Pub. 3 2021 Issue 1

J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 1 22 nebraska cpas Members in the News Michael Arens has been promoted to partner at HBE LLC. He is a 2010 graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Upon completion of his master’s degree in 2011, he worked for a public account ing f i rm in Kearney before joining HBE in 2014. Arens currently leads the firm’s Agribusiness Industry Specialty Team. He also serves on the Parish Finance Committee for St. Michael’s Catholic Church and is a member of Lincoln’s Young Professionals Group. George Behr inger , a ret i red PwC par tner, recently completed his 10-year appointment as the Honorary Consul General of Japan in Nebraska. The government of Japan recognized him for his outstanding contribution to the Japan-U.S. relationship. He received the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon conferred to him by the Emperor of Japan. Behringer continues to be actively involved with the Omaha-Shizuoka, Japan Sister City relationship. Jesse Brickner has been promoted to manager at Hancock & Dana PC. Brickner graduated from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and joined the firm in 2014. Grant Buckley has joined the 15-member board of directors of the Community Action Partnership of Lancaster and Saunders counties. Community Action empowers people living in poverty to reach economic stability through 17 unique programs in the areas of early chi ldhood educat ion, homelessness prevention, financial and family well-being, and hunger relief and healthy food access. Buckley is with Buckley & Sitzman CPAs in Lincoln. Jessica Dailey has been promoted to shareholder at theKearney accounting firmKSOCPAs PC. An Atkinson native and Lexington resident, Dailey received a Master of Professional Accountancy from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and joined the firm in 2010. KSO CPAs PC has been serving south-central Nebraska for nearly 50 years. Mikaela Davis has been promoted to director at HBELLC. Davis is a 2009 graduate of Buena Vista University. She currently serves as treasurer of the Brain Injury Alliance of Nebraska. Heather Earnest has become a shareholder in Schroeder & Schreiner PC. Earnest graduated cum laude in 2013 with bachelor’s degrees in both professional accounting and economics from Hastings College. She is a member of the Professional Development Committee of the Young Professionals Organization of the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce. Ronald “Ron” Ecklund has retired from his career in public accounting after more than four decades of service to HBE LLP. As one of the firm’s original partners, representing the “E” in HBE, Ecklund was instrumental to the growth and success of the firm over the years. A 1972 graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Ecklund joined the firm in 1974 and served as partner from 1985 through 2010. Jeffrey “Jeff” Faltys has been promoted to manager at Hancock & Dana PC. Faltys is a graduate of Wayne State College. Jerry Hellman of Hellman, Main, Coslor & Kathol PC and his wife Tami were among the major donors to the Buffalo County Community Partners’ Kearney Area Thanksgiving Meal fundraiser, which raised more than $20,000 and provided 2,750 Thanksgiving meals for area hospital workers, first responders, and neighbors in need. Colby Jensen was honored with a 2020 Midlands Business Journal 40 Under 40 Award, the 19th edit ion of the prest igious awards program for Omaha’s entrepreneurs, executives, and professionals. Jensen has been with BKD for more than seven years and earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. She is on the Junior League of Omaha Board of Directors, has served as a mentor for the UNO College of Business Scholars Academy, sits on the BKD Nebraska Foundation Board, participates in Boy Scouts of America events, and volunteers for various other community organizations. Brian Klintworth has been promoted to tax director at HBELLC. Klintworth is a 2015 graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a 2019 graduate of the University of Denver. He joined HBE as an intern in 2015. He serves as chairman