Blog & Newsroom

In the wake of recent protesting over racial inequality and injustice, LAND studio stands with those, who are using the public realm to speak out.

The mission of LAND studio is to create places and connect people through public art, sustainable building and design, collaborative planning and dynamic programming.

They are a gatekeeper to public arts investment and look for ways their work can better reflect Cleveland’s diverse neighborhoods and eliminate barriers to participation. As dialogue related to racial equity and inclusion continues to evolve, they are committed to creating and maintaining opportunities for everyone, regardless of race, gender, ability or the community in which they live.

While some people struggled trying to figure out what to do while stuck at home due to Ohio’s “Stay at Home” order, Eileen Saffran was busy starting a new business, MTN Strategies.

The founder and former CEO of The Gathering Place, Saffran retired in 2019 after 20 years with the non-profit organization.

In her final years at The Gathering Place, she knew it was time to move on, as the organization was in good hands and was in a great financial position. Saffran wanted to find a new purpose. She was grateful for her Gathering Place community, but it was time for a new challenge.

On May 28, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) will defer Ohio employers' premium installments this summer.

DeWine’s announcement was to help businesses focus on the well-being and safety of their customers and employees.

Businesses will have the option to defer their monthly premium payments with no financial penalties in the months of June, July, and August.

Having been a CPA for over 30 years, I can honestly say that the last three months of my career have been some of the most challenging, but also some of the most rewarding. 

The coronavirus pandemic has changed the way that all of us work and also how we see the world.  For many years, I cherished the role of being my clients “most trusted advisor.” This meant I provided financial counsel related to income and estate tax matters and assisted in management consulting projects to help business owners maximize their profits. While all of these types of engagements brought value to the business owner, little did I know 2020 would transform my role to becoming a “front line” worker.

Since April, Zinner & Co. staff members have worked hard to maintain regular communication with their clients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

During some of our conversations, we have heard many uplifting stories of how our clients are making the most of the “Stay at Home” order. Here are few stories we wanted to bring to your attention:

During the current “Stay at Home” issued by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, Zinner & Co. staff are working remotely to meet the needs of all of our clients.

Thanks to the efforts of all Ohioans, in April we have successfully “flattened the curve” and avoided overwhelming our hospitals with COVID-19 cases.

By practicing social distancing during this challenging time, you have helped to make a difference and save lives.

In late April, Gov. DeWine announced the Responsible Restart Ohio Program, which allowed healthcare institutions including hospitals, clinics, dental offices and veterinarians to begin outpatient procedures and treatments for other life threatening conditions on May 1.

Since April, Zinner & Co. staff members have held weekly Zoom meetings.

As part of the discussion, staff members talked about the “silver linings” that they have found during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Here are a few of the notable positive actions and thoughts to come out of these discussions:

For three Zinnner & Co. interns, their internships were ones they will likely never forget, as they had to overcome a challenging tax season.

When their internships began, Allen Li (Case Western Reserve University), Kyoko Tosi (Kent State University) and Brett Carney (CWRU) likely thought they were in for a normal tax season.

“We learned how to prepare individual tax returns and to issue the 1099 tax forms,” said Tosi. “We were provided with weeks of training, practice period and real work with senior's reviews.”

The work kept them busy as they began an in-depth journey into the world of accounting.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the need to plan for taxes has become even more important due to all the changes from recently passed coronavirus relief legislation and especially for those businesses seeking forgivable loans through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

While the PPP legislation was designed to help businesses weather the economic storm that many “Stay at Home" orders have created by providing funding to continue to employ workers and, the ramifications of not fully understanding the restrictions for use of these funds could ultimately cause further challenge for business owners.

Business owners and non-profits are strongly urged to reach out to their Zinner & Co. Client Service Team and should feel comfortable accessing information provided by our team of Recovery Specialists, not only in the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) application process, but also in the proper documentation and accounting for loan proceeds.  

Move made to ease COVID-19 financial impact

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC) Administrator/CEO Stephanie McCloud today proposed giving up to $1.6 billion to Ohio employers this spring to ease the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Ohio’s economy and business community.

"This is great news for Ohio’s businesses, and will assist in relieving some of the financial pressures many are experiencing,” said DeWine. “Administrator McCloud and I both encourage businesses to reinvest this money in the health and safety of their employees.”