In this episode of the SALTovation podcast, we speak with Janette Lohman, who is an industry leader with state and local tax, and our very own Judy Vorndran.
Janette shares her story of practicing law in various areas in the industry for over 30 years. She also shares why it’s important to continue to nurture her connections in this collaborative industry and why people want to be on her famous cookie list.
Listen to how to be resourceful and quick to adapt when tackling an issue for your client.
Questions asked and answered in this Episode:
- How did Janette initially get in state and local tax and what opportunities opened up for her as a result of progressing through her career?
- Is it a conflict of interest to work at an accounting firm rather than a law firm?
- Why do we think it’s a clerical, unimportant thing to have someone help with sales tax revenue?
- What can a community of state and local tax professionals do to carry the momentum to make us better?
What You Will Discover:
- [01:33] Janette shares how she started her 30-year long career with state and local tax
- [09:27] What were the hardest two years of her life
- [10:04] What is the origin of her famous cookie list
- [15:31] How the relationships in SALT matter in the industry
- [21:32] What is the most important thing Janette learned from being Director of Revenue
- [22:59] Why it’s better to work out the issues at the audit level
- [28:54] Why it’s important to adapt in the business
- [36:46] How Janette helps people that were affected by COVID-19
Quotables:
- “I think that state and local tax is probably the best kept secret in all of the world, let alone the tax, because it’s different. It’s varied. It’s wild.” - Janette Lohman [03:48]
- “If you’re in a situation where you have no business of your own, your best source of business is your other partners.” - Janette Lohman [09:49]
- “The only trick to selling business is that it’s what can you do for them and who are your clients and what are their needs, not your needs. Your needs are totally irrelevant.” - Janette Lohman [12:24]
- “If it’s in your own best interest because I guarantee you, you need to go up the system level by level without offending anyone along the way because if you want to get something resolved successfully, you have to work through the system.” - Janette Lohman [22:29]
- “We have no competitors in this industry. We have only colleagues.” - Janette Lohman [28:20]
Relevant Links:
Website: https://www.thompsoncoburn.com/people/janette-lohman
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janette-lohman-359548
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