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Two Alumni Inducted in the Accountancy Hall of Fame

Two Alumni Inducted in the Accountancy Hall of Fame
Don Ham and Mark Chronister enter the School of Accountancy Hall of Fame
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln School of Accountancy inducted two new members into their Hall of Fame at the annual Celebration of Excellence on October 18. Inductees included Mark Chronister, ’73, who retired as partner from PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP, and Don Ham, ’74, who retired as partner from BKD, LLP. The inductees received praise for their years of service to the profession and School of Accountancy.

Chronister bridges business, education and nonprofit service as co-founder of Chronister Strategies Ltd. Previously a partner at Templeton Laird, he retired as an audit partner from PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP, after 34 years providing expertise to financial services and higher education institutions. Known for his leadership and strategic contributions, he chaired several boards such as the Minneapolis Foundation, Minneapolis Downtown Council, University of Nebraska Foundation and St. Catherine University. As the 2016 Nebraska College of Business Master, he shared how optimism and resilience are keys to finding one’s way in business and life.
 
Mark Chronister provided leadership in the field of accounting during his career as an audit partner.
Mark Chronister provided leadership in the field of accounting during his career as an audit partner.
“I had great accounting professors such as Dr. Raymond Dein. I told students two years ago when I came back to campus to speak as part of Masters Week, if you applied yourself, you’ll have a solid foundation for a career in private, public or governmental accounting. Their classes with professors like Dr. Jack Goebel influenced my career in ways I never saw at the time, but looking back, they were inflection points for me,” said Chronister.
 
Ham retired from BKD, LLP, in 2015 after more than 35 years in public accounting. Prior to retirement, he was a member of BKD’s national financial services, construction and real estate groups, and was leader of the Nebraska office’s Financial Services Group. He also provided consultation for numerous mergers and acquisitions, bank regulatory filings and had various other dealings with the Federal Reserve Board and other bank regulatory agencies. He was a member of the Nebraska Society of Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He served as a member of the School of Accountancy Advisory Board and currently serves on the Dean’s Advisory Board.
 
Don Ham worked more than 35 years in public accounting.
Don Ham worked more than 35 years in public accounting.
“Until I served on their advisory boards, I probably took for granted the education I received here at Nebraska. We work hard to get an education and then we go to work. Certain schools prepare you better for your career, and I believe Nebraska and the School of Accountancy did that for me. This school produces quality alumni for our firms to hire, and we shouldn’t take it for granted,” said Ham.
 
In addition to the Hall of Fame induction, Dr. Aaron Crabtree, director of the School of Accountancy and associate professor of accountancy, recognized more than 150 undergraduate scholarship and graduate fellowship recipients. 
 
“This year our students received more than $100,000 in scholarships and fellowships from alumni and donors who gave to the school, the College of Business and through the Nebraska Society of CPAs. We thank these donors for providing the funds that significantly benefit our students,” said Crabtree.
 
The Hall of Fame honors accounting graduates of the College of Business who have achieved state, national and/or international standing in their business endeavors and who, through their example, provide students inspiration for accomplishing their own career goals. To learn more about it and its inductees, visit: https://business.unl.edu/academic-programs/departments/accounting/recognitions/
Published: October 23, 2018