‘Pancake Supper’ and accountant’s tips highlight AHB meeting in Woodstock

Discover how a renowned outer East Portland CPA provided valuable business management information, after attendees enjoyed ‘Breakfast for Supper” at this meeting …

This Association of Home Businesses meeting starts off with guests having hot-off-the-grill pancakes unerringly flipped onto their plates by Sheldon Penner of Chris Cakes Northwest.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

The Association of Home Businesses (AHB) meeting held on February 13th in the Woodstock neighborhood provided both a unique and tasty repast, and valuable business management ideas, to the members and guests attending.

Gregg Fujino of Woodstock Wine & Deli takes pictures of the pancakes flying high into the air in his store, before landing safely on plates.

This month, the AHB – which usually meets at SMILE Station in Woodstock – met for the first time at Woodstock Wine & Deli, as guests of its congenial owner, Gregg Fujino.

The meetings always start with a supper, and this time it was provided by Portland’s “pancake wizard”, Sheldon Penner of Chris Cakes Northwest, who served “Breakfast for Dinner”, including hot-off-the-grill pancakes flipped onto guests plates, velvet-smooth scrambled eggs, and his special-recipe sausage.

Another pancake takes flight, to land perfectly on an AHB member’s plate.

After all had dined, Kevin R. Minkoff CPA, PC – “Not your ordinary bean counter” – from the Russell neighborhood began his presentation.

“This year, I’m not just talking ‘tax tips’,” Minkoff told East Portland News. “I will be instead hosting a game of what I call ‘Business Management Jeopardy!’ – a game I created that quizzes business owners on their basic business accounting knowledge.”

“Of course, taxes figure into it, so to speak,” Minkoff quipped. “The topics also include financial statement preparation and analysis, and general accounting practices and terms,” he informed.

Kevin R. Minkoff CPA explains his game of “Business Management Jeopardy”.

“These are all the financial procedures that business owners must know, to properly manage a small business,” he continued. “What I have found is that most small business owners don’t know anything about financial management!

“Playing the game is a fun way to call their attention to what they don’t know and should,” he said as the game began.

He divided the room into two groups, and had his “Business Management Jeopardy!” digital playing board projected on a screen. At the top were the topics of Business Structures, Accounting 101, Balance Sheets, Income Statements, Financial Analysis and Income Taxes.

More than just playing the game, Kevin Minkoff CPA explains complex accounting terms in an easy-to-grasp way.

The teams alternately selected a category, and a question ranked by difficulty, from 100 to 500. Of course, participants were encouraged to answer in the form a question.

Many participants correctly answered questions; and Minkoff explained puzzlers that eluded all of the players.

Although “Team A” won the competition, every players received a handful of foil-coated chocolate “gelt” – also called Hanukkah money – for their efforts.

Kevin Minkoff, CPA, explains the difference between accrual vs. cash accounting methods.

He’s booked now through the end of “tax season”, but Minkoff said he’ll gladly present his entertainingly informative presentation to business and civic groups thereafter. To contact him, visit his website: CLICK HERE.

And, to learn more about the Association of Home Businesses, which meets once most months with visitors welcome – go to their website: CLICK HERE.

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