where you meet or deal with patients, clients or customers in the normal course of your trade or business. “Exclusively” refers to the requirement that the part of your home that you

town, Pa., suggests that if you were thinking of using a garage or barn for both personal and business use, that you purchase a shed so you can legally take a deduction for one of your buildings.

commentary

Joyce Rosenberg use for business cannot be used for any personal reason. The IRS doesn’t require that it be a complete room in a house, or that the space you use be partitioned. It does require that your home office or workspace be a “separately identifiable space.” If your computer and papers are spread out on the dining room table and you put them away when it’s time to eat, you can’t take the deduction. But if you have a corner of your family room that is clearly a home office, and your kids don’t use it to do their homework, then you can qualify for the deduction. The structure that you use the deduction for doesn’t have to be the one you live in. A garage, shed or barn that you use as a studio, for manufacturing or for storage can also qualify. But, you can’t also park your car in the garage, or house your lawn mower and other gardening equipment in the shed. Jeffrey Berdahl, a certified public accountant with RLB Accountants in Allen-

Business Profile

More Than One Place Of Business? “Exclusively” does not mean your home office has to be the sole place where you do business. If you have a home office but need to rent space by the hour to see clients in a more business-like setting (away from the kids and barking dog), you can still deduct the expenses take the home office deduction. But even if the bulk of your business activity takes place in another setting, you may still be able to take a home office deduction. IRS Publication 587, which can be downloaded from the agency’s Web site, www.irs. gov, gives the hypothetical example of an anesthesiologist who does all of his administrative work at home and who is allowed to use the deduction.

What Can You Deduct? Part of your expenses such as mortgage or rent, insurance, utilities, maintenance costs and repairs can be deducted. The IRS allows business owners to deduct the portion of their

 See ROSENBERG, Page 5 MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2010

February 2010  VOLUME 11, ISSUE 2

Business Profile is compiled by Target Publications of The Lewiston Tribune. Business Profile is inserted in The Lewiston Tribune the third Monday of every month.

 Editors ROBERT JOHNSON bjohnson@lmtribune.com 848-2243 MARY TATKO mtatko@lmtribune.com 848-2244

 Advertising Contact your Lewiston Tribune sales representative or call (208) 848-2292 for advertising information

 Your comments Please write to us at: Business Profile Target Publications Lewiston Tribune 505 Capital St. Lewiston ID 83501 or e-mail us at: businessprofile@lmtribune.com

 On the cover H&R Block owner John Blankenship By BARRY KOUGH of the Lewiston Tribune

 Our favorite quote “I’m not a geek, at least not totally. Maybe three months out of the year.” — John Blankenship (story Page 8)

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2010

Computers can’t think

Tax preparation is really about people  PAGE 8

 Regular departments

2 SMALL TALK: Home-based businesses and their deductions 4 BUSINESS ON THE GO: Who’s doing what 5 BUSINESS ANSWERS: Don’t wait for tax time to organize 7 BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU: When Great News really isn’t 13 WORKPLACE WELLNESS: Getting employees to participate is job 1 14 ASK IDAHO LABOR DEPT.: Let Labor post your job openings BUSINESS PROFILE

BUSINESS ON THE GO Ronda Laybourn earns CRS designation

St. Joseph spine surgery gets Blue distinction

Ronda Laybourn, a sales associate with Century 21 Beutler & Associates in Lewiston, has earned her Certified Residential Specialist designation by the Council of Residential Specialists, the largest non-profit organization affiliated with the National Association of Re-

Regence BlueShield of Idaho has given St. Joseph Regional Medical Center a Blue Distinction for spine surgery. Blue Distinction Centers for spine surgery are part of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association’s expansion of the Blue Distinction

altors. Realtors who receive the CRS designation have completed advanced courses and have demonstrated professional expertise in the filed or residential real estate. Fewer than 38,000 Realtors nationwide have this designation.

Clarkston Quality Inn wins platinum award Quality Inn & Suites Conference Center Hotel in Clarkston has been awarded the 2010 Platinum Hospitality Award from Choice Hotels International, the owner of the Quality brand. Curt and Madonna Johnson are the general managers of the Clarkston Quality Inn. Of the more than 4,800

franchised hotels in the United States under Choice Hotels International family, the Clarkston hotel ranks among the top 3 percent in the Quality brand. It is one of only 25 of 1,336 Quality hotels to receive Platinum status and is ranked 10th of all Quality Inns in the United States.

Lewiston floor covering business named No. 1 Floor Coverings International of Lewiston, owned by Dan and Carla Jensen, was named Franchise of the Year for 2009. The award was presented at the company’s convention in Las Vegas. There are almost 200 franchises in the United States and Canada. This is the third time the Jensens have won the award.

The Jensens opened the franchise in 1995 and moved into their North Lewiston showroom in 2007. They have 11 employees. They also received one of eight President’s Circle Awards. Employees Jeremiah Wynott and Vicky Butler won sales associates awards; Wynott was named top salesman in the Floor Coverings International system.

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designation. SJRMC is one of only two hospitals in Idaho to earn this distinction in spine surgery. The selection criteria used to evaluate hospitals were developed with input from a panel of experts.

Pullman Regional Hospital wins Summit Award Press Ganey and Associates, a health care monitoring firm, awarded Pullman Regional Hospital with a Summit Award for 2009. The award recognizes hospitals that maintain a patient satis-

faction rate in the top 5 percent for three or more consecutive years. Pullman Regional Hospital was one of only 83 hospitals nationwide to receive the award.

D.A. Davidson honors Lewiston employee Scott Baldwin, a with Twin County vice president and United Way for the financial consultant last 13 years and bein D.A. Davidson came a board memand Co.’s Lewiston ber in 2000. office, has been honHe has been a ored with the 2009 member of the LewBragg Lewis Knutson is-Clark State ColCommunity Service lege Warrior Athletic Award. This is the Scott Baldwin Association for the company’s highest last four years. Baldaward; it is given to win coaches Little an employee for outstanding League and is a past member volunteerism. of the Youth Accountability The award was established Board. in 1995 in memory of Gene He and his wife Staci esLewis, Bob Bragg and Don tablished Jackson’s Pay-ItKnutson, three D.A. David- Forward Foundation, and son executives who died in organization that helps local a plane crash and who were children and their families active in community and pro- who are suffering, in honor of fessional service. their oldest son, who died in Baldwin has volunteered 2006 at 10.

Business on the Go We want to know what you’re doing. Promotions, new hires, new products — we want to know. Please call Business Profile at (208) 848-2243. Send information to: BUSINESS PROFILE P.O. Box 957 Lewiston, ID 83501

BUSINESS PROFILE

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2010

BUSINESS ANSWERS

Don’t wait until tax time to organize Question: What type of information and documents do I need to prepare my taxes? Answer: To make the process of tax preparation go as smoothly as possible, it is important to organize a system to use routinely throughout the year. It is never a good idea and requires so much more time if this is done at the last moment. (Developing good organizational habits helps provide order and ensures easier access to any document or information you may need. It will also reduce the amount of time spent

searching during tax season as well as any other time.) Your system should include routine expense categories, organized monthly, which would be easy to locate and maintain. A basic organizational rule is any item that is recurring, represents large amounts or payments, or must be accessed frequently needs a separate category. The same is true of revenue sources. If you have different sources, and the information would be helpful if broken down, then it will require separate categories. This can

ROSENBERG

A word of caution: If you claim a deduction that seems exorbitant, it may catch the attention of the IRS. In that case, the agency might want to take a look at your home office to see if your deduction is justified.

From page 2 home expenses that can be attributed to the office or work area. The most commonly used method is to compute the percentage of your home’s square footage that is devoted to the business, and then multiply that amount by what you’ve spent. For example, if your home has 2,000 square feet and your office takes up 200 square feet, you can deduct 10 percent of your expenses. But many home-based business owners are surprised to find how little they end up deducting, Berdahl said. “In the end it doesn’t amount to a lot,” he said. Using the example of 10 percent, if you had $5,000 in expenses for your home, that’s a $500 deduction. And your tax savings will be less than that. The home office deduction also allows a business owner to take deductions that are not ordinarily available to homeowners, including depreciation on the home. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2010

The Mechanics To claim a home office deduction, you need to complete IRS Form 8829, Expenses for Business Use of Your Home. The form and instructions for it can be downloaded from the IRS Web site. Among other things, the form requires a business owner to compute the amount of space in a home that’s devoted to business. There are separate lines for entering various expenses such as rent, repairs, utilities and mortgage interest. Form 8829 should be filed only by business owners who attach Schedule C, Profit or Loss from Business, to their Form 1040s.

COMMENTARY

Delta HeathSimpson be beneficial when decisions must be made, especially concerning today’s environment, when costs have to be evaluated closely to determine what should be reduced or eliminated. The first step in developing your organizational system is to identify the type of financial information you most frequently need, deciding which items to keep separate and which would be practical to be grouped. If an activity represents a small amount or occurs irregularly, then it would be best if grouped with similar items. Also, it is a good idea to avoid a miscellaneous category as that yields little or no

information of value without deeper investigation. The second step is to get into the habit of handling items on a regular basis. Should expenses be taken care of weekly, monthly or at some other interval? What is the most efficient and appropriate practice? Set aside a time on a regular basis to take care of each financial activity for which you have a responsibility. It is also necessary to have a specific location where you keep items that need your immediate attention, can be held for awhile or just need to be filed. Don’t let items accumulate so that you avoid taking care of them and it becomes an overwhelming chore. This will be more time-consuming as well. You will be rewarded when you establish an organized workplace for your documents and files, either manually or electronically. Especially during tax time, many documents will be coming in the mail from various entities, especially in January. These forms will provide you with the necessary information you must report. It is important to have the appropriate documenta-

 SEE SIMPSON, PAGE 7

 Rosenberg covers small business issues for the Associated Press. BUSINESS PROFILE

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BUSINESS PROFILE

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2010

BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU

Is this really great news?

SIMPSON

From page 5

tion to back up your financial situation. You may want to keep these grouped together so you have easy access to the information when the time comes for preparing your taxes. You should also review your tax forms and make sure you have those you will need to use. If everything is organized, it will be a much less stressful situation. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2010

COMMENTARY

Holly Doering I’ve never done business with, other columnists and the actual subjects of news articles are receiving them, too. The purpose of the faxes from That’s Great News is to sell you a plaque “turning your momentary publicity into a beautiful, eye-catching mahogany, oak or shiny black celebration of your success that lasts for years to come — enhancing your prestige and impressing your clients, friends and associates like A well-developed organizational system is essential and must be tailored to each individual or business. It allows for the best use of your time whenever circumstances arise in which you need information or source documents. It also reduces mistakes and errors, ensuring greater accuracy in your records and in the reporting of your financial position.  Heath-Simpson is an associate professor in the business division at Lewis-Clark State College on the Lewiston campus.

nothing else.” Here are the facts: That’s Great News, founded by Bob Roscoe, has an “F” rating with the BBB. That’s Great News, LLC 908 S Meriden Rd Cheshire, CT 06410-1863 www.thatsgreatnews.com <http://www.thatsgreatnews. com. According to the report at www.bbb.org (www.bbb. org/connecticut/businessreviews/plaques/thatsgreat-news-in-cheshire-ct87014321) this company has an F rating with the Better Business Bureau, for reasons including: 19 complaints filed against the business, insufficient background information on the business,

two complaints filed against the business that were not resolved, and failure to respond to one complaint filed against the business. Eighteen of the BBB complaints concerned Sales Practice Issues. Hmmm. In the words of That’s Great News, “How much is the prestige and good name of the business you’ve worked so hard to build worth?” According to the Federal Communications Commission, (www.fcc.gov/cgb/con sumerfacts/unwantedfaxes. html), businesses are prohibited from sending unsolicited ads to fax machines; that is,

 SEE DOERING, PAGE 13

Meet The Award Winning Staff

Dan Jensen, Vicky Butler, Eric Robertson and Jeremiah Wynott

Floor Coverings International Franchise of the Year! 257992BO-10

After the publication of last month’s column in Business Profile, I received numerous faxes at the Better Business Bureau from an organization called That’s Great News LLC, which also goes by the name That’s Great PR. One fax started out with the question: “How much is the prestige and good name of the business you’ve worked so hard to build worth?” It goes on to answer that question: “As much as you are willing to make it worth.” Another fax began, “Congratulations — I saw the article they published about you! That was a great write-up they did about you, and it’s not just any business owner or professional that gets this kind of recognition! Congratulations!” Now, chances are, that if I, a regular business columnist in this paper — and not the subject of a business feature — am receiving these unsolicited faxes from a company

2337 3rd Avenue, Lewiston, ID 83501 • 208-743-7858

BUSINESS PROFILE

cover story

Tribune/Barry Kough

John Blankenship owns the H&R Block franchise in Lewiston and Mocow, which makes good use of his people skills.

He’s the people people have John Blankenship started in law enforcement, became a firefighter and has owned the local H&R Block franchises for 18 years 8

By Mary Tatko

Of Target Publications

Professional income tax preparers get to know an awful lot about their clients, details people’s families and closest friends probably don’t even know about them. Business Profile

That makes confidentiality the cornerstone of any tax preparation business, said local H&R Block franchise owner John Blankenship. “Once that door is closed it’s like be-

 See PEOPLE, Page 9 MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2010

cover story

PEOPLE

“When I started, the only thing on my desk was a pencil, eraser, calculator and onionskin paper.”

From page 8

ing with your priest in the confessional,” he said. He doesn’t absolve any sins, but he enjoys getting people through what often is a high-anxiety situation. Of course, preparing tax returns demands not just empathy for clients but exacting accuracy. A successful tax preparer, someone who really enjoys the job, Blankenship said, is a “people person” who “has a thing for numbers” and “doesn’t mind paperwork.” It’s a combination of qualities he discovered he had 30 years ago when he took his first tax class, and during the 18 years he’s owned the local H&R Block offices, he has surrounded himself with others who share his fascination with people and his fondness for math.

— JOHN BLANKENSHIP

more years. “They get the bug, they stay,” Blankenship said.

Computer Vs. Expert

Small Pond In high school, Blankenship moved to Genesee from Bremerton, Wash., where his father was a Navy officer. His class in Bremerton numbered about 1,250 students. In Genesee, he was one of 13. “My senior class was bigger than the whole town of Genesee,” he said. He experienced a bit of culture shock at first, but found small town life agreed with him. “I enjoyed the laid back lifestyle,” he said. “And I like to do things outdoors when I have the time.” In 1978, he graduated from Lewis-Clark State College with a degree in criminal justice, then went back to the West Coast where he headed a department for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2010

John Blankenship A year later, he returned to north central Idaho, where he did police work the next three years before getting out of law enforcement to take a job with Potlatch Corp.’s security department. Ultimately, he spent 28 years working for Potlatch’s fire department; mementos from his firefighting career, including his PCFD helmet, decorate his office. “Once a firefighter, always a firefighter,” he said. While making his way from law enforcement to firefighting, Blankenship explored another interest, taking a basic tax class. The work appealed to him, and from 1980 to 1991

Tribune/Barry Kough

he worked part-time for H&R Block, gradually taking on more responsibilities. In 1992, the local franchise owner put the area offices (in Lewiston, Moscow and Pullman) up for sale and Blankenship bought them. Since then, he has added offices in Clarkston and the Lewiston Orchards and moved the downtown Lewiston office from the old Osmer Building at New Sixth and Main to a more spacious building several blocks east. Two of his employees have been with the business for the entire 30 years Blankenship has been there. Several others have been there 15 or

Business Profile

As in so many professions, computers have transformed the tax industry. “When I started, the only thing on my desk was a pencil, eraser, calculator and onionskin paper,” Blankenship said. Now, most of what he does is online. “It’s sped things up and made things a lot more efficient,” he said. But it’s also created sometimes unrealistic expectations and the potential for mistakes. “Everything’s gotta be fast, fast, fast,” he said, shaking his head. As helpful as the technology is, Blankenship cautions his employees not to depend on it to handle problems. “Don’t let the computer think for you,” he tells them. After all, it’s the tax preparer’s expertise clients seek when they entrust a company like H&R Block with their returns. That’s the premise of the company’s advertising campaign, based on the catchphrase “You’ve got people.” One of the benefits of being part of a franchise is the exposure local offices get from the greater organization’s marketing, and H&R Block’s message perfectly conveys what

 See PEOPLE, Page 12 9

“Sightings on the Web” CAMERAS-PHOTOGRAPHY

APPLIANCES

Howard Hughes Appliance www.hhughes.com

ASSISTED LIVING & DEMENTIA CARE

Guardian Angel Homes

www.guardianangelhomes.com

ATV-MOTORCYCLES Guy's Outdoor Equipment www.guysoutdoor.com

AUTO DEALERS

Ambassador Auto www.ambassadorauto.com Chipman Taylor Chevy Olds www.chipmantaylor.com Herres Chevrolet www.herreschevy.com James Toyota www.jamestoyota.com Paradise Ford Mercury www.paradisefordmercury.com Vern Eide Motorcars www.verneide.com

BEAUTY SCHOOLS-SALON

Headmasters School of Hair Design www.headmastersschoolhairdesign.com

BOOKS

...and BOOKS, too!

http://andbookstooonline.com/

BUSINESS SERVICES Valley Vision, Inc.

www.lewis-clarkvalley.com

FENCING

Wasem's Drug www.wasems.com

Lucky Acres L.L.C. www.luckyacres.net

CAMPERS-RV

FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

Krueger's RV www.Kruegers-rvs.com Travelland R.V. & Canopy www.travelland-rv.com

CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT

Su Brown & Associates, PLLC www.subrown.com

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Lewiston, ID Chamber of Commerce www.lewistonchamber.org

CHURCHES

Abundant Life Church www.abundantlc.org Orchards Community Church www.lewistonocc.org Warner Avenue Alliance Church www.warneralliance.com

CREDIT UNIONS

Potlatch No. 1 Federal Credit Union www.p1fcu.org

DENTISTS

Banner Bank

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FLOORING

Floor Coverings™ International lewiston.ﬂoorcoveringsinternational.com

FUNERAL HOMES

Mt. View Funeral Home

www.MtViewFuneralHome.com Merchant Funeral Home

www.MerchantFuneralHome.com

FURNITURE

Sylvan Furniture

www.sylvanfurniture.net

GRAIN DEALERS Almota Elevator

http://users.colfax.com/almota

HARDWARE

Erb Hardware

www.aceretailer.com/erbslewiston

HOSPITALS

St. Joseph Regional Medical Center

www.SJRMC.org

INTERNET SERVICES Cable One.net

Dentistry "4" Children, LLP www.wigginsd4c.com

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John J. Johnson D.D.S., P.C.

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Making Valley Smiles Brighter for the Past TenYears

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Palouse Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

www.palouseoralsurgery.com James E. Pierce, D.D.S. www.LewistonDentist.com Dr. David Wilkinson, DDS, MS www.wilkinsonortho.com

First Step Internet

LIBRARY FOUNDATION Lewiston Library

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MOVIE THEATRES

Village Centre Cinema at Nez Perce Plaza

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255918AR-10

Business Profile

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2010

Website Directory of Area Businesses and Organizations NEWSPAPERS

Lewiston Tribune

www.lmtribune.com Moscow Pullman Daily News

www.dnews.com

PORTS

Port of Clarkston

RECREATION CENTER

Orchard Lanes www.orchardlanesbowling.com

RECYCLING Lewis-Clark Recyclers, Inc. www.LCRI.net

www.portofclarkston.com

REHABILITATION SERVICES

www.portoﬂewiston.com

www.oui.org

Port of Lewiston

Opportunities Unlimited

PUBLIC LIBRARIES

RVS

TELEVISION STATIONS KLEW News

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TRAVEL-OREGON

Ocean Terrace Condominiums Lincoln City, OR

www.oceanterrace.com

USED AUTOS

www.cityoﬂewiston.org/library

www.lewistonrvcenter.com

Lewiston RV Center

Clarkston Auto Sales, Inc. www.clarkstonautosales.com

REAL ESTATE-SERVICES

SEWING MACHINES/SERGERS

WEB DEVELOPMENT

Alliance Title & Escrow Corp.

www.sewline.com

www.fsr.com

Lewiston City Library

www.alliancetitle.com Assist-2-Sell

www.lewistonclarkstonhomes.com Cindy Perttu

www.CindyPerttu.com Coldwell Banker Tomlinson Associates

www.cbtvalley.com

Nelson’s Sewline

SPAS

YB Tubless - 216 Thain

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TaxMaster Income Tax

First Step Internet

WINDOWS

Windows, Doors & More www.wdmsstore.com

www.itaxmaster.com

Joyce Keefer

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www.HigginsTeam.com Kathy Parsells

www.KparSELLS.com Realty Executives

www.RE-TP.com Marilyn Wilson

www.wilsonsell.com Parkview Real Estate

www.parkviewrealestate.com Re/Max River Cities

www.HomesAtRiverCities.com Rock-n-Roll Realty

www.Rock-n-RollRealty.com Price Right Real Estate

www.PriceRightRealEstate.com Results Realty

www.ResultsRealty.net Windermere

www.WindermereAllstar.com MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2010

Call 208-848-2246 For Advertising Information 255919AR-10

Business Profile

cover story

PEOPLE

From page 9

makes his business valuable, Blankenship said “It really typifies our role,” he said. “You’ve got people with more knowledge than you, who know the ropes.” He laughed as he recalled being chastised by a retired English teacher who told him, “You know that slogan your company came up with is not grammatically correct.” That’s true, he said. But obviously it’s memorable.

John R. Blankenship

H&R Block

Occupation: H&R Block franchise owner Age: 53 Residence: Lewiston Family: wife Terry; daughters Charmain, 39, and Jeana, 37; stepdaughters Lauren and Lisa; one grandson and one step-granddaughter Education: Lewis-Clark State College, 1978, criminal justice Civic/professional: member LCSC Alumni Association board of directors, Lewiston and Clarkston chambers of commerce, Idaho Association of Public Accountants, National Association of Enrolled Agents, Washington State Tax Consultants and National Notary Association

Locations: 1446 Main St., Lewiston; 455 Thain Rd., Lewiston; 435 Elm, Clarkston; 124 W C Street, Moscow; 151 N Grand, Pullman Products/services: individual and business tax preparation; business services, including bookkeeping and payroll Employees: five full time, year-round with up to 50 more seasonally History: Blankenship started with H&R Block 30 years ago, purchasing the local franchises in 1992. H&R Block has been in the valley about 50 years, he said, and the company, founded by brothers Henry and Richard Bloch in Kansas City, Mo., is 55 years old.

ble, and inevitably confusing. “Supposedly, they’ve simplified the tax code year after Do It Yourself — At year after year,” Blankenship said, chuckling. Your Own Risk This year is a perfect exTax preparation software, ample, he said. The code was such as Turbo Tax, can in the- changed, and “people are reory make filing a tax return ally confused.” easy for anyone, eliminating For Blankenship, everthe need for having “people.” evolving tax rules mean But Blankenship said the there’s always a fresh chalphenomenon has been “kind lenge — and job security. of a mixed bag.” “About the time we’re get“The software glut in our ting used to the tax code the country has created a prob- system, it’s changing,” he lem,” he said. “The program said. writers can only write it as complex as the general public can handle.” Quality Control And, just like the people who file them, every tax reDuring tax season, the turn is unique. number of employees at BlanThe result, he said, is any- kenship’s five offices swells thing more than the most to more than 50. Among those straightforward of filings is always have been people reprone to errors or omissions sponsible for reviewing the that can hurt the taxpayer in tax returns other employees the long run. have prepared. “We see a lot of them after This quality-control dethe fact when they get the let- partment, Blankenship said, ters (from the IRS),” he said is “a carry over from the old of tax software users. pencil and paper days.” Helping someone out of Technically, he’s not resuch a situation often creates quired to maintain such a dea client for life. partment, he said. In fact, he Those people who’ve come said, he’s been questioned by to count on professional tax people at his parent company preparers have helped busi- about why he pays “extra” nesses like H&R Block weath- employees to review docuer the economic downturn. ments and returns when it’s Taxes are, after all, inevita- not necessary. 12

But he said it has kept the number of mistakes in his offices remarkably low, well below the error rate the company allows. H&R Block advertises a guarantee, he said, in which the company will pay the penalty and interest a client is assessed by the IRS if it’s a result of mistake made by the tax preparer. It’s peace of mind for customers, Blankenship said, but even better is knowing a mistake is highly unlikely. His office has made such payments “every once in a while.” After all, he said, “everybody’s human.” But he’s been fortunate, he said. “It doesn’t happen very often.”

The Busy Season

The slowest months, he said, are June and July. But this time of year, the offices are open seven days a week. “We were booked solid last Sunday,” Blankenship said recently. When April 15 finally comes, everyone who works there is ready to celebrate. That night, when the offices close, they order Chinese or Thai food and “we have a big feast,” Blankenship said. Once the dust settles, there’s a banquet around the first of May, another chance for employees to gather for recognition after an intense few months of tax season.

Blankenship’s offices process 6,000 to 7,000 tax returns a year. Most of that work happens between January and April, but the season extends beyond the April 15 tax deadline. There are late filers in May, and those who received exten- ‘Ordinary Joe’ sions show up in September Blankenship describes himand October. Training for the next season’s tax preparers self as “just an ordinary Joe,” takes place from September  See PEOPLE, Page 15 through November.

Business Profile

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2010

Workplace wellness

How to get employees to participate Workplace wellness can take many forms, but the success of any program relies on employee participation. That might require changing behavior and, let’s face it, the only reason most of us make a change is that there’s something in it for us. According to a recent survey by Watson Wyatt, cold, hard cash is a powerful incentive. Even $50 to $100 makes a marked difference in getting employees to complete a health risk assessment or engaging them in smoking cessation or weight-loss programs. A properly structured incentive program does much more than protect investments in health management, said Sherri Potter, senior group and health care consultant at

DOERING

From page 7

from sending you an ad about any property, good, or service without your prior express invitation or permission. In others words, if you haven’t done business with the company before and you haven’t asked them to send you a fax, it is probably a junk fax. If you don’t want to receive future faxes from That’s Great News (or any other company) call or fax them and ask to be put on their Do Not Call list. The number to opt out of faxes from That’s Great News is 800 841 3020 Ext 5340. Or Fax the word “Unsubscribe” to 203 651 1088. Senders who receive a request not to send further faxes must honor that request within the shortest reasonable time from the MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2010

to participation, and it makes sense to design your carrots to overcome them.

Watson Wyatt. It creates a healthier and more productive workforce. Incentives. Incentives generally follow the carrot or stick approach: entice people or drive them into activities.

Carrots can take the form anything from T-shirts to pedometers to gift cards. Federal law mostly steers employers away from sticks like monetary penalties for certain risk factors. However, it’s possible to make job conditional on avoiding certain risks, like tobacco use. Your health plan may be able to partner with you on designing incentives that align with your wellness goals, for example rebating a certain percentage of premium if certain risk factors are reduced, such as blood pressure. The carrot approach can be quite successful: We all prefer being enticed to being threatened. But building new habits — and a wellness culture in your company — is hard. There are many barriers

date of the request, not to exceed 30 days. They are also prohibited from sending future fax advertisements to the recipient unless you subsequently give them prior express permission. If you have a newer fax machine, you may be able to program it to reject any faxes from a particular telephone number. The faxes the Better Business Bureau received from That’s Great News did contain the date, time and telephone number of the transmitting company, but many junk faxes, in violation of federal law, do not indicate the sender’s name, address or phone number, nor do they contain the date and time. Your fax machine may be able to print at least the date and time. In order to file a complaint about unsolicited faxes from companies you’ve never done business with, it’s important to record as much information as you can. The FCC can

issue warning citations and impose fines against companies violating or suspected of violating the junk fax rules, but does not award individual damages. If you have received a fax advertisement from someone who does not have an established business relationship with you or to whom you have not provided prior express permission to send fax advertisements, you can file a complaint with the FCC. There is no charge for filing a complaint. You can file your complaint using an on-line complaint form found at www. esupport.fcc.gov/complaints. htm. You can also file your complaint with the FCC’s Consumer Center by e-mailing fccinfo@fcc.gov; calling (888)-CALL-FCC(888-2255322) voice or 1-888-TELLFCC (888-835-5322) TTY; faxing 1-866-418-0232; or writing to: Federal Communications Commission, Consumer & Governmental

Affairs Bureau Consumer Inquiries and Complaints Division, 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20554. Remember, it will save you a good deal of aggravation in the long run to do a little research before deciding whether or not to do business with a company. At www. bbb.org, the Better Business Bureau can provide you with a neutral report of the facts on a company’s complaint history and organizational structure before you commit to buy. Whether the product is an Amish-made heater for your office or a plaque celebrating your publication in a newspaper, be sure to check it out first with the BBB.

commentary

Justin Jones

Business Profile

Overcoming Barriers To Participation Understanding. Studies show people underrate their disease risk factors and don’t know how to lower them. A health risk assessment with a neutral third party (there are some concerns about sharing family history with the employer) provides a reality check. This helps people learn their biometrics, like blood pressure and cholesterol, with a health professional who can put their

 See JONES, Page 14

 Doering is the charity review and grants coordinator for the BBB serving Washington, northern Idaho and Montana. She may be contacted at hdoering@spokane.bbb.org or at (800) 356-1007. 13

PACHTER ON BOOKS

JONES

From page 13

risks in true perspective. That is often enough to get them started on taking steps to avoid the most prevalent diseases, like heart attack/ stroke, cancer and diabetes. Convenience. Proximity and schedule often hamper peoples’ fitness intentions. That’s why on-site opportunities are so important to success, from wellness buddies to brown-bag wellness talks to a gym or classes on location. Shift work can be a challenge, so design qualifying activities that don’t require 8-to-5 presence. Preference. People like different things, so the more varied your wellness activities, the more likely you are to get broader involvement among employees. Group activities and solitary options, tracking activities, targeting certain issues, classes and cafeteria discounts, create something for everyone. Cost. Keeping fees reasonable, offering discounts or even using payroll deductions, can make a marked difference in participation of fee-based activities, from gym or classes to healthy cafeteria fare. Health. Healthy employees are the first to sign on and reap incentives, and

studies show it’s important to keep their risk factors low. But it’s also important to reach those who know they need to do something different, and need help to build new habits. This is where culture comes into play.

Of The Miami Herald

problem. There’s nothing inherently wrong with outsourcing customer service to India or South America, for example: I’ve had exceptional service, in fact, from friendly and well informed people in those places. But I’ve had also awful ones, too. Every interaction with a customer holds the potential to not only serve their needs, but turn them into evangelists and advocates for your company and continued sources of sales and revenue. So why is this not obvious to every enterprise? Joseph Jaffe wonders the same thing. In this new book, he looks at every aspect of the client experience, including, obviously, “customer service” interactions. But he goes well beyond that,

Companies that have successful workplace wellness programs have achieved more than just getting people into activities, they have developed a culture of wellness. This happens when employees see management and executives lead by example, and participate along with them in the many wellness activities developed for employees. It takes constant effort and consistent action, just like workplace safety, to keep wellness at the forefront. When we make wellness the norm, this subtle influence inspires people to achieve a higher degree of health, wherever they begin on the continuum.