Pub. 2 2020 Issue 2

M A R C H / A P R I L 2 0 2 0 20 nebraska cpas Robert Aitken and his staff were selected as the Fall City Chamber of Commerce Member of the Month in March. Now in his 33rd tax season, Aitken started preparing taxes in a back room at Halbert & Dunn’s offices in 1987. He moved into his own building near the corner of 17th & Stone Street in Falls City in July 1997. Aitken now employees six individuals, three full time and three part time. Bland&Associates, PC, has announced that the firm has become the first 100% employee-owned CPA firm in Nebraska, effective January 2, 2020. The ownership structure is an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), which allowed the firm’s shareholders to transition 100% of the ownership to eligible employees. Pictured from left to right are Managing Partner Jeremy Vokt along with partners Jason Tonjes, TroyMcKinney, Justin Frauendorfer, Michael Seelhoff, and Amanda Pontow. Brian Csipkes of Seim Johnson advanced to the 2019 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship last August, winning the Sectional Qualifying at Norfolk Country Club. Csipkes posted the low round of the day by three strokes, a 66 (-6) to earn the lone qualifying spot. The U.S. Mid-Amateur, or “Mid- Am,” is the leading annual golf tournament in the United States for post-college amateur golfers, organized by the United States Golf Association (USGA). Csipkes has qualified for four USGA Mid-Am championships over the years. In addition, Csipkes was among 60 bowlers entered in the February 2020 pre-tournament qualifier. Although he was 11th after six games, the Omaha tax accountant did not make the cut. Csipkes played on the PBA Tour for one year in the 1990s. Doreen Friehauf is serving on The White Cane Foundation Board of Directors. The foundation was formed in the fall of 2018 to ensure children at Belmont Elementary School in Lincoln have items they need to succeed, such as clothing, shoes, and personal hygiene items. Patricia Keairnes was promoted to assistant vice president of accounting at Physicians Mutual. Keairnes joined the company in 2019. She earned a Bachelor of Science in accounting from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Brad Konen has been hired as regional controller at Pinnacle Bancorp Inc. in Omaha. Konen earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1992 and has spent more than two decades in the financial services industry. Emma Perry has joined O’Donnell, Ficenec, Wills & Ferdig LLP in Omaha as senior accountant. She graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a Bachelor of Science in business administration, majoring in accounting and marketing, as well as a Master of Professional Accountancy. She is an alumna of Kappa Delta sorority, served as a TeamMates mentor, is a member of Citylight Church, and has had her own fantasy football advice segment on a Lincoln radio station. Nabina Shrestha has joined O’Donnell, Ficenec, Wills & Ferdig LLP as senior accountant. Shrestha graduated from Tr uman State Universit y in Kirksville, Mo., with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and accounting and a master’s degree in professional accountancy. Skiles Loop Bremer & White CPAs is celebrating its 40th year in business with a ribbon-cutting at its new North Platte location at 222 East Fifth Street. The firm has 23 employees in six locations throughout southwest Nebraska and northwest Kansas. Pictured from left to right are partners Doug Skiles, Jessica Bremer, Ashley White, and Jason Loop. t Share your news by emailing us at society@nescpa.org. Members in the News