Paul H. Koehler and his wife Mary Ann recently endowed Concordia University’s business department with a gift of $2.5 million, the largest endowment gift in the history of the university. In appreciation and recognition of their support, the department is being named the Paul H. and Mary Ann Koehler Department of Business. The Koehlers were honored at the Concordia Business Luncheon on March 25, where their historic gift was announced. The couple has also supported the university by establishing an education scholarship endowment, matching gifts to the Concordia Fund, and providing the Vernon Koehler Memorial Clock in Founder’s Plaza.
Koehler has been part of the Concordia Nebraska community since high school, when he was a member of Concordia High School’s last graduating class in 1972. His father, Vernon H. Koehler, served as a professor of education at Concordia. Both Paul and Mary Ann graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Business. Mary Ann worked for 12 years in the banking industry and 30 years in accounting and business at UNL before retiring in 2019. Paul has been affiliated with several accounting firms and today owns his own firm in Lincoln, specializing in government and non-profit auditing, training, and consulting. He also teaches ethics to accountants and CPA firms across the country and serves as a guest lecturer at three universities.
Read more at bit.ly/CUNE-Koehler and bit.ly/SCINews-Koehler.
Michael R. Abramson was promoted to senior manager at Labenz & Associates LLC in Lincoln. He joined the firm in 2013 following graduation from Hastings College with a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting and a minor in mathematics.
Andrew J. “Drew” Blossom of Omaha was recently appointed to the Nebraska Board of Public Accountancy by Governor Pete Ricketts to serve a four-year term as an active permit holder representing the second congressional district. Blossom is the managing partner of KPMG LLP in Omaha and Lincoln and has been practicing public accounting since 1989. He has been a member of the Nebraska Society of CPAs since relocating to Nebraska in 2004. He has also been a member of the AICPA State and Local Government Expert Panel and served as chairman of the AICPA State and Local Government Audit Guide Task Force. Blossom holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Business from the University of Kansas. He replaces Dr. Thomas “Tom” Purcell of Creighton University in Omaha; Purcell served two four-year terms on the State Board.
Sarah J. Borchers of Kearney was recently appointed to the Nebraska Board of Public Accountancy by Governor Pete Ricketts to serve a four-year term as an active permit holder representing the third congressional district. Borchers is an assistant professor of accounting at the University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK). Before entering academia, she worked as an audit manager at Contryman Associates, PC for several years, specializing in audits of governmental entities. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Master of Business Administration from UNK. In addition, she received her Doctorate of Business Administration from Creighton University in 2020. Borchers has served for several years on the State Board’s Education Advisory Committee (EAC). She replaces Glen Waltemath of McChesney Martin Sagehorn, PC in North Platte; Waltemath served two four-year terms on the State Board.
Kristin K. Carlson was promoted to partner at Labenz & Associates LLC in Lincoln. Carlson began her career in public accounting in 2007 following graduation from Nebraska Wesleyan University (NWU), where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting with a minor in communication. She joined Labenz & Associates in 2010. Carlson specializes in business and individual tax compliance and consulting services, multi-state business taxation, and compilation and review of financial statements. In addition to her membership in the Nebraska Society of CPAs, Carlson is a member of the AICPA. She also currently serves as a member of the NWU Alumni Executive Council.
Zach J. Crom was promoted to senior associate at Labenz & Associates LLC in Lincoln. He joined the firm in November 2020 and graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Master of Professional Accountancy in May 2018. Crom enjoys teaching Junior Achievement classes in the community.
Brady J. Kayl, controller at Chief Industries Inc. in Grand Island, was named to the 2022 Top 35 Under 35 by the Grand Island Area Chamber of Commerce during an awards ceremony on Feb. 24 at the Riverside Golf Club. This annual event recognizes extraordinary leadership and dedication to the community of Grand Island. Kayl is a graduate of the Nebraska Society of CPAs’ Leadership Academy.
Corey J. Labenz was promoted to manager at Labenz & Associates LLC in Lincoln. He joined the firm in 2018 and earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Nebraska Wesleyan University and a Master of Science in Accountancy from the University of Notre Dame. Labenz serves on the Junior Achievement Young Professionals Board.
Sasha D. Miller, tax accountant at Contryman Associates in Grand Island, was named to the 2022 Top 35 Under 35 by the Grand Island Area Chamber of Commerce during an awards ceremony on Feb. 24 at the Riverside Golf Club. This annual event recognizes extraordinary leadership and dedication to the community of Grand Island.
Collin M. Phelps was promoted to manager at Labenz & Associates LLC in Lincoln. He joined the firm in August 2017, after graduating from Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tenn., where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master of Accountancy. Phelps is a member of the finance team at his church.
James F. “Jim” Scow of Columbus is stepping down from the Platte County Board of Supervisors following 12 years of service on the board. Scow, age 78, who represents District 3, said he will not run for a fourth term in the upcoming election in order to make way for younger residents to run for the board.
Steven J. Snyder of Steven J. Snyder, CPA in Fairbury has been elected to serve on the Jefferson Community Health & Life Board of Directors. He also served two terms on the board in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Kent P. Speicher of Erickson & Brooks in Fremont is serving as treasurer of the Fremont Area Chamber of Commerce. In addition to his membership in the Nebraska Society of CPAs, he is a member of the AICPA and is active in various other community organizations. Speicher received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1982 and was admitted as a partner to the firm in 2001.
Andrew J. Steffensmeier has been named a shareholder at McMill CPAs & Advisors in Norfolk. He joined the firm in 2013 as a staff accountant. Steffensmeier holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Master of Public Accountancy from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. In addition to his membership in the Nebraska Society of CPAs, he is a member of the AICPA. Locally, he is involved with the Norfolk Area Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Norfolk, and the Norfolk Area Community Foundation. Steffensmeier enjoys presenting financial literacy lessons at local schools and at McMill CPAs & Advisors’ annual Lemonade Camp.
Joseph P. “Joe” Stump of AMGL CPAs & Advisors of Grand Island has joined the Home Federal Bank Board of Directors. Stump has been with AMGL since 2007 and is a shareholder in the firm. A Grand Island native, he is a graduate of Central Catholic High School. Stump also holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Dana College in Blair. In addition to his membership in the Society, Stump is a member of the AICPA and the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts. An active part of the Grand Island community, he serves on the boards of the Friendship House and the 1868 Foundation, and volunteers on the Resurrection Parish Counsel. Home Federal Bank was founded in 1935 and now serves six communities across Nebraska—Grand Island, Hastings, Holdrege, Lexington, Superior, and Lincoln.
Kiley A. Wiechman, a partner at HBE LLP in Lincoln, is serving as treasurer of the Matt Talbot Kitchen & Outreach (MTKO) Executive Committee and Board of Directors. Wiechman joined HBE in 2005 after receiving a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Accounting from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2004. In addition to being a member of the Nebraska Society of CPAs, she is a member of the AICPA and serves on the Rotary Club of South Lincoln Board of Directors.
Firms in the News
Lutz has been named a 2022 Best Tax and Accounting Firm in America by Forbes. The list identifies 223 firms across the U.S. that are most recommended for their tax and/or accounting services. This is the third year in a row Lutz has been named to America’s Best Tax and Accounting Firms list.
Omaha-based AuditMiner was recently selected as one of 10 early-stage companies to participate in the 2022 Startup Accelerator, sponsored by the AICPA and CPA.com. The company was founded by Kelly Mann (left) and Jason Bogner (right).
Omaha-based AuditMiner was recently selected as one of 10 early-stage companies to participate in the 2022 Startup Accelerator, sponsored by the AICPA and CPA.com. Founded by Kelly Mann, along with cofounder Jason Bogner, AuditMiner is software that streamlines the employee benefit audit process. The company started in early 2021 and has since partnered with Proven Ventures, expanded into more than 25 states, and most recently joined AICPA and CPA.com in this accelerator. The company’s solution leverages automation to streamline and standardize audit workpapers and templates, increasing the quality and consistency of Employee Benefit Plan (EBP) audits across a CPA firm.
The AICPA and CPA.com Startup Accelerator supports the growth of early-stage technology companies throughout the accounting and finance ecosystem. It also provides the AICPA and CPA.com more visibility into disruptive trends from emerging technologies that are transforming the accounting profession. Selected companies receive a $25,000 grant, participate in a six-month curriculum, receive guidance from expert advisors, and have an opportunity to showcase their solutions at AICPA ENGAGE, the profession’s largest conference.
Read the full press release at bit.ly/AuditMiner-Release and visit the AuditMiner site at auditminer.com.
AMGL CPAs & Advisors was recently honored by the Grand Island Area Chamber of Commerce as Grand Island’s Business of the Year, during the Chamber’s 2022 annual meeting. Robert D. “Bob” Almquist accepted the award on behalf of AMGL. The firm serves clients in 30-plus states and several countries.
Bob Almquist (right) shakes the hand of Grand Island Area Chamber of Commerce Chairman Tim Wojcik while Chamber President Cindy Johnson (middle) prepares to hand Almquist the Business of the Year award. Photo by: Josh Salmon, Grand Island Independent
