As many of you know, I have been active in our national regulatory association, known as the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy, or NASBA. This includes stints as chairman of the Executive Directors Committee and the Accountancy Licensing Database (ALD) Task Force and serving on various committees over the years. I count this service as one of the highlights of my long career as your State Board executive director. As a result, I have been able to assist and provide direct input on many important regulatory functions that directly impact the CPA profession, both in Nebraska and nationally. I have also gained a long list of colleagues and associates whom I can consult before making decisions and/or recommendations to the State Board. Many of these folks are also my friends, and I have had the chance to develop strong relationships with individuals from all over the country. It has been a great experience!
I bring this up because “Big Changes” are soon coming to NASBA, including the retirement this year of CEO/President Ken Bishop. Ken and I share a common bond based on our previous careers in law enforcement before transitioning to the accounting regulatory world. Ken has positively navigated many significant issues during his 12-year tenure with NASBA, making him a well-known figure within the accounting profession. More information will be forthcoming regarding Ken’s well-deserved retirement and his excellent work over the course of his career.
In any organization, a change in leadership provides the opportunity for reflection and reassessment. Since last year, the NASBA Board of Directors has been involved in the important search for the association’s new leader. We are excited to announce that Dan Dustin, CPA, has been selected as NASBA’s next president and CEO. I have had the opportunity to work with Dan on numerous occasions over the years and know he will provide outstanding leadership in this new role.
Of course, many other changes are happening today in Nebraska, including the rollout of the new CPA Examination, the State Board’s decision regarding the Credit Relief Program for CPA candidates, a change to the Nebraska Public Accountancy Act that will allow candidates to sit for the CPA exam with 120 semester hours of qualifying college credit and a bachelor’s degree, and a few other changes to the State Board’s regulations. If you would like to discuss these changes or have other questions or concerns regarding the profession, never hesitate to reach out to me directly.
Governor Makes State Board Appointments
Governor Jim Pillen recently appointed Donald Neal Jr. of Omaha to a four-year term as a public member of the State Board. Neal is the chief financial strategist for the University of Nebraska at Omaha and the senior tax director for the University of Nebraska System and Nebraska Medicine. In addition, he is licensed as an enrolled agent for the IRS. Previously, he was employed as a senior tax manager within the Omaha office of KPMG. Neal holds a bachelor’s degree in business and accounting from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and an MBA from Bellevue University.
Neal replaces Ken Brauer of Lincoln, who served two four-year terms on the State Board.
Governor Pillen also appointed Melissa Ruff, CPA of Lincoln, to serve a second four-year term on the State Board. Ruff is currently chairman of the State Board and serves on the Executive, Legislative, and Licensing Committees. She is also a current member of NASBA’s Administration & Finance Committee. Ruff is a managing director with Deloitte & Touche LLP.
The Nebraska Board of Public Accountancy administers public accountancy law in Nebraska. Its mission is to protect the welfare of the citizens of the state of Nebraska by assuring the competency of persons licensed as Certified Public Accountants. For more information, contact State Board Executive Director Dan Sweetwood at (402) 471-3595 or dan.sweetwood@nebraska.gov.
