Lynden is recognizing employees who make a difference every day on the job and demonstrate our core values, Lynden's very own everyday heroes! Employees are nominated by managers and supervisors from all roles within the Lynden family of companies.
Introducing Josh Drenckpohl, Senior Tax Manager at Lynden in Seattle, Washington. 
Name: Josh Drenckpohl
Company: Lynden Inc.
Title: Senior Tax Manager
Location: Seattle
On the Job Since: 2001
Superpower: Attention to detail
Hometown: Maple Valley, WA
Favorite Movie: Top Gun
Bucket List Destination: SE Asia Trip – Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia
For Fun: Hosting dinner parties and impromptu gatherings with lots of friends at our house
How and when did you start working for Lynden? Have you worked for or done projects with other Lynden companies?
I started working for Lynden in April 2001. Nathan Korpela, whose father, Dick Korpela, was the CFO at the time and currently serves on the board of directors, was a childhood friend from my high school church youth group and told me about the job opening. I was hired as a senior tax analyst after spending four years in public accounting.
Over the years, I’ve worked on several projects with Lynden’s operating companies. One of the most notable was developing the business case and financial modeling for converting forklifts from propane and diesel to electric. Since then, I’ve supported various other initiatives to help the operating companies evaluate equipment upgrades and make data-driven decisions.
What is a typical day like for you?
A typical day is spent researching tax issues, generally state and local issues. I spend a lot of time reviewing all things income tax related. This varies depending on the time of year, but includes estimated payments, tax reporting for the financial statements and the tax returns themselves. I also spend time supporting the operating companies and making sure we’re in compliance with collecting and remitting sales tax, paying use tax and filing our monthly gross receipts tax returns. Recently, more of my time has been spent dealing with taxing authorities responding to notices and managing audits. Every day is different so staying organized and the ability to effectively prioritize work is important.
What has been most challenging in your career?
It’s hard to choose just one challenge, but the most significant was our conversion from an S Corporation to a C Corporation. Our team had to quickly pivot learning new processes, becoming familiar with C Corporation specific tax issues.
Because the switch happened mid-year, we had to file twice the number of tax returns: short-year returns for both the final S Corporation period and the new C Corporation period. I also had to learn how to complete the company’s income tax reporting for the financial statements, which wasn’t required when we were an S Corporation. This included learning and getting up to speed on a complex new software system. Despite the challenges, the experience was incredibly rewarding. We were able to successfully manage the transition and significantly reduce Lynden’s effective tax rate, resulting in substantial savings for the company.
What are you most proud of in your career?
I’m most proud of the legacy of friends I’ve recruited to come work at Lynden and the success and longevity they’ve all achieved. Together, they represent 62 years of combined service. All of them were, and still are, close friends whom I’ve always known to be natural leaders. They are smart, hardworking, and willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done. They include Bob Weeks, Tax Manager (retired), Josh Bandy, Business Systems Analysis Director; Jay Marchand, Continuous Improvement Manager, (AML); Kyle Fox, Tax Manager; and Elodie Gergov, Director of International Operations (Lynden Logistics).
Can you tell us about your family and growing up years?
I’ve been married to my wife, Melanie, since 2008. We have two boys, Austin, 14, and Hudson, 12. Melanie is a kindergarten teacher in the Kent School District. Austin loves all things sports and enjoys traveling. Hudson enjoys playing video games with his friends and is an animal lover. He has an axolotl and a tree frog. We also have two dogs, Fletcher and Conrad. I grew up in Burien, WA, with my mom, dad, and two brothers. I graduated from Seattle Christian High School and later attended Western Washington University, graduating in 1996.
What was your first job?
My very first job was delivering the Highline Times newspaper, which I started in middle school or possibly even earlier. Later, during high school, I worked for a friend’s dad’s company building gift and display boxes made from pine and cedar like the ones you might find in a specialty shop holding a filet of smoked salmon.
What would surprise most people about you?
That I spent a year living and working in Ketchikan, AK.
How do you spend your time outside of work?
My time outside of work is divided between family, friends, and service. Time spent with family and friends is cherished which often includes trips to our cabin in Winthrop, WA, or hosting gatherings at our home on the lake in Maple Valley, grilling, cooking, and enjoying the water. Everyone is always welcome, and there’s no closing time!
In recent years, we’ve resumed traveling. Some highlights include a trip to South Africa, a Mediterranean cruise this past April, and a couple of football trips with my oldest son, Austin. We watched the University of Washington play in the national championship game a few years ago and traveled to Pennsylvania last year to see them take on Penn State.
I’m also actively involved in my church, where I currently serve as a deacon, helping oversee certain ministries. I co-lead the host team, which welcomes people on Sundays, and in the past, I’ve volunteered with Jay Marchand to cook meals on Wednesday nights for the middle and high school students.
What do you like best about your job?
What I love most about my job is the people I work with and the culture established by Hank Jansen, which continues to be modeled by the Jansen family. In my opinion, that culture is one of the key reasons Lynden has been a successful organization for so many years.
When you truly care about your team and others in the organization, and when those relationships grow into genuine friendships it naturally inspires you to work hard and do everything you can to help the company succeed. I could do tax work anywhere, but I’d be hard-pressed to find a better group of people and friends to work alongside. Beyond that, I enjoy the variety and challenges that come with the ever-changing tax landscape. There’s always something new to learn, which keeps the work interesting and engaging.
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