Ashley S. Bell, CPA, has been promoted to partner at HBE LLP in Lincoln, effective Jan. 1, 2023. Bell graduated from Nebraska Wesleyan University in 2012 with a Bachelor of Science in accounting and a minor in finance. Upon completing her degree, Bell worked for a national firm as a senior audit associate and for a local bank as chief operations officer and comptroller. She joined HBE in 2018 as a senior accountant and most recently held the title of assurance director. Bell has been instrumental in growing the firm’s practice within commercial industries, including Employee Benefit Plan specialized services. In the community, Bell serves as treasurer for St. Mark’s Preschool KIDZONE and as a TeamMates mentor. She is also an active member and volunteer at St. Mark’s Methodist Church.
Jennifer R. Claus, CPA, of Ashland was one of only 36 CPAs in the nation honored by the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) as a member of the Leadership Academy’s 14th graduating class. The four-day program was held in October 2022. Claus manages controllers, tax, internal audit, management reporting, and international accounting in six countries as the accounting manager at Gallup. She also serves as an international controller, leads all accounting learning initiatives, and manages the division expenses internationally. Prior to joining Gallup, she was an auditor at PwC, working on financial statement audits for Fortune 500 financial services companies and various funds in addition to reviews of the some of the largest banks in the U.S. Claus received her bachelor’s degree in business administration with concentrations in accounting and management from Midland Lutheran College and her master’s degree in professional accounting from Midland University. She volunteers for Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), where she serves as the Nebraska state adviser and a member of the national board of directors. The AICPA Leadership Academy was designed to strengthen and expand the leadership skills of promising young professionals while they network with a peer group of talented and motivated CPAs. The Academy features career-development workshops and sessions with some of the accounting profession’s most prominent influencers. Participants were selected from public accounting firms of all sizes, business and industry, government, and consulting firms. To date, more than 445 CPAs have participated in the AICPA Leadership Academy. Learn more at AICPA.org/Leadership.
Debra M. “Deb” Cosgrove, CPA, became the first in University of Nebraska College of Business history to be promoted to full professor of practice, effective Aug. 1, 2022. She was promoted from associate professor of practice in the School of Accountancy.
Bradley R. “Brad” Crain, CPA, of Union Bank & Trust Co. in Lincoln, serves on the Matt Talbot Kitchen & Outreach Board of Directors.
Zach J. Crom, CPA, has been promoted to manager with Labenz & Associates LLC. Crom began his career in public accounting in 2018 following graduation from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting and Master of Professional Accountancy. He joined Labenz & Associates in November 2020. Crom focuses on pass-through entities and individual tax compliance, and assists with business valuations, compilation and review of financial statements, and tax consulting. He also teaches Junior Achievement classes for Lincoln Public Schools.
Joseph T. “Joe” Donovan, CPA, of Lutz in Omaha, has received the Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP®) designation. The Omaha Community Foundation facilitates the year-long, graduate-level training necessary to achieve this designation. The curriculum comes from The American College of Financial Services in King of Prussia, Pa.
Holly L. Dorathy, CPA, has joined Lutz as a healthcare manager in the accounting division of the firm. She is responsible for providing accounting and consulting services to healthcare organizations with a focus on financial reporting and reimbursement consulting.
Pamela J. “Pam” Duzik, CPA, has been named office audit leader at Deloitte in Omaha. Duzik is an audit and assurance partner at the firm.
Steven M. “Steve” Ereckson, CPA, has been named a managing director of Deloitte in Omaha.
Russell R. “Russ” Gronewold accepted the 2022 Corporate Leadership Award at the 37th annual University of Nebraska College of Business Advisory Board Awards. Gronewold is president and CEO of Bryan Health in Lincoln. The award recognizes excellence in successful, dynamic Nebraska-based companies that demonstrate a high level of commitment to their communities, customers, and employees.
Norman R. “Norm” Hedgecock, CPA, was inducted into the University of Nebraska-Lincoln School of Accountancy Hall of Fame at the Celebration of Excellence last fall. The School of Accountancy Hall of Fame honors alumni who have had outstanding careers in the profession and positively impacted the School of Accountancy and the Nebraska community. Hedgecock began his career in public accounting with Coopers & Lybrand before joining Grant Thornton LLP, and then BKD LLP. He retired as the managing partner of BKD in 2014. Hedgecock has served on numerous boards, including the University of Nebraska Technology Park, Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools, Bryan Health System, University of Nebraska Foundation, UNL School of Accountancy Advisory Board (chairman), UNL College of Business Advisory Board, and the University of Nebraska Foundation Board of Trustees, among others.
Amy J. Holzworth, CPA, of Contryman Associates, PC, in Scottsbluff, was appointed to a four-year term on the Nebraska Board of Public Accountancy by Gov. Pete Ricketts in November 2022. Holzworth is serving as an active permit holder representing the third congressional district. Prior to her current position as tax manager with Contryman, she was with Regional West Health Services in Scottsbluff for 10 years, serving as accounting manager and then director of finance. Holzworth graduated summa cum laude from the University of Nebraska at Kearney with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. She replaced Marcy J. Luth, CPA, of AMGL, PC, in Grand Island. Luth served two four-year terms on the State Board and an additional year after serving the remaining term of the late Michael Wassinger, CPA.
Justin B. Horst, CPA, has been appointed to the board of directors for Pinnacle Bank’s Nebraska charter. Horst has served as chief financial officer of the bank since 2006.
Ian C. Johnson, CPA, has been named partner at Deloitte in Omaha.
Larissa L. Johnson, CPA, of Deloitte Consulting LLP in Omaha, has been elected to the Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska Board of Directors.
Kelly A. Mann, CPA, of AuditMiner in Gretna, was a finalist for the Excellence in Business Award (less than 100 employees) category of the 2022 Inspire Awards. The Inspire Awards honor Omaha-area women in 10 categories of achievement. Mann is the CEO and co-founder of AuditMiner, a software company dedicated to streamlining and automating employee benefit plan audits.
Cody D. McCain, CPA, has been promoted to tax manager at HBE LLP in Lincoln, effective Jan. 1, 2023. McCain graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in accounting and agribusiness with a minor in finance. He is currently enrolled in the Master of Taxation program at the Strum College of Law at the University of Denver. McCain joined HBE in 2016 as an intern and became a full-time accountant upon his college graduation. He provides specialized services in agriculture taxation to HBE clients and works with small business owners with tax preparation and accounting services. McCain is an alumni advisor for the UNL chapter of Beta Sigma Psi and a competition judge for Nebraska FBLA.
Janie M. Meyer, CPA, of Eide Bailly LLP in Elkhorn, has received the Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP®) designation. The Omaha Community Foundation facilitates the year-long, graduate-level training necessary to achieve this designation. The curriculum comes from The American College of Financial Services in King of Prussia, Pa.
Tricia J. Montague, CPA, of Deloitte in Omaha, was a finalist for the Excellence in Business Award (100-plus employees) category of the 2022 Inspire Awards. The Inspire Awards honor Omaha-area women in 10 categories of achievement. Montague is a leader in Deloitte’s U.S. ESG (environmental, social, and governance) practice. She has mentored countless female leaders in the community, spearheading initiatives for the Girl Scouts and Special Olympics. She was selected for Deloitte’s Prolific Sense of Partnership Award and was selected as Deloitte’s top recipient nationally out of more than 400 nominees.
Kyle R. Overturf, CPA, of AMGL, PC, is serving his first two-year term on the Grand Island Area Economic Development Corporation Board of Trustees.
Ryan L. Parker, of Endicott Clay Products Co. in Fairbury, was named to the Midwest Builders’ Casualty Group Board of Directors in 2022. Based in Kansas City, Mo., Midwest Builders’ Casualty is a specialized niche workers’ compensation carrier that focuses on construction, manufacturing, and other similar industries. It was founded in 1982 and is currently licensed in 31 states. Parker is a past Society chairman and is president and CEO of Endicott, a 103-year-old internationally recognized architectural brick manufacturer. In addition, Parker was elected chairman of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry during the Chamber’s annual meeting on Feb. 2, 2023.
Tricia K. Riggins, CPA, of RG & Associates, CPAs, LLC in Omaha, received the Excellence in Business Award (less than 100 employees) during the 2022 Inspire Awards. The Inspire Awards honor Omaha-area women in 10 categories of achievement. Riggins is the founding and managing member of RG & Associates.
Brandie N. Schmitt-Maschman has been promoted to senior accountant at HBE LLP in Lincoln, effective Jan. 1, 2023. Schmitt-Maschman graduated in 2021 from Doane University with double majors in accounting and business administration. She joined HBE in 2021 as an intern and became a full-time accountant upon her college graduation. Schmitt-Maschman provides specialty tax and assurance services to HBE clients.
Niki L. Stehlik, CPA, was promoted to assurance director at HBE LLP in Lincoln, effective Jan. 1, 2023. Stehlik graduated from Doane University with a Bachelor of Arts in accounting. Since 2013, she has been providing specialized employee benefit plan audits and not-for-profit audits to HBE clients, most recently as HBE’s assurance manager. She serves as treasurer on the Bluestem Health Board of Directors and as treasurer and a member of the Hallam Volunteer Fire Department.
Jill R. Trucke, CPA, was promoted to associate professor of practice in the School of Accountancy at the University of Nebraska College of Business, effective Aug. 1, 2022.
Alan J. West, CPA, has been named a managing director of Deloitte in Omaha.
Kiley A. Wiechman, CPA, of HBE LLP in Lincoln, volunteers as treasurer and serves on the executive committee for Matt Talbot Kitchen & Outreach.
