Full Article

June 2, 2023

School of Accountancy Alumni Class Notes

Editors’ Note: The Class Notes celebrate the milestones of our alumni during the past year. These updates were submitted to the school directly by the alumni themselves or compiled from news articles and corporate media releases. While we welcome alumni news, The Nebraska Ledger is not responsible for the information contained in these submissions.

Ahmed Ahmed, ’21 & ’22 MPA, earned his MPA from Nebraska in December 2022, and works at KPMG as a tax associate in Omaha, Nebraska.

James Anderson, ’97, is tax partner at FORVIS LLP in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Terry Arvie, ’21 & ’22 MPA, earned his MPA from Nebraska in December 2022 and works for Lutz Financial in Omaha.

Adam Austin, ’09, promoted to tax director in 2021 for Lutz in Omaha.

Lindsay (Weber) Badertscher, ’19 MPA, works as a senior tax associate II at FORVIS in Lincoln. She lives in Hickman, Nebraska.

Michael Barr, ’11 MPA, works as a senior tax manager at KPMG in Omaha.

Wyatt Bell, ’19 & ’20 MPA, works as a senior audit associate at KPMG in Omaha. He lives in Lincoln.

Ateev Bhandari, ’22, served as managing director of the Husker Venture Fund student organization at Nebraska College of Business before his December 2022 graduation

Julia Bond, ’21 & ’22 MPA,serves as a tax associate at FORVIS in Omaha.

Jack Boulay, ’14 & ’16 MPA, works as audit manager at Lutz in Omaha.

Trent Brown, ’21, works as staff accountant with Lutz in Lincoln.

Kaylee (Arndt) Butler, ’22, works as a tax accountant at Lutz in Omaha. She lives in Wahoo, Nebraska.

Katie (Vrtiska) Byrd, ’13, is director at Lutz in Omaha. She also serves on the Nebraska School of Accountancy Junior Advisory Board.

Andee Capell, ’20 & ’21 MPA, works as a technology assurance associate and supporting integrated audits with IT control testing at KPMG in Omaha.

Tracy Chvala, ’20 & ’21 MPA,is a staff accountant at Lutz in Lincoln.

Christian Cleberg, ’19, works as a senior IT auditor at KPMG in Omaha.

Zach Crom, ’17 & ’18 MPA,works as manager at Labenz & Associates in Lincoln. He lives in Palmyra, Nebraska.

Eric Cruise, ’04 & ’06 MPA, works as tax managing director at KPMG. Also a member of the Nebraska School of Accountancy Advisory Board, he lives in Lincoln.

Joseph Dahir, ’18, is a senior accountant at Lutz in Omaha.

Katie (Adams) Dettmann, ’09 & ’10 MPA, is a director at FORVIS in Lincoln. She lives in Arapahoe, Nebraska.

Tom Docter, ’16 & ’18 MPA, works as tax manager for Lutz in Lincoln.

Micah Dostal, ’22 MPA, works as a tax associate at FORVIS in Omaha.

Braelyn (Isernhagen) Dubbert, ’21 & ’22 MPA, is a tax associate at FORVIS in Lincoln.

Harley Edic, ’22, from Lincoln, earned recognition as a Chancellor’s Scholar at commencement in May 2022. She also was named Student of the Month by the Nebraska College of Business Student Advisory Board in March 2021.

Wes Emeigh, ’95, is a senior tax consultant at FORVIS in Lincoln.

Kelsey Folkers, ’20 & ’21 MPA, is a tax staff accountant at Lutz in Omaha and obtained CPA.

Taylor Gehring, ’18 & ’19 MPA, named to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Young Alumni Academy, coordinated by the Nebraska Alumni Association.

Matthew Hall, ’17 & ’18 MPA, works as a tax manager for KPMG in Omaha.

Reid Hammitt, ’17 & ’18 MPA, is audit manager at Lutz in Omaha. Previously, he worked as audit staff then audit senior at Lutz.

Jared Hardy, ’03, is a shareholder at Lutz. He lives in Grand Island, Nebraska.

Kathryn Harrison, ’19, works as a staff accountant at Lutz in Omaha.

Barron H. Harvey, ’74, ’75 MBA & ’77 Ph.D., inducted into the Nebraska School of Accountancy Hall of Fame in 2022. His induction honors his professional success and commitment to the school.

Jack Hazen, ’19, named to join the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Young Alumni Academy, coordinated by the Nebraska Alumni Association.

Tessa Hedlund, ’20 & ’21 MPA, works as a tax associate at FORVIS in Lincoln.

Thomas Helligso, ’94, is an audit shareholder at Lutz and lives in Omaha.

Kaylee (Hartman) Henne, ’19, is a senior tax accountant at Lutz in Omaha. She lives in Bellevue, Nebraska.

Anna Howorth, ’19 & ’20 MPA, is a senior health care accountant and CPA working at Lutz in Omaha.

Taylor Hoyt, ’18 & ’19 MPA, is a senior tax accountant at Lutz in Omaha, working mostly on the India workforce team and managing their training processes.

Hailey Hula, ’21 & ’22 MPA, works for FORVIS as an assurance associate in Lincoln.

Connor Jensen, ’11 & ’12 MPA, works as audit & assurance senior manager for Deloitte in Omaha. He also serves on the Nebraska School of Accountancy Junior Advisory Board and selected by the Nebraska Alumni Association to join the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Young Alumni Academy.

Jason John, ’99 & ’21 MPA, is an audit partner at KPMG in Omaha.

Larissa Johnson, ’00 MPA, of Gretna is an audit and assurance Partner with Deloitte Consulting LLP. She earned her MPA from University of Nebraska–Lincoln. She was named a new board member of the Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska, the largest girl-serving organization in the state.

Matt D. Johnson, ’07 & ’08 MPA,is a CPA promoted to partner at Baker Tilly in 2022. He lives in Minneapolis. He serves on the Nebraska School of Accountancy Advisory Board.

Michael Johnson, ’81, executive principal at Hexagon Inc., which helps provide strategy to building autonomous business process outcomes for enterprise-wide digital transformation. A member of the Nebraska School of Accountancy Advisory Board, he lives in The Woodlands, Texas.

Joni Johnson-Powe, ’93, is a partner at KPMG LLP and lives in Denver.

Nicole (Hullinger) Kastl, ’17 & ’19 MPA, is a senior accountant at Lutz in Omaha.

Brian Klintworth, ’15, earned a promotion to partner at HBE in June 2022. He joined HBE in 2015 as an intern, then began his career fulltime as an accountant. Now a CPA, he earned his Master of Taxation degree in 2019 from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. Most recently, he served as HBE’s tax director. He lives near Seward, Nebraska.

Caleb Krohn, ’20, is a senior tax associate at FORVIS in Lincoln.

Janet (Christensen) Labenz, ’74 Master of Education, is a CPA and partner at Labenz & Associates in Lincoln.

William Lanik, ’14, works as audit manager at Lutz in Omaha.

Thomas Lassek, ’19 & ’21 MPA, is an audit associate at FORVIS in Omaha.

Karli (Flanders) Mackley, ’18 & ’19 MPA, is a senior associate at Labenz & Associates in Lincoln.

Robin Maher, ’20 & ’21 MPA, is a health care staff accountant at Lutz in Omaha.

Jarod Marsden, ’20, is a senior assurance associate at RSM in Omaha.

Mitchell McWilliams, ’20 & ’21 MPA, is a staff accountant at Lutz in Omaha. He passed the CPA exam and is waiting on the state board for approval.

Drew Minard, ’21 & ’22 MPA, works as a business tax entities associate for RSM LLP in Omaha.

Jack Moreland, ’21, works as an audit associate at FORVIS in Omaha.

Brodie Morgan, ’17 & ’18 MPA, works in tax technology for KPMG. He lives in Los Angeles.

Connor Munro, ’15, was promoted to audit manager in 2022 at KPMG and lives in Omaha.

Julie Murdoch, ’04 MPA, is a senior managing consultant at FORVIS in Lincoln.

Philip Murphy, ’20 & ’21 MPA,is an assurance associate at RSM in Omaha.

Ronald Nebbia, ’85, is a shareholder at Lutz and lives in Omaha.

Steven Nebbia, ’12, is a director at Lutz in Omaha.

Kylee Nielsen, ’19, works as a senior audit associate at FORVIS in Omaha.

Logan Ohs, ’12 & ’13 MPA, is an audit senior manager at RSM in Lincoln.

Elizabeth (Boulay) Prinz, ’16, is a tax senior accountant at Lutz in Omaha. She also leads their busy season intern program.

Travis Pritchett, ’99 & ’99 MPA, is a partner at Labenz & Associates in Lincoln. He also serves on the Nebraska School of Accountancy Advisory Board.

Holden Randecker, ’20 & ’21 MPA, is an associate at Labenz & Associates in Lincoln, earning a CPA license in 2022.

Ryan Rayburn, ’22, works as a first-year assurance associate at RSM in Lincoln.

Dominic Richardson, ’16 & ’18 MPA, is a senior associate II at FORVIS in Lincoln.

Katie (Hofer) Roberts, ’11 & ’15 MPA, works as healthcare manager at Lutz in Lincoln.

Tyrell Ross, ’10 & ’18 MBA,director of finance and budget for the College of Business at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, received a Dean’s Coin for his service on the college’s Inclusive Excellence Advisory Board.

Bryant Russell, ’22, works as the finance manager at Kana Systems, a technology startup in Lincoln, Nebraska, that creates software solutions for the Department of Defense. He oversees the financial statement presentation, and works on budgeting, forecasting, payroll, treasury and strategic management for Kana. He lives in Lincoln.

Austin Sabaliauskas, ’18, is tax senior accountant at Lutz in Omaha.

Victor Salerno, ’21, is staff accountant at Lutz in Omaha and passed all four CPA exams.

Nate Scott, ’03 & ’04 MPA, works as audit partner for FORVIS. He also serves on the governing board for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands and on the governing board for the Elkhorn Public Schools Foundation.

Jeff Sheets, ’13 & ’14 MPA,is senior manager at Labenz & Associates in Lincoln after working at the firm for 10 years. He also serves on the Nebraska School of Accountancy Junior Advisory Board.

Pam (Vandeberg) Sheets, ’82, is partner at Labenz & Associates in Lincoln.

Bailee Steinle, ’22, from Lincoln, earned recognition as a Chancellor’s Scholar at commencement in May 2022 for earning an A in every undergraduate class at Nebraska. She will earn her MPA from Nebraska in May 2023.

Susan Storm Krause, ’85, is a shareholder of Lutz and Company in Omaha.

Allie Stromp, ’20 & ’21 MPA,works as a tax associate at KPMG in Omaha.

Derek Sutton, ’14 & ’15 MPA, is a tax manager at RSM in Omaha.

Jamison Theye, ’22, from Lincoln, earned recognition as a Chancellor’s Scholar at commencement in May 2022 for earning an A in every undergraduate class at Nebraska.

Justin Tietjen, ’21 & ’22 MPA, works as a tax associate at FORVIS in Lincoln.

Ansel Uerling, ’20, is a staff accountant at Lutz in Lincoln.

Patrick Volz, ’87, appointed chief operating officer of Global Operations at Aimbridge Hospitality in Dallas. Volz oversees hotel finance, owner relations, brand partnerships and transitions, while leading Aimbridge Food & Beverage. Previously, he served as president and chief operating officer of Blackstone Real Estate Hotel & Resorts, and in roles at The Americas at Hilton Worldwide, Marriott International and served as executive vice president and chief financial officer of The National Restaurant Association.

Katie Warneke Blycker, ’17 & ’17 MPA, is a senior accountant at Lutz in Omaha.

Zach Weis, ’15 & ’17 MPA, is a tax manager at Lutz in Omaha.

Audrey Went, ’82, was inducted into the Nebraska School of Accountancy Hall of Fame in 2022. Her induction honors her professional success and commitment to the school.

Alec Wesslund, ’18 & ’19 MPA, works a senior audit associate at RSM in Omaha.

Brian Wilmes, ’19 & ’20 MPA, works as a senior tax accountant at Lutz in Omaha.

Nick Wimmer, ’17, selected to join the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Young Alumni Academy, coordinated by the Nebraska Alumni Association.

Andrew Young, ’07 & ’08 MPA, is tax partner at RSM in Omaha. He serves on the Nebraska School of Accountancy Advisory Board.

Five May 2023 accounting graduates earned recognition as Chancellor's Scholars, the highest academic award the university offers for earning an A in every undergraduate class. Scholars included: Audrey Kreun from Hull, Iowa; Kimberly Osborn from Tilden, Nebraska; and Haley Claussen, Emily Kraai and Scott Peterson from Lincoln.