Iowa CPA - June 2024

Meet ISCPA’s 2024-25 leadership

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Erik Bonstrom, chair Partner | UHY LLP, West Des Moines

Rick Tiwald, vice chair Des Moines Marketplace Leader | Deloitte, Des Moines

Jackie Dammeier, treasurer Assurance Partner | RSM US LLP, Des Moines

Laura Meier, secretary Sr. Vice President, Controller | Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines

Alison VanOtterloo, past chair

Senior Vice President | Pharmacists Mutual Insurance Group, Algona

Nate T. Beck Shareholder | MHCS PC, West Des Moines

Courtney De Ronde CEO | Forge Financial and Management Consulting Inc, West Des Moines

Matthew Kelderman Shareholder | Kroese & Kroese PC, Sioux Center

Jenny McGarry Senior Manager | Eide Bailly LLP, De Witt

Hank Norem Chief Innovation Officer | Sukup Manufacturing Co, Sheffield

Twyla Rosenbaum Associate Professor | Morningside University, Sioux City

Sandi Smith Senior Director-Accounting & Finance | Principal, Des Moines

Tim Stiles Finance Director | City of West Des Moines, West Des Moines

Todd Thorson Partner | FORVIS LLP, West Des Moines

2024-25 Executive Committee

Members of the Iowa Society of CPAs elected the organization’s Executive Committee and board of directors for May 1, 2024-April 30, 2025, at the ISCPA’s Leadership Conference and Annual Meeting on May 2 at the The Meadows Events & Conference Center, Altoona.

View photos from the event on Page 8. Additional photos available on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/IowaCPAs

Photo from L to R : Laura Meier, Erik Bonstrom, Alison VanOtterloo, Rick Tiwald, and Jackie Dammeier

Congratulates

Sarah Anderson

for being honored with the

Rising Star Award

Accounting students recognized for excellence

Congratulations to the following ISCPA student members who were named an ISCPA Outstanding Accounting Student for the 2023-24 academic year. The awards are an initiative of the Society’s Career Awareness Committee and are presented annually to students at Iowa’s colleges and universities who are nominated by their school.

TAYLOR DEMEY

Buena Vista University

NICHOLAS HABERL

Central College

ELLA WEBER

Coe College

ANNA HERMAN

Dordt University

ZACHARY NEESE

Grand View University

HAYDEN MAYER

Iowa Central Community College

MORGAN CLAEYS

Kirkwood Community College

EMMA FOGARTY

Loras College

ANNA HUNKE

Luther College

BRENICK BIRKS-HOPPE

ISSUE NO. 2024-6

Published 10 times per year by the Iowa Society of Certified Public Accountants (ISCPA). Send address changes, advertising inquiries and all correspondence to: 1415 28th St., Ste. 450 West Des Moines, IA 50266

Email: iacpa@iacpa.org

Website: www.iacpa.org or contact the ISCPA office: 515-223-8161

800-659-6375

ALISON TAYLOR

Mount Mercy University

CODY THOLE

St. Ambrose University

MARC MEDICI

Simpson College

CODY ANDERSON

Southwestern Community College

KYLER BEIDLER

University of Dubuque

KIRA PRICE

University of Iowa

CARSON RYGH

Wartburg College

KIRA ANDERSON

Western Iowa Tech Community College

Morningside University

New ISCPA member resource groups are ready to launch

Working Parents Resource Group

Tuesday, June 25 | 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. | Live virtual meeting

We invite you to join our Working Parents Resource Group, a supportive community tailored to meet the unique challenges faced by working parents in the accounting profession. Sign up at www.iacpa.org/wp

Mid-Career Professionals Resource Group

Tuesday, July 23 | 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

In-person meeting limited to 25

This group will focus on navigating the unique challenges that come with this stage of your career, whether it's managing both upward and downward, plotting your next career move, or balancing the complexities of work, family, and community

EMeet Your New ISCPA Chair Erik Bonstrom

rik Bonstrom began his role as ISCPA board chair on May 2. He is a CPA and partner with UHY LLP in West Des Moines.

What inspired you to become a CPA?

My dad worked in finance and always spoke highly about CPAs, but my initial inspiration came from my grandfather. He did outsourced accounting work for local businesses. I remember as a kid that he could add six-digit numbers in his head without a calculator. Then when I graduated from high school, I worked in accounting for a nonprofit in Chicago and was impressed with our auditor from KPMG. My grandfather and my dad were very proud of me when I passed the CPA Exam at the age of 21.

How has your career progressed?

I graduated from Thomas Edison State University in 2002 and started working at Brooks Lodden doing both audit and tax. In late 2003, I decided I wanted to focus on audit and moved to LWBJ, which eventually became UHY. As I was starting out, I knew I’d picked the right path professionally because I felt completely engaged. No day was ever the same, every client was different, and I was always learning. As I continued in my career, I came across plenty of tough challenges, but they’ve also ended up being some of the most rewarding experiences. I learned that working out ways to solve problems for our clients and for the firm is definitely one of my strong suits. I really enjoy doing research and consulting with team members to brainstorm strategies. I’m proud to work with such a great group - we have incredibly bright people on our team. I’m still learning every day. In 2016, I became a partner and after working at the firm for over two decades, I’m happy to say that I’m just as engaged as ever.

How did you first get involved with ISCPA?

My first encounter with the ISCPA was at a staff training in 2002. We got a really deep dive into the nuts and bolts of accounting, and I learned about both audit and tax work. It was a great experience that I still remember clearly over 20 years later. As

my career progressed at UHY, I began volunteering on a number of ISCPA committees and have been on the ISCPA board for seven years.

What are your priorities as ISCPA chair?

From my perspective, the biggest issue facing CPAs right now is the need for a pipeline of future CPAs. It’s a massive challenge that must be addressed and there are lots of things we can do. I appreciate all the work the Pathways to CPA Licensure Task Force did over the last year to hear from our members regarding alternative pathways to becoming a CPA. Going forward, we need to increase awareness about the accounting profession, promote the benefits of a career in accounting, and reframe the way accounting is perceived so students will view it more positively. We also need to provide more educational opportunities, create tools to help firms grow, and invest in diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives to attract a broader range of talent. By doing this work, we’ll increase our numbers and help the next generation set themselves apart from the competition. What we do as CPAs is important and can be incredibly rewarding both financially and in terms of career progression. I feel that needs to be showcased.

Why should members get involved with the Society?

There are lots of reasons people should get involved with the ISCPA, but the most important to me is the strength of the community. It's always been a comfort to know that I have a great professional network of peers that I can collaborate with or reach out to if I need support. I'm also proud of the legislative work the Society does for its members because the laws that get passed can have a huge impact on our ability to serve clients well. The ISCPA is constantly safeguarding our profession, looking out for our clients, and educating members about the issues that are coming up. Another plus is the education the organization provides. Through ISCPA events and online courses, members have the

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opportunity to enhance their expertise and keep up with new trends, changes in standards, regulations, and technology.

Who has made an impact on your career success?

I’ve been lucky to have some fantastic role models at UHY, but I’d like to give a shoutout to two in particular. The first is Paul Juffer. He's our office’s managing partner at UHY and is more than just a leader — he's been a major catalyst for my professional growth. Paul has a gift for empowering people to reach their full potential and really encouraged me to be involved in leadership with the ISCPA and other organizations.

I was also greatly influenced by Maureen Dockstader, who I have worked with in our audit department for the last 20 years. Maureen's exceptional leadership, client skills, and ability to motivate staff members made a lasting impact on me. In addition, Maureen provides great advice on client relations and other professional matters.

I'm incredibly grateful for the guidance Paul and Maureen have given me and am committed to paying it forward by empowering others to unlock their potential, just as they've done for me.

Tell us about your early years. Where you grew up, your family, and any childhood hobbies and interests.

My family moved to Adel from North Dakota when I was nine. We lived in the country along the Raccoon River, which was a wonderful place to grow up. I have great memories of being outside hunting and fishing with my dad or brother. My dad worked for John Deere Financial and as a kid I'd visit his office, which is where ISCPA is located now. Whenever I go to the ISCPA building these days, I think of my dad.

ISCPA Chair Erik Bonstrom

Family: I've been married to my amazing wife Holly for over 21 years and we have three great kids: Lucas (20), Hillary (18), and Ethan (17). We also have two dogs named Lilly and Nora who are a lot of fun.

Interests: In my free time, I like to spend time with our family and am very involved with our church. Also, I was previously a board member of Easterseals Iowa for about six years. For hobbies, I'm a very avid cyclist —I biked over five thousand miles last year and participated in a few races. In addition, I'm a big fan of the great outdoors, and in April I went on a trip with my boys where we visited three national parks: Zion, Bryce Canyon, and the Grand Canyon.

What one word describes you? Driven – I'm a pretty motivated person and have always enjoyed pushing myself in most areas of my life. Even when I'm home, I find it hard to sit still – I need to be doing something. At UHY, I'm driven to provide our clients with something they value, which is really rewarding. I also feel it's important to support our team and lead by example, so I tend to be in the trenches to help get things done.

COMMITTEE BOARD LIAISON:

• Governmental Auditing & Accounting 2023-24

• Nonprofit Organizations 2021-23

• Financial Institutions 2020-21

• Financial Literacy 2018-20

ISCPA BOARD OF DIRECTORS:

• Vice chair 2023-24

• Director 2018-23

Congratulates

Iowa CPAs honored with leadership awards

Congratulations to the ISCPA members who were honored with awards at the 2024 Leadership Conference and Annual Meeting held at The Meadows Events & Conference Center in Altoona on May 2.

Nicholas D. Nauman

for being honored with the Distinguished Service Award

The Distinguished Service Award was presented to Nick Nauman of Bellevue.

The Outstanding CPA in Business and Industry Award was presented to Emily Heeren, commercial finance North America lead with Corteva Agriscience, Johnston.

The Public Service Award was presented to Rod Foster of Clive. The ISCPA Outstanding Committee Chair Award was presented to Grant Rolfes, assurance manager – financial institutions with CliftonLarsonAllen LLP in West Des Moines.

Congratulates

for being honored with the Capstone Award Kaylee Ray Payne

Rising Star Awards were presented to Sarah Anderson with Williams & Company PC in Spencer, Valerie Culp with Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny and Hunter Moore with Principal in Des Moines.

We have many outstanding members in Iowa and love celebrating them. Watch for ways you can nominate others for 2025 awards.

New CPAs recognized

These successful CPA candidates were presented with the Capstone Award recognizing the top scorers among Iowa candidates who completed the final part of the CPA exam in 2023. Award recipients are Alex Cappel with RSM US LLP, Dallas, Texas, Bryce Hasselmann with Deloitte, Des Moines, Derek Koppes with KPMG LLP, Denver, Colo., and Kaylee Ray Payne with Deloitte, Davenport.

Pictured: Top - Nick Nauman, Emily Heeren, Rod Foster, and Grant Rolfes.

Bottom - Sarah Anderson, Valerie Culp, and Hunter Moore.

Pictured: Derek Koppes, Alex Cappel, Bryce Hasselmann, and Kaylee Ray Payne

Soft skills shine in the age of AI-powered accounting

By John McGowan

For decades, meticulous spreadsheets and unwavering accuracy dominated accounting and tax professionals’ days. While technical expertise remains the bedrock of their successes, a new wave of soft skills is reshaping the industry. In today’s artificial intelligence (AI)-driven world, the most successful accountants aren’t just number crunchers but masters of soft skills—the human-centric abilities that are critical in any industry, especially accounting.

A recent McKinsey report underscores this shift in what’s expected of today’s workforce, highlighting the growing demand for problem-solving, critical-thinking, and communication prowess in the growing digital landscape. According to the report, about 37% of interviewees (HR professionals) reported a lack of candidates who meet the standard for these soft skills. Another 31% noticed a lack of solid communication skills. However, studies by the Stanford Research Center, Harvard University, and Carnegie Foundation discovered that a staggering 85% of an employee’s success hinges on these soft skills.

The soft side of numbers

Surprisingly, the accounting profession is at the forefront of this soft-skills revolution. Here's a look at why these skills are so powerful for accounting professionals.

• COMMUNICATION: Translating complex financial information into clear, concise terms for clients with diverse backgrounds is crucial. Strong written and verbal communication skills build trust and ensure everyone is on the same page regardless of technical abilities.

• COLLABORATION: Teamwork is paramount in modern accounting. Working seamlessly with colleagues, clients, and stakeholders necessitates active listening, empathy, and conflict-resolution skills

• CRITICAL THINKING: Beyond interpreting spreadsheets, accountants must analyze data, identify trends, and anticipate potential problems. Sharp analytical and problem-solving skills are fundamental to uncovering insights and offering valuable financial advice.

• ADAPTABILITY: The accounting landscape is evolving rapidly with new technologies and regulations emerging constantly. Being adaptable and open to learning new things allows accountants to embrace change and thrive in this dynamic environment.

So, this begs the question: How can accountants develop and use these skills in real-world applications? Here’s where AI-powered technologies, particularly comprehensive tax preparation solutions, come into play to help. By liberating CPAs from mundane tasks, AI enables them to evolve into trusted advisors, steering clients toward inventive solutions and strategic, long-range strategies. This is the transformative power of AI in action.

Take, for example, the ability to communicate complicated financial information concisely and engagingly. With AI handling the heavy lifting of data analysis and repetitive tasks, CPAs can focus on crafting compelling narratives that resonate with clients and stakeholders. This is where critical-thinking and storytelling skills come into play, allowing CPAs to translate dense numbers into actionable insights that inform strategic decisions.

Continued on page 8

Kim Meier

Empowered by AI, not replaced

AI isn’t here to replace CPAs and other accounting professionals but to augment and advance their capabilities. Integrating AI into tax and accounting practices holds immense potential to transform the industry, bringing about streamlined processes, heightened accuracy, and the ability to make proactive decisions. The benefits of adopting this technology have become increasingly evident with advantages that include:

• INVISIBLE ACCOUNTING: automating routine tasks for accountants to focus on strategic decisionmaking.

• DATA-DRIVEN INSIGHTS: analyzing vast data sets and revealing patterns and trends that can inform more effective client consultations and presentations.

• ACTIVE INSIGHT: OFFERING real-time financial visibility for informed and proactive decision-making.

AI frees CPAs to develop their problem-solving skills and focus on building solid relationships with their clients. No longer bogged down by routine tasks, they can tackle intricate challenges with renewed focus and energy.

As the world becomes more technologically driven, the value of soft skills will only continue to rise. For tax and accounting professionals, whose roles revolve around data management, adopting AI and automationbased accounting solutions streamlines repetitive tasks and amplifies efficiency, precision, and analytical capacities. Consequently, this enables them to concentrate on honing their soft skills, positioning the industry to thrive in an era where human ingenuity collaborates well with cutting-edge technology.

John McGowan is the founder and CEO of HubSync, a SaaS company with a next-generation tax and accounting automation platform. Previously, McGowan had more than 25 years of experience driving technology innovation and investment at Deloitte and KPMG.

Reprinted courtesy of Insight, the magazine of the Illinois CPA Society.

989-1188

Foundation scholarships

Established in 2014, the Iowa CPA Education Foundation awarded seven $2,500 scholarship awards at the 2024 Leadership Conference and Annual Meeting. Generous support from the CPA community has allowed the scholarship numbers to grow since 2015.

This year’s recipients include:

Chloe Davidson, Iowa State University

Tevin Harms, Morningside University

Kailey Koopmann, University of Northern Iowa

Daniel Molony, St. Ambrose University

Zachary Neese, Grand View University

Kennedy Scott, University of Iowa

Emma Winterboer, Simpson College

CPAs awarded for serving communities

Two awards recognize Iowa CPAs for their volunteer work in conjunction with the annual Iowa CPAs Month of Service. This profession-wide community service event started in 2015 and this September will mark the tenth year for the event.

The Community Impact Award honors an individual for outstanding dedication to community through commitment of time and resources or positively impacting a specific group in need. The award was presented to Kimberley Meier, an accountant with Bowser & Richman LLP in Fort Dodge.

The Community Spirit Award recognizes a team for spirit and dedication to community through commitment of time and resources or positively impacting a specific group in need. The award was presented to Anderson Larkin & Co PC of Ottumwa.

Pictured: Tevin Harms, Kailey Koopmann, Kennedy Scott, Chloe Davidson, and Daniel Molony.

Not pictured: Zachary Neese, and Emma Winterboer.

Adam Sturm and Alex Barr of Anderson Larkin & Co PC, Ottumwa.

Kim Meier of Bowser & Richman LLP, Fort Dodge.

CPE Spotlight

Summer CPE for Business & Industry

June 14 | CFO/Controller's Roadmap to Success: Integrated Planning, Forecasting and Budgeting

8 hours CPE | Live virtual seminar

June 25 | K2’s Better Productivity Through Artificial Intelligence and Automation

4 hours CPE | Live virtual seminar

July 17 | K2’s Small Business Internal Controls, Security, and Fraud Prevention and Detection

8 hours CPE | Live virtual seminar

July 23 | Employment Law Update

1 hour CPE | Live virtual seminar | FREE for ISCPA members

NEW! Multistate Tax Seminar

Aug. 15 | Critical Issues That CPAs in Industry Will Need to Face This Year

4 hours CPE | Live virtual seminar

Aug. 15 | Accounting for Changes in Accounting Principles and Error Corrections

2 hours CPE | Live virtual seminar

Aug. 20 | Construction Industry GAAP Review and Contract WIP Reporting & Analytics

4 hours CPE | Live virtual seminar

Aug. 21 | Create Reports that Matter

8 hours CPE | Live virtual seminar

ISCPA has joined forces with four Midwest state CPA societies for a unique seminar focused on regional tax insights. Led by a panel of multistate tax experts from Minnesota, North Dakota, Illinois, Iowa, and Nebraska, this virtual seminar explores the nuanced aspects of each state's tax framework. If you do business or serve clients across state borders, this seminar presents an exceptional chance to remain informed about pertinent state and local tax matters and developments.

INTERSTATE INSIGHTS: REGIONAL PERSPECTIVES ON MULTISTATE TAX TRENDS

June 26 | 8:30 a.m.-noon CDT | 4 hours CPE | Live virtual seminar

Need to fulfill your ethics CPE requirement?

June 17 | Surgent's Ethics for Tax Professionals

2 hours CPE | Virtual seminar

June 18 | MBAexpress: Good Governance - V 2.0

1 hour CPE | Virtual seminar

June 20 | Ethical Considerations for CPAs

4 hours CPE | Live virtual seminar

June 27 | K2’s Ethics and Technology

4 hours CPE | Live virtual seminar

Popular biannual Agriculture Conference returns in August

Get fresh, local insights you need to help your agricultural clients thrive at the 2024 Agriculture Tax & Accounting Conference. Dig into the latest farm tax updates (including the 2024 Farm Bill), economic developments, accounting news and planning opportunities affecting farmers. Learn from industry experts and come away with practical information to advise your ag clients.

The 2022 conference attracted nearly 400 attendees from five states. This year's conference is expected to be even larger, reaching CPAs from 11 states across the U.S. Don't miss out on this exciting event!

Aug. 14 | 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. CDT | 9 hours CPE (with bonus session) | Live virtual conference

CLASSIFIEDS

SENIOR CORPORATE TAX ACCOUNTANT - Kutak Rock LLP, is seeking a Senior Tax Accountant to join Finance and Accounting team in Omaha, NE. If you have both corporate accounting and corporate tax experience and enjoy working in an inclusive and engaging environment, this is your opportunity! The ideal candidate will have a comprehensive understanding of complex accounting, tax compliance with strong organizational and communication skills. To see the full job description, benefits and apply: https://KutakRock-Careers.viglobalcloud.com/viRecruitSelfApply/RecDefault.aspx ?FilterREID=2&FilterJobCategoryID=2&FilterJo bID=126. Email recruiting@kutakrock.com

IOWA PRACTICES FOR SALE: Gross revenues shown.

1. NEW-North Central Iowa CPA Practice

LEAP forward

- $1,050,000

2. NEW-NW Iowa-Lakes Area CPA Practice - $608,000

3. NEW-Fort Dodge/Carroll IA Area EA - $400,000

4. Sioux City, Iowa Tax Practice - $220,000

5. Quad Cities Area CPA Practice - $760,000

6. Eldora, IA CPA Practice - $354,000

7. Northeast Iowa CPA Practice - $326,000

8. NE Iowa (Fayette County) Tax & Accounting Practice - $390,000

9. Franklin Co, IA Bookkeeping Practice-$295,000

10. Southeastern Iowa CPA Practice - $860,000

11. North Central Iowa Tax EA Practice - $298,880

12. Winterset, Iowa CPA Practice - $704,000

13. Northwest Iowa/Plymouth County EA - $490,000

More Listings COMING SOON! For more information call Trent Holmes 1 (800) 397-0249 or visit www.APS.net

…Need-to-know news and events for leaders emerging in the accounting profession

Visit www.iacpa.org/young-professionals for detailed information about these events.

Emerging Leaders Conference

Block your calendar now! The ISCPA Emerging Leaders Conference is our premier event for young professionals wanting to explore key skills and strategies needed to succeed in a constantly evolving work environment. Gain knowledge and discover tangible tactics on what it takes to lead in your personal and professional roles.

Speaker spotlight: For 22 years, Alan Feirer has done business as Group Dynamic, helping people embrace challenging work with less stress while getting more done. He will be speaking on leading by influence.

Aug. 7 | West48 Conference Center, West Des Moines

EVENT SPONSORS

Summer Intern Social July 25

Help us spread the word! We have a new, exciting summer social hosted by the Iowa Society of CPAs, especially for accounting, finance and business interns!

Get ready to connect with fellow interns from various firms and companies across the state while enjoying an afternoon filled with networking opportunities, fun activities, and valuable insights into the world of accounting. Whether you're looking to expand your professional network, exchange experiences, or simply unwind and have a good time, add July 25 to your calendar. Don't miss out on this chance to mingle with peers and industry professionals alike. Mark your calendars and join us for an unforgettable summer gathering at Ricochet in Des Moines from 4-6 p.m.

Sign up at www.iacpa.org/sis

Welcome!

The following individuals have recently joined the Society. Please take time to welcome them and invite them to participate in events and programs with you. Find these members in ISCPA’s Member Directory at www.iacpa.org/my-cpa .

Kayla Aronow

CliftonLarsonAllen LLP

West Des Moines

Haley Arkfeld

Deloitte

Des Moines

Kayli Bente

Deloitte

Minneapolis, Minn.

Lexy Bledsoe

Deloitte

Davenport

Ryan Burbach

Friday Financial Inc

Dubuque

David Campbell

Murken Thompson

Swisher

Becky Davis

KPMG LLP

Seattle

Carson Ehrenberg

Deloitte

Des Moines

Sarah Hannan

Locher & Davis PLC

Dyersville

Derek Hertges

Principal West Des Moines

Drew Jensen

Greg Penning & Co LLC

Bancroft

Kourtney McKinnon

Farm Bureau Financial Services

West Des Moines

Ryan McMahon

Deloitte

Davenport

Matt Papcunik

Gogerty & Associates PLC

Mason City

David Van Lingen

Farmers Mutual Insurance of Hull

Hull

Claire Van Treeck

Holmes Murphy & Associates

Waukee

Bailey Wallace Flagg & Company LLP

West Des Moines

AFFILIATES

Marissa Denkman

Reiser Jennings & Co PC

Davenport

Keri Dodd

The Brems Group LLP

Cedar Rapids

Andrew Dulaney Gardiner + Company PC

Urbandale

Emma Fritcher LattaHarris LLP

Cedar Rapids

Madisyn Hall

King Reinsch Prosser & Co LLP

Sioux City

Danielle Hambleton Menke & Company

West Point

Melinda Hartman

Nolte Cornman & Johnson PC

Newton

Nicholas Helle

Reiser Jennings & Co PC

Davenport

Seth Hoover

TDT CPAs and Advisors PC

Fairfield

Abbey Jamison

Williams & Company PC

Onawa

Amber Kuntz Menke & Company

West Point

Olivia Long Menke & Company

West Point

Allison Massner Menke & Company

Burlington

Zachary Packard

Gardiner + Company PC

Urbandale

John Shannon

Fort & Schlegel CPA PC

Fort Dodge

Cassie Smith

LattaHarris LLP

Grundy Center

Trevor Stevenson

Burkhardt & Dawson

CPAs Inc

Cherokee

Ethan Streicher

LattaHarris LLP

Grundy Center

Brendan Tiedeman

Williams & Company PC

Le Mars

Samantha Walleser

Hacker Nelson & Co PC

Waukon

Samantha Wenthold

Hacker Nelson & Co PC

Decorah

Members in the news

Paige Bruns, Hacker

Nelson & Co PC, Decorah, has been promoted to staff accountant.

Kyle Dlouhy has been hired by Central Bank, Waukee, as VP, internal audit officer.

Lindsey Emmert, Ernst & Young LLP, Des Moines, has been

promoted to executive director.

Jennifer Hennessy, Hacker Nelson & Co PC, Decorah, has been promoted to manager.

Zach Hicks has been hired by Global Atlantic Financial Group, Des Moines, as SOX controls manager.

New Student Affiliates

Des Moines Area Community College

Ashley Atkins

Travis Bales

Zachary Bales

Emma Bauer

Jessica Bundy

Britney Bruch

Iryna Cherniak

Michelle Cruz

Taylor Drake

Jaden Dunn

Gabriella Escoto

Rylee Faith

Alicia Garland

Jeremy George

Jacob Gilman

Jonathan Griffin

Cale Jones

Cody Keointavong

Charlotte King

Nathan Kruger

Dee Miller

Lenae Mitchell

Sue Noling

Lindsey Nevins

Madeline Osborn

Lexie Prado

Emma Pullen

Hannah Rea

Zahra Rezaei

Casey Selix

Melanie Hovden, Hacker Nelson & Co, Decorah, has been promoted to staff CPA.

Bryan Panos, Hacker Nelson & Co, Decorah, has been promoted to manager.

Monica Steckel, Ernst & Young LLP, Des Moines, has been promoted to executive director.

Alice Wemark, Hacker Nelson & Co, Decorah, has been promoted to manager.

Jared Wittrock, Latta Harris, LLP, Iowa City, has been promoted to deputy tax leader.

Chelsey Schultz

Ryan Simmons

Kendra Slings

Destiny Smith

Eri Stamps

Kaiden Summerson

Angel Tellez

Andrew Tice

Macalah Tucker

Chandler Watson

Cynthia Williams

Drake University

Megan Traxel

Dordt University

Kryn Vander Berg

Ellsworth Community College

Michael Haege

Marshalltown Community College

Matheus Silva

Northwest Missouri State University

Raymond McPhillips

University of Northern Iowa

Luke Jensen

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MAX MILLER

JOB: CPA specializing in tax with McGowen & Associates PLLC, Clive

HOMETOWN: Independence and now residing in West Des Moines

ALMA MATER: Central College

COMMUNITY & SOCIETY ACTIVITIES: ISCPA LEAP Committee, Taxation Committee, Everybody Wins Iowa board member

Some of the biggest changes you’ve seen in the profession: Technology is advancing faster than a lot of clients can adapt to. I think CPAs are in an important role to help their clients get up to speed and stay current.

My favorite thing about my job: Our firm works with a lot of family-owned businesses, and I enjoy seeing our clients’ hard work pay off. Sometimes we get to help them transition their business to the next generation or possibly sell and it is rewarding to assist them through that process.

I am passionate about: Youth literacy. I have been involved both as a volunteer mentor and board member with Everybody Wins Iowa for the past 10 or so years. The program pairs local mentors with students in Central Iowa who need extra help when it comes to reading. You meet with your student once per week during the school year. I have been fortunate to have worked with a couple of students for several years and it is amazing to see their progress. You may not know it, but there are students of all ages in every school that could benefit from extra time and attention from mentors.

Message for high school and college students considering a career as a CPA: Probably redundant, but being a CPA opens up a lot of opportunities. You don’t have to know what you want to do for the rest of your life, but

First job as a teen: Golf course maintenance

What I wanted to be when I grew up: Garbage man

TV show I’m currently obsessed with: Survivor

Favorite food: Pizza

getting your CPA will give you more options down the road. I would also say to take opportunities as they come to you. Be open to saying “yes.”

Some of my philosophies and principles toward work and life: There is no substitute for hard work. I also try to focus on the big picture and build long-term relationships with clients and colleagues rather than worry about shortterm issues and chasing dollars.

How has your background and experience shaped who you are today? I spent a few years working as a trust officer at a bank. During that time, I learned a lot about the estate planning process which is becoming increasingly more important and prevalent when working with clients. I also completed “trust school” and became a CTFA (Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisor). Being able to help clients from both a tax perspective and wealth/ estate planning perspective has been beneficial.

When I have free time, I prefer to: Golf and go for bike rides. I still play in a league with my college golf teammates.

People don’t know this about me, but I: Recently started DJ-ing events (mainly weddings for close friends). The pay is low (mainly food and drink), but I get to choose the songs.

Favorite movie: Lost in Translation

Favorite app: Spotify

Favorite vacation: Japan

Favorite quote: “The buck stops here.”

Best concert I’ve been to: Lorde

Famous person I would most like to meet: Tiger Woods

Favorite band: Grateful Dead

Go-to karaoke song: Regulate (I sing both parts- Warren G and Nate Dogg)

insurance industry

INSURING TOMORROW: NAVIGATING TRENDS AND TACTICS

Gain insights into the latest trends and best practices shaping the future of insurance at the 2024 Insurance Industry Conference. Whether you’re an industry veteran or just starting out, this event offers valuable tactics to deepen your comprehension of the insurance landscape. Join us in-person or via live webcast to learn from, and engage with, some of the most innovative minds in the insurance industry!

Iowa Insurance Division update | Economic landscape

and InsurTech panel discussions | Principles based bond project

Ken Tharp