Pub. 2 2020 Issue 1

J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 0 22 nebraska cpas BMG Certified Public Accountants, LLP (BMG) merged with Strain, Slattery, Barkley & Co., PC (SSB), both of Lincoln, effective January 1. BMG and SSB have a long history of working together and both firms trace their roots back to the same firm, which started in Lincoln in 1924. The firm is operating out of the BMG location at 211 South 84th Street. Following the merger, Rachel Ficek and Ed Bates joined Todd Blome, Sarah Boehle Pool, and Trudy Meyer as partners in BMG. In addition, Jody Decker of Omaha has been named a partner. Decker has more than 25 years of public accounting experience and was formerly a partner with Lutz and McDermott & Miller, PC. She plans to split her time between BMG’s Lincoln office and a forthcoming Omaha office. Alexandra Bruening has been promoted to CFO at The Strawhecker Group (TSG), an Omaha-based consulting and analytics company that serves payments companies globally. Bruening also serves on the TSG Board of Directors. Ryan Burger, Gabriel, Burger & Else, CPA, PC, of Seward, is one of the featured speakers at the Ag Growth Gathering, a special event for local agricultural producers, on February 7 in Seward. Steven Coleman has been named director of accounting and controller at Assurity Life Insurance Co. in Lincoln. Coleman joined Assurity in 2014 after various accounting and managerial roles with HBE LLP. He graduated from the University of Nebraska- Lincoln in 2008. Brad Crain, Union Bank & Trust Co. in Lincoln, is serving on the Matt Talbot Kitchen & Outreach Board of Directors for 2020. Cheryl Eliason has been promoted to partner at Masimore, Magnuson &Associates, PC, in Omaha. Amember of the firm since 1997, Eliason’s focus has been on high-level tax, accounting, and consulting services for individuals and family-owned, closely held businesses. She also works with not-for-profit and governmental organizations in the audit and tax compliance areas. Founded in 1974, Masimore, Magnuson & Associates, PC is a growing firm with a team of 22. Kevin Faltin was named vice president, CFO, and treasurer of Assurity Life Insurance Co. in Lincoln. He holds more than 20 years of accounting and finance experience, most recently as the company’s senior director and controller. Faltin joined Assurity in 2005 after serving as an audit senior manager with Deloitte. A 1997 graduate of Doane University, Faltin holds a bachelor’s degree in business with an accounting and finance emphasis. Members in the News