44 BRAND STORY “We think having a faceto-face conversation over lunch is how you develop a relationship and how you really understand what’s important to your client. It’s not just by doing a tax return every year.” STEVE RITCHIE MANAGING PARTNER, KERNUTT STOKES relationships with clients that have helped the firm thrive for more than 80 years. There are some remote employees, but for the most part, the professionals at Kernutt Stokes adhere to the in-person way. “We have a primary strategy of having our offices staffed with people and to be in the markets that we serve,” Ritchie says. “We think having a face-to-face conversation over lunch is how you develop a relationship and how you really understand what’s important to your client. It’s not just by doing a tax return every year.” That approach helps differentiate Kernutt Stokes in the accounting world, which in recent years has undergone a wave of consolidation as private equity has taken a shine to accounting firms. The result has been a less personalized experience for many firms and their clients, which is counter to how Kernutt Stokes does business. “It gets back to that relationship piece and how invested you really are in your community,” Ritchie says. “For us, remaining independent keeps all of our decisions local, keeps all of our partners local and living in the state of Oregon. That’s a big deal to us and to our clients. I think that if folks are looking for a highquality firm that will do a really good job and invest in a relationship, we’re a great firm to talk with.” ■ Find out more at kernuttstokes.com. PHOTOS BY JASON E. KAPLAN Kernutt Stokes’ Lake Oswego office is led by partners Blair Walker, Katie Eyre and Kaitlyn Coburn.
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