Pub. 1 2019 Issue 6

19 nebraska society of cpas W W W . N E S C P A . O R G AWARDS NESCPA RYAN PARKER PRESENTED AWARD FOR LEADERSHIP IN BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY Today, more than half of the Society’s current members do not practice public accounting but instead have careers as educators, in government, or in a variety of capacities in business and industry in Nebraska, facilitating the growth of business, creating new jobs, and helping build a vibrant, expanding economy for all of Nebraska’s citizens. One of those outstanding Society members is Ryan L. Parker, pres- ident and CEO of Endicott Clay Products Co. in Fairbury, Neb., who received the Society’s 2019 Outstanding CPA in Business and Industry Award during the Society’s Annual Meeting. Parker began his career with Deloitte & Touche LLP in 1994 after graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Iowa State University. At Deloitte, he worked on a wide range of clients, including manufacturing, retail, and banking. In 1996, Parker was promoted to senior associate and was again promoted in 1999 to manager of tax services. Later that year, Parker accepted the position of vice president of fi- nance with Endicott —a client fromhis career at Deloitte. Endicott is a 100-year-old locally owned company that has grown to become an internationally recognized architectural brick manufacturer. Parker’s knowledge of tax, accounting, legal, insurance, and fam- ily succession issues were successfully utilized during his early years with Endicott. In addition to general financial oversight for the company, his early tenure with Endicott included negoti- ating a significant increase to a natural gas easement, vertically integrating mining operations, performing a natural gas bypass study, leading a multimillion-dollar business interruption claim, negotiating a reduction to the company’s real estate valuation, and the ownership, succession, estate, and income tax planning of the company’s shareholders. In 2007, Parker received aMaster of Business Administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He was promoted to president and CEO of Endicott in 2010. Since becoming CEO, Parker has guided the company through the introduction of new products, instituted a company-wide quality control program, developed a semi-autonomous blending system, provided regulatory represen- tation with federal agencies on behalf of the industry, and led a sig- nificant plant expansion that increased production by 33 percent. Ray Leonhard, CPA, and president and CEO of the Brick Industry Association in Reston, Va., stated: “As someone who has benefited a great deal from Ryan Parker’s thoughtful analysis and leadership, I want to congratulate himon this impressive honor. I have seenRyan’s leadershipona range of issues duringmy service as president andCEO of the Brick Industry Association, of which Endicott Clay Products Company is a critically important member. Ryan consistently offers ideas and solutions that are rooted in sound analysis to advance the brick industry. Simply put: Ryan Parker is a credit to America’s clay brick industryand the industry sends its congratulations on this honor.” Parker presently serves on the board of directors of the Brick Industry Association. In addition, he has been chairman of the board of First National Bank of Washington, Kan., for the past 20 years. He also serves on the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry Board of Directors and has served on the Jefferson County Hospital Board of Directors as well as the American Institute of Certified Public Ac- countants (AICPA) Governing Council. Also, Parker has earned the Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) designation. Nebraska Chamber President Bryan Slone endorsed Parker’s nom- ination, stating, “Ryan has been an engaged and valued member of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry Board for several years. His participation on our board makes a real differ- ence in our ability to serve and create a unique value proposition for our members. As a CPA, I am particularly pleased to have his accounting and financial expertise on our board as well.” A member of the Nebraska Society of CPAs since 1999, Parker served as chairman of the Society in 2017-2018, vice chairman of the Society’s Industry Committee for the past 10 years, and has served on the Society’s Fall CPE Conference Planning Commit- tee, Legislation Committee, Nominating Committee and Awards Selection Committee. He also found time to lead the President Selection Transition Committee during his time as chairman. t The purpose of the Outstanding CPA in Business & Industry Award is to honor Nebraska CPAs who have made a significant contribution to the growth and success of their employers or notable entrepreneurial achievement. In addition, the award recognizes those CPAs working in business, industry, or government who have distin- guished themselves by having made a significant contribution to the enhancement of the accounting profession. The nominee must be a CPA, be a member of the Nebraska Society, and be in good standing with the profession.