Emily E. Arrigo, CPA, has been promoted to partner at HBE LLP in Lincoln. Arrigo joined the firm in 2018 and provides assurance services to a diverse mix of for-profit, nonprofit, and employee benefit plan clients. She is actively involved in the community as a board member of Clinic with a Heart. Arrigo holds a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from Hastings College.
Morgan E. Glaser, CPA, has been promoted to manager at HBE LLP in Lincoln. Glaser joined the firm in 2020. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Master of Business Administration, both from Nebraska Wesleyan University.
James R. “Jim” Greisch, a Creighton University alumnus and Creighton Foundation board member, is the namesake of The Greisch Center for Enterprise Value, which was established with a $4 million donation from the Diabetes Care Foundation. Greisch, a retired Nebraska market managing partner and North American leader for Financial Services for RSM, was one of the founding partners of the Diabetes Education Center and the Diabetes Supply Company, predecessors to the Diabetes Care Foundation. The new center will support research, help secure publishing and commercialization opportunities, host speaker series and other events and continue JayTank, an annual student-led idea-pitching competition rewarded with thousands of dollars in donor-funded awards. It will also feature a yearlong, postgraduate “flight school” to help bring innovations to market.
Barbara K. “Barb” Kanter and her husband Jim have committed $50,000 to establish two annual scholarship funds and a music appreciation fund at Northeast Community College. As part of their gift, The Barbara K. Kanter Annual Scholarship Fund will aid students in the business, marketing, and management fields of study, including accounting, business, and agribusiness programs. The scholarships may fund up to $2,500 per student, for a total of up to eight students. In 2005, she set up the Barbara K. Kanter Endowed Scholarship at Wayne State College. Kanter graduated from Wayne State in 1976. The Kanters have also provided funding for many other projects at Wayne State over the years.
Kaylie M. Koso, CPA, has been promoted to partner at HBE LLP in Lincoln. Koso joined the firm in 2021 and specializes in serving clients in the agribusiness industry, partnering closely with producers and agribusiness owners to support their operational and long-term goals. Koso holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Peru State College.
Neal D. Lyons has been appointed chairman of UNICO Group’s Board of Directors. Lyons will continue to serve as UNICO Group’s chief financial officer and partner, bringing expanded leadership to the organization’s governance and strategic vision. Lyons brings more than 35 years of experience in accounting and business management to his expanded role, including extensive expertise in public accounting and serving as CFO for wholesale distribution and manufacturing companies. Since joining UNICO Group in 2013, he has provided essential financial leadership and oversight while also managing the company’s Information Technology division. Lyons previously served as board chairman from 2018 to 2024 and is a member of the executive team.
Derek L. Meyer, CPA, has been promoted to partner at HBE LLP in Lincoln. Meyer joined the firm in 2017 and specializes in corporate, partnership, and individual tax. He leads the firm’s Healthcare Specialty Group, supporting clients with complex tax and advisory needs. Meyer currently serves as a board member of the Seniors Foundation. He holds a Bachelor of Science from Northwest Missouri State University and a Master of Professional Accountancy from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Michael J. Obbink, CPA, has joined O’Donnell, Ficenec, Wills & Ferdig, LLP (OFWF) in Omaha as a senior accountant, specializing in audit services. Obbink brings strong technical expertise supported by his CPA credential and a detail-oriented approach to financial reporting. He focuses on delivering accurate and reliable assurance services to clients.
Phillip S. Oman, CPA, has been promoted to partner at HBE LLP in Lincoln. Oman joined the firm in 2017 and focuses on corporate, partnership, and individual tax matters, with extensive experience advising clients on complex multi-state and regulatory issues. He leads the firm’s State and Local Tax (SALT) group and specializes in business valuations. Oman holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Master of Professional Accountancy, both from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Melissa R. Ruff, CPA, will continue to serve on the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) Board of Directors for 2025-26. Ruff serves as the Central Regional Director. In addition to her work on the national level, she is the current Chair of the Nebraska State Board of Accountancy. Ruff is an audit managing director at Deloitte LLP in Lincoln.
Jordan Weiss, CPA, has joined OFWF in Omaha as a manager. Weiss specializes in financial statement audits. He brings a strong technical foundation shaped by years of public accounting experience. He focuses on delivering accurate, insightful audit services to clients across a range of industries. Weiss holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Business Administration from Midland University.
Send your organization’s promotions, appointments, and news for the next issue of the Nebraska CPA magazine to kristen@nescpa.org.
