Janet L. Saar, CPA (Inactive Registrant), chief financial officer of Borsheims in Omaha, will assume expanded leadership responsibilities to further align the company’s financial strategy with marketing and ecommerce. Saar joined Borsheims in 1997, serving in key financial positions prior to becoming the CFO. In her current role, she oversees financial strategy and reporting, inventory management, compliance, and risk management. She has been instrumental in providing strategic vision and leading initiatives that support business growth. She holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of South Dakota and is a former CPA with Coopers & Lybrand. Lori L. Simonsen, CPA, professor of accounting at UNO, was named the recipient of the 2026 Beta Alpha Psi Gamma Kappa Chapter Outstanding Faculty Award. She was selected for this award for her demonstrated excellence in teaching, dedication to student success, and meaningful contributions to the accounting profession. Simonsen has over a decade of experience in public accounting, primarily in taxation. She earned her Master of Accounting from UNO and currently teaches courses in tax, financial, and managerial accounting. She teaches in both the undergraduate BSBA and the Master of Accounting programs. Jill R. Trucke, CPA, associate professor of practice in accounting at UNL, designed the Accounting Careers and Connections course offered through the School of Accountancy’s (SoA) Student Success Academy to help first-year students start college with a built-in support system that guides them through their academic journey and into their careers. These students are connected with student mentors and alumni to help them through the rigorous accounting program. Additionally, Trucke was awarded UNL’s SoA Family and Friends Recognition Award for 2026. She received a Dean’s Coin from Dean Kathy Farrell in recognition of the honor. This award recognizes faculty and staff who have made a significant difference in students’ lives. Nominations for this award are submitted by parents, family, and friends of students whose lives were meaningfully impacted by the nominee. Trucke serves on the Nebraska Society of CPAs Board of Directors. Bland & Associates, PC, of Omaha, announced two firm leadership changes. Jeremy C. Vokt, CPA, has stepped back from his role as managing partner, with Jason L. Tonjes, CPA, stepping into the role beginning May 2026. Vokt joined the firm in 2006. During those two decades, the firm grew from 17 people to 120, delivering a strong slate of services, including audit and assurance, government consulting, business valuation, and tax. He also played an instrumental role in creating state legislation allowing Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) structures for CPA firms, resulting in the firm becoming Nebraska’s first employee-owned CPA firm through an ESOP. Tonjes joined the firm in 1996 and has spent nearly three decades helping to build a culture focused on growth, innovation, and outstanding client service. His passion lies in helping businesses and teams improve profitability, streamline processes, embrace technology solutions, and increase workforce capacity, all while improving quality of life for employees and clients alike. His vision for Bland is centered on delivering solutions that help organizations become stronger, smarter, and more efficient through better data, better processes, and strategic innovation. In other news, Vokt has been appointed chief executive officer of BKR International effective July 1, 2026. He has served on the Worldwide Board and previously as chair of the Americas Region. Vokt is well known across the BKR community for his collaborative approach and commitment to helping firms grow and evolve. His long-standing involvement with BKR gives him a deep understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing member firms today. The West Nebraska Chapter of the Nebraska Society of CPAs has awarded two scholarships to area students. Dorothy Daharsh, a student at Western Nebraska Community College, was awarded the Western Nebraska Chapter of CPAs scholarship for the 2025-2026 academic year. Gabe Busch, a student at Alliance High School, was awarded a scholarship to cover his travel expenses to attend UNL’s 2026 Discover Accounting Camp. Tonjes Vokt 26 Nebraska CPA
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