Blair & Latell’s Matthew Blair: Pandemic Tests Faith, Bonds

Matthew Blair, senior partner at Blair & Latell Co., LPA in Niles, is coming back strong. You can learn more about Blair & Latell Co. at its website.

What are some ways the COVID-19 outbreak has affected your organization, and how is it rebounding?

I am associated with a number of organizations, but I will feature three of the organizations at this time. First, it was my honor to be appointed chairman of the Ohio Lottery Commission by Governor Mike DeWine. The Lottery Commission is headquartered in downtown Cleveland, which was hit hard by the pandemic. Under the leadership of our Governor and Lottery Director, Pat McDonald, the Lottery had to quickly deploy 90 percent of its workforce to work from home, while at the same time, maintain offering its full services.  I was required to shift Lottery Commission meetings from “in-person” meetings to “Microsoft Teams” meetings. This process actually required permission from the Ohio legislature. The Ohio Lottery Commission continues to hold these monthly Zoom meetings with participation from state media organizations, as well as other interested parties and vendors.

I also serve as chairman of the Finance Committee for the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber of Commerce. Although the pandemic had a direct impact on Chamber services and events, I was able to work with the Chamber CEO, Tom Humphries, and under his leadership, we were able to turn what could have been a bad situation into a good one. Tom presented me with an incredible financial plan which allowed employees to be furloughed, cutting Chamber expenses while allowing employees to receive enhanced unemployment benefits. The chamber maintained health insurance coverage for employees through budget cuts and furloughs, and was able to substantially improve its financial position. This was all accomplished during a time when the Chamber was moving its offices and completing an upgrade of its computer system.

The law firm of Blair & Latell Co., LPA, where I serve as senior partner, also was forced to make substantial adjustments. Although business at the law firm slowed down during the early days of the pandemic, a federal assistance package enabled the firm to keep our employees fully employed. Things appeared touch and go for a while, but our business has regained full strength as local businesses and restaurants have reopened.  Interestingly, our firm experienced a spike in requests for estate planning services as the pandemic provided an incentive for clients to update their plans.

How has the outbreak affected your personal life?

The impact on my personal life was dramatic.  Prior to the pandemic, I spent considerable time at the gym during off hours, which ended when the gyms were required to close. My two daughters, who had been away at college, returned home to my absolute delight. They, of course, had to make considerable adjustments to their personal lifestyles to be compliant with COVID-19 guidelines. My oldest daughter seemed to embrace compliance but my youngest daughter, like her father, found limitations on personal freedoms to be problematic.

My wife has been the glue that has held us all together and, at times, she has played the role of referee. As a working wife and mother, the brunt of the pandemic fell squarely on her shoulders. She worked to keep the house as sanitary as possible and cooked meals for the family at home every night after restaurants closed.

What steps are you taking to come back strong?

Going forward, I have stressed to my children the need to be careful and to pay attention to those around them. In today’s environment, it is more important than ever to pay close attention not only to what you do, but also what the individuals who you allow to be around you are doing.  It is no longer acceptable to lower your guard and try to forget the restraints the pandemic has placed on your lifestyle. The minute this happens you could expose not only yourself but also vulnerable numbers of your family to this terrible virus. As a cancer survivor, I for one cannot afford to catch the virus.

What advice are you sharing with the people you love?

The pandemic has proved not only that we all need to be more self-reliant, but also that we all must rely on each other to act responsibly. In closing, I see the pandemic as a test — a test of one’s faith as well as a test of a family’s bonds. We all have to find the inner strength to get through the dark days that will continue to come and, hopefully, when we emerge into the light when this is over, we will all have a greater appreciation for our life that so many of us, me included, have taken for granted.