The membership of the Nebraska Society of CPAs has selected an outstanding slate of CPAs to serve in leadership positions for the 2022-2023 fiscal year. New officers and board members were elected during the Society’s Annual Meeting and Society Board of Directors Meeting, held Oct. 27, 2022. The meetings were held in conjunction with the Fall Conference at the Embassy Suites Conference Center in La Vista.
Since the Nebraska Society of CPAs began in 1928, member volunteers have generously contributed their time and talents to the Society and the profession.
“Volunteering for the Nebraska Society of CPAs has strengthened my ties to the profession and given me the opportunity to influence the direction of the Society,” said Past Chairman and Nominating Committee Chairman Ryan Burger of Gabriel, Burger & Else, CPA, PC in Seward. “Every member should consider volunteering a portion of their time, skills, and energy to help advance the accounting profession—it’s a powerful way to make a difference and it’s extremely rewarding on a personal level as well,” he said.
“Serving as your chairman this past year has been an honor,” stated Society Past Chairman Erica Parks of FORVIS LLP in Omaha. “I have made great connections with fellow CPAs through my service and, together, we’ve found ways to help move the Society and the profession forward. I encourage other members to get involved, too.”
“Nothing gets done by one person alone,” Burger agreed. “We couldn’t do what we do without the continued commitment and active participation of our members.”
“Fortunately, we have an outstanding group of highly experienced leaders who will continue to guide and move our Society in a positive direction this coming year,” added Parks. “Congratulations to our newly elected officers and board members for the coming year.”
CHAIRMAN: Lorraine A. Egger, CyncHealth, La Vista
CHAIRMAN-ELECT: Kelly J. Martinson, Lutz, Omaha
SECRETARY: Jodi M. Eckhout, Woods & Durham Chartered, Holdrege
TREASURER: David E. Swan, SP Group, PC, Lincoln
DIRECTOR: Grant H. Buckley, Buckley & Sitzman LLP, Lincoln
DIRECTOR: Brian M. Klintworth, HBE LLP, Lincoln
CHAIRMAN
Lorraine A. “Lori” Egger of Gretna joined CyncHealth in La Vista in 2019 as the chief administrative officer and became the chief financial officer (CFO) in 2020. In 2021, she added CFO of CyncHealth Iowa to her role. Prior to that, she was a tax managing director for KPMG LLP in Omaha, belonged to KPMG’s National Development and Exempt Organizations (DEO) Group, and created KPMG’s Midwest DEO practice. A graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Egger has more than 25 years of public accounting and tax experience, specializing in tax consulting and compliance for tax-exempt organizations. She is a frequent speaker on exempt organization tax matters at industry forums and conferences. A Society member since 2001, Egger has served on the Society Board of Directors since 2019 and currently serves on the Society’s Women in Accounting Committee and the Not-For-Profit Committee, where she led the latter as vice chairman and chairman for five years. She previously served on the Society Board from 2008-2011 and on the Foundation of the Nebraska Society of CPAs Board of Trustees from 2013-2019. Egger is the mother of three children: Emma, Gavin, and Ava.
CHAIRMAN-ELECT
Kelly J. Martinson of Bennington is a tax shareholder at Lutz in Omaha, with more than 27 years of experience in taxation. She began her public accounting career with Sweet & Associates in 1995. A member of the Nebraska Society of CPAs since 1996, she served on the Society Board from
2016-2020 and as secretary from 2018-2020. She currently serves on the Society’s Women in Accounting Committee. Martinson received a Bachelor of Science in accounting, with highest distinction, from Dana College in Blair. She is an AICPA member and a past president of the Omaha Chapter of the Accounting & Financial Women’s Alliance (AFWA). She is also treasurer of the Pension Council of the Midlands and a member of the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries. Martinson is active in the LPGA Amateur Golf Association and is a past president of the Omaha chapter. In addition, she has served in various leadership roles in the Lutheran Church of the Master, including past service on the Foundation of the Master Board of Directors.
SECRETARY
Jodi M. Eckhout of Miller is a CPA at Woods & Durham in Holdrege and will be entering the Shareholder in Training program in January 2023. A native of Lewiston, Eckhout earned a Bachelor of Science in accounting from Nebraska Wesleyan University, graduating with distinction, and a Master of Accounting from Montana State University in Bozeman, MT. She started her accounting career with Galusha, Higgins & Galusha, PC, and continued working for Wipfli LLP after the firms merged, spending more than seven years working in Helena, MT. In 2015, she returned to Nebraska, where she worked for McDermott & Miller, PC, and KSO CPAs & Advisors in Kearney, before beginning her career with Woods & Durham Chartered. At Woods & Durham, she works in small business and individual taxation with a specialty in agricultural businesses. Eckhout graduated from the AICPA Leadership Academy in
October 2020, served as treasurer for the Helena (MT.) Area Habitat of Humanity for six years, and served on the Kearney Area Children’s Museum Board and Finance Committee from 2016 to 2019. Currently, she is president of the Council of Catholic Women at St. John Capistran in Amherst and co-chairman of the Amherst PTO. Eckhout has been a member of the Nebraska Society for seven years and has served on the Taxation Committee for five years, presently as committee vice chairman. She and her husband Evan have a daughter, Ember, and two sons, Barrett and Lane.
TREASURER
David E. “Dave” Swan of Lincoln is a founder of SP Group, PC. He has extensive experience with corporate, partnership, and individual taxation and overall wealth planning. Swan grew up in Grant before attending the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he was a member of both Farmhouse Fraternity and the Innocents Society. He graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting from UNL in 1994. Swan joined Grant Thornton LLP in 1993, working there for six and a half years before starting SP Group, PC in Lincoln. A member of the Nebraska Society since 1997, Swan has served on the Society Board as treasurer since 2018 and on the Society’s Taxation Committee from 2000-2019. He is married to Tracey and hopes to be a role model for his two daughters, Kate and Lauren. He still loves to play “old man” basketball.
October 2020, served as treasurer for the Helena (MT.) Area Habitat of Humanity for six years, and served on the Kearney Area Children’s Museum Board and Finance Committee from 2016 to 2019. Currently, she is president of the Council of Catholic Women at St. John Capistran in Amherst and co-chairman of the Amherst PTO. Eckhout has been a member of the Nebraska Society for seven years and has served on the Taxation Committee for five years, presently as committee vice chairman. She and her husband Evan have a daughter, Ember, and two sons, Barrett and Lane.
DIRECTOR
Grant H. Buckley is a partner and fourth-generation accounting professional with Buckley & Sitzman LLP in Lincoln. He joined the firm in 2013 after spending three years with Deloitte & Touche LLP. Buckley graduated with highest distinction from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree in accounting, with minors in finance and sociology. He also received a Master of Professional Accountancy, with highest distinction, from UNL. Buckley has been a member of the Nebraska Society of CPAs for nine years and is also a member of the AICPA and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. He is a board member and treasurer for the Community Action Partnership of Lancaster and Saunders Counties and also has served on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln School of Accountancy Junior Advisory Board. His wife, Kelsey, is a dentist and together they share two daughters, Libby and Claire. Outside the office, Buckley enjoys golf and traveling.
DIRECTOR
Brian M. Klintworth is a partner at HBE LLP in Lincoln. He graduated with highest distinction from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting and finance. In 2015, he joined HBE as a tax intern and shortly after began his full-time career as an accountant. He has been instrumental in growing the firm’s tax preparation and consulting services. While at HBE, Klintworth earned a Master of Taxation in 2019 from the University of Denver, Sturm College of Law. Since 2021, he has taught income tax as an adjunct instructor at Concordia University Nebraska in Seward. In the community, Klintworth is a mentor and presenter at Academy Sessions for TeamMates Mentoring. A member of the Nebraska Society of CPAs for five years, he serves as chairman of the Society’s CPE Committee and as a member of the Accounting Careers Committee, Lincoln MAP Roundtable, and Taxation Committee. Klintworth graduated from the AICPA Leadership Academy in 2019 and played an active role in the Nebraska Leadership Seminar in Omaha from 2015-2020.
THANK YOU!
We also extend our sincere gratitude to Ryan L. Burger of Gabriel, Burger & Else, CPA, PC in Seward, Neal D. Lyons of UNICO Group Inc. in Lincoln, and Patrick A. “Pat” Meyer of HBE LLP in Lincoln, whose terms on the Society Board of Directors have come to an end. Burger is a past Society chairman and has served on the Nebraska Society Board of Directors for five years. Lyons has been the Society’s secretary for the past year and has served on the Society Board for three years. Meyer is a past chairman of the Society and a past AICPA Elected Council Representative; he has served on the Society Board for seven years. All of these individuals will continue their volunteer service on the Foundation of the Nebraska Society of CPAs Board of Trustees.
Without a doubt, leadership and involvement are the greatest contributions you can make to your Society and your profession. Thank you to each and every one of these individuals for their ongoing commitment to the Society and the CPA profession.
Joni Sundquist is president and executive director of the Nebraska Society of CPAs. You may contact her at (402) 476-8482 or joni@nescpa.org.
