EXCELLENCE
GIVING BACK 2016 E D I T I O N
Jess Neigum & Brandon Block Launch Recruiting Efforts
Over the past year we’ve seen many changes in the Department of Accountancy, our college, and the University of North Dakota. Perhaps the most obvious has been the addition of outstanding new faculty who are profiled in this publication. Most recently, the university has welcomed our new president, Mark Kennedy. We are reviewing our curriculum and pursing new opportunities for faculty development and experiential learning. Ongoing change offers many opportunities as we continue preparing graduates for successful careers. Change also helps us appreciate the past and focus on keeping the things that make us special. As you read these pages, you will see examples of the community that defines UND’s Department of Accountancy. The foundation of our community continues to be life-long relationships, generosity of spirit, and the intergenerational impact of this spirit.
they experienced on campus. The impact of our alumni’s engagement is nowhere more evident than with our most recent graduates. Among the features in this edition of the magazine, you will find stories about recent graduates who are giving back in ways that are already transforming the lives of our students. Virtually every one of these alumni cites student experiences and the interactions they had with alumni as their inspiration for giving back to UND. Their stories illustrate the ways our alumni build community, create opportunities that change lives, and inspire the next generation of committed UND alumni. Each connection between alumni, faculty, and students is truly an investment, as every gift is passed on again and again.
This year we are celebrating 100 years of business education at UND, and one of the most important indicators of our success is alumni engagement. At every stage of their lives, UND Accountancy alumni find ways to give back and engage with students. The depth of our alumni’s commitment to the department, college, and university is truly astounding. On almost a daily basis, our faculty are privileged to see the profound impact one generation of alumni has on the next. Along this dimension few, if any, accounting programs can compare to UND. Each year we look forward to honoring alumni at our UND Department of Accountancy Hall of Fame event. This year we are privileged to induct four outstanding individuals who are testaments to the department’s legacy of excellence: the late Tom Clifford, Jeff Gendreau, Al Royse, and Sally Smith. Each inductee has impressive professional accomplishments, and each exemplifies the extraordinary personal character and commitment to service that is a common thread across UND Accountancy alumni. I invite you to read the profiles of our 2016 inductees and to join us on October 14 to celebrate their outstanding professional achievements and contributions to society. From the time business education began on our campus, alumni like our Hall of Fame inductees have remained engaged with UND and have sustained the community that
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After 100 years, the return on investments made by early faculty and students are evident in the character, accomplishment, and generosity of today’s UND graduates. Over the next 100 years much will change, but our excellent faculty, hardworking students, and the lifelong engagement of our alumni make it clear that our community will continue to thrive. I invite you to join us in celebrating the past and present and in building the department’s future. Please feel free to contact me (katherine.campbell@UND.edu; 701.777.6309) if I can be of service. Sincerely,
Inside Cover Story Young Alumni Giving Back
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Features 4
Accounting Hall of Fame
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UND Women in Accounting
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Dawn Dexter’s Unexpected Career Path
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Dallas Dupey Drives Career to FDIC
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Building a Strong Value System
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Beta Alpha Psi Chapter Expanding
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Scholarship Recipients
Profiles 2
Greetings from the Chair
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Accounting Student Profiles
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Accounting Faculty Profiles
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Dean’s Message
Editorial Management
Laura Arneson, Dr. Kate Campbell
Associate Editor
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Averi Haugesag
Designer
Mackenzie Schock
Contributing Writers/Copy Editors
Dr. Kate Campbell, Carissa Green, Averi Haugesag, Laura Arneson
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Contributing Photographers
Averi Haugesag, Eliesa Johnson
Questions or Comments
External Relations College of Business & Public Administration 701.777.6397 | email: dean@business.UND.edu UND Mainline 1.800.CALL.UND (1.800.225.5863)
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The Department of Accountancy will induct four alumni into its Hall of Fame on Friday, October 14, 2016. The Hall of Fame recognizes individuals for outstanding career accomplishments and service contributions to the Department of Accountancy, the University of North Dakota, and society.
Thomas Clifford (Posthumous) The late Thomas J. Clifford made his mark on his home state through decades of service to the University of North Dakota - culminating in 21 years as the University’s eighth president. A native of Langdon, N.D., Clifford began his UND career as a student, and later served his alma mater as a professor, dean and president.
Bachelor of Science in Commerce 1942 Juris Doctorate 1948 Master of Business Administration 1957 UND President and Professor of Accountancy
After graduating in 1942 with a Bachelor of Science in Commerce, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and was selected for officer training school. Rising to the rank of Major, Clifford was wounded three times and decorated with the Bronze Star, the Silver Star, and the Purple Heart. Following the war, Clifford was considering attending law school in Michigan when UND Accounting Professor R.D. Koppenhaver asked him to fill in “temporarily” for an ill faculty member. Koppenhaver encouraged Clifford to stay on and earn his law degree at UND. Clifford followed Koppenhaver’s advice, and received his J.D. degree from the UND School of Law in 1948. The following year, he was promoted to
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Professor of Accounting and Business Law. In 1950, he was named Dean of the College of Commerce (now the College of Business & Public Administration) at the age of 29 - making him the youngest dean in the history of the university. Clifford received a Master of Business Administration degree from Stanford University in 1957. In 1959, he was named UND’s Vice President for Finance, in addition to his duties as a dean and professor. In 1971 Clifford became UND’s eighth president and the first North Dakota native and second UND graduate to serve in that role. When he retired in 1992, Clifford’s 21-year term tied that of John West for the longest term as UND President. During spring commencement exercises in May 2000, the University conferred an honorary Doctor of Laws degree upon Clifford. Clifford was awarded North Dakota’s highest honor, the Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider Award, in November 2002. Under Clifford’s direction, the University
acquired an entrepreneurial reputation for developing productive relationships with business and industry. A prominent example is the Energy & Environmental Research Center. Another pioneering effort was the establishment of a Center for Innovation and Business Development (now the Center for Innovation), specifically charged with helping inventors,
entrepreneurs, and small manufacturers develop new products, start businesses, and create jobs and wealth for North Dakota.
at UND. Florence Clifford died on December 5, 1984.
on matters related to strategic planning, bankruptcy, mergers and acquisitions, financial statement restatements, and public and private offerings of debt and equity securities.
As an alumnus he has taken on a variety of important leadership roles, including serving as a member of the Department of Accountancy’s Advisory Board and the past chair of the UND College of Business & Public Administration Alumni Advisory Board. Through the Gendreau Family Award for Faculty Excellence in Teaching, Service and Research, Gendreau and his family support Department of Accountancy faculty in continuing its legacy of excellence and commitment to students.
Clifford married Gayle Kielty Kenville in May 1986. Gayle is Clifford married Florence Schmidt of a graduate of UND, as are her Anamoose, N.D., in January 1943. Their two children, Kim and Tom. two sons, Thomas J. Clifford Jr. and President Clifford died on Stephen M. Clifford, both earned degrees February 4, 2009.
Jeff Gendreau
Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting 1990 Partner and Regional Attest Practice Leader, Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP Jeff Gendreau, Partner and Regional Attest Practice Leader at Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP, is known for both his work in public accounting and his outstanding record of civic involvement.
In his current role as the regional leader of Baker Tilly’s assurance practice, Gendreau’s responsibilities include quality assurance, technical training and development of assurance professionals, analysis and interpretation of new accounting and auditing standards, and leading the growth of Baker Tilly’s assurance practice in the upper Midwest. He previously served on Baker Tilly’s Board of Partners and Committee on the Growth and Retention of Women. Gendreau is a licensed CPA in Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Hawaii, California, and South Dakota.
Gendreau is actively engaged as a leader in industry and civic involvement. He is currently a member of the AICPA’s National Peer Review Committee, a board member for the Minneapolis Downtown Council and Downtown A native of Dickinson, N.D., Gendreau Improvement District and vice chair of is a 1990 graduate of the University of the finance committee, an active member North Dakota with a Bachelor of of the Minnesota Society of Certified Business Administration in AccountPublic Accountants, a member of the ing. Gendreau has more than 25 years finance committee for St. Patrick’s of experience in public accounting and Church of Cedar Creek, and a volunteer financial consulting with both public and solicitor for United Way. He is a past private companies, ranging from startpresident of the Minnesota Chapter of ups to Fortune 100 businesses. Healthcare Financial Management Association. In addition to financial statement audit experience, he has consulted with clients Gendreau is a stalwart supporter of UND and the Department of Accountancy.
Among Gendreau’s many gifts to UND, his engagement with students cannot be overlooked. Gendreau visits campus regularly, participates in department events, and generously offers his time to both faculty and students. He is a trusted advisor for UND graduates throughout their careers. Gendreau’s commitment to professional accomplishment and service to UND and the community have been evident throughout his career. Gendreau was recognized for these accomplishments as the recipient of UND’s 2006 Young Alumni Leadership Award. Gendreau lives in Andover, Minn. with his wife, Cathy (LaLonde), a 1989 graduate of UND. The Gendreaus have two adult children, Rachel and John. Rachel is a first-year law student at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University, and John is enrolled in the Wisconsin School of Business at the University of Wisconsin – Madison.
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Al Royse Al Royse built a major career in Deloitte’s tax industry programs and has become a recognized leader in service and the nonprofit sector. A native of Mandan, N.D., Royse is a 1972 graduate of the University of North Dakota with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree with a major in Accounting, 1973 Master of Science in Accounting, and Juris Doctorate in 1976. He is a graduate of the Executive Program of the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University and earned his Master of Science in Taxation from Golden Gate University. Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Accounting 1972 Master of Science in Accounting 1973 Juris Doctorate 1976 Senior Partner, Deloitte (retired)
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including his current service as the chair of the national board of the American Heart Association, where he was honored as the 2012 Volunteer of the Year for the 10-state western region. He is a member of the College of Business & Public Administration Advisory Council, past Chair of the UND Foundation, and currently serves a number of other northern California charities.
Royse is a Councilman for the City of Hillsborough, Calif. and was recently elected to his second four-year term. He serves on a number of northern Royse spent the majority of his career at California regional governing boards, the global accounting, tax, and consultincluding the San Francisco Airport ing firm of Deloitte & Touche LLP, where Roundtable, the Grand Boulevard he retired as a Senior Partner in 2010. Initiative, and the Association for Bay While at Deloitte, he served as the Dep- Area Government. He previously served uty National Managing Partner for tax as the founding Chairman of the Silicon services, the global and national leader Valley Chapter of the world renowned for Deloitte’s tax industry programs, and California Commonwealth Club and as a the Partner-In-Charge of Deloitte’s tech- member of Joint Venture Silicon Valley. nology, media and entertainment, and telecommunications practice. As a student at UND, Royse was president of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Prior to that, Royse was the Managing fraternity, president of the UND College Partner of Deloitte & Touche’s West Republicans, state Chairman of the N.D. Region Tax practice, including the San College Republicans, a graduate teachFrancisco and Silicon Valley Tax ing assistant in the UND Department of Practices, and Managing Partner of the Accountancy, and active in many other firm’s National Tax Specialization school activities. As a UND student he programs. His clients included many also served two terms as a N.D. State Fortune 500 companies, including some Legislator. At the age of 21, Royse was of the largest and best known technology the second youngest legislator - at the companies in the country, and a number time - ever elected in the state, and he of international based companies. He was selected as the Freshman Legislator was also the Deloitte partner on the first of the Year in his first term. publicly traded master limited partnership and advisory partner on one of the Royse remains actively engaged with country’s first ever global satellite UND. He was a guest lecturer in the companies. An avid sports fan, his client UND Executive in Residence program base also included the San Francisco at the University of Shanghai Science Giants, the San Jose Sharks, the San and Technology from 2010 to 2016 and Francisco 49ers, and the Bay Meadows a guest speaker at the Mellem Forum Race Track. in both 2010 and 2014. Royse lives in Hillsborough, Calif. He has two children, Royse is actively involved in the Matthew, Salt Lake City, and Jennifer nonprofit sector. He has served on the (husband Brian), New York City, and his boards of a number of nonprofits, first grandchild is Rory, age one, of New York City.
Sally J. Smith President and CEO of Minneapolis-based Buffalo Wild Wings, Inc., Sally J. Smith, is an outstanding leader in the restaurant industry, guiding the company in national and international growth.
(MUFSO) Operator of the Year Award (2010) and the Gold Plate Award (2009), presented by the International Food Manufacturer’s Association (IFMA).
A native of Grand Forks, N.D., Smith is a 1979 graduate of the University of North Dakota with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a major in Accounting. Smith is a CPA.
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Accounting 1979 President, CEO of Buffalo Wild Wings, Inc.
She served as the 2011 Chairman of the National Restaurant Association Board of Directors. She is a director of Alerus Financial Corporation, Allina Health System, and Hormel At Buffalo Wild Wings, Inc., Smith leads Foods. Smith is also a member one of the nation’s fastest-growing restau- of World Presidents’ Organirant chains, which includes nearly 1,800 zation and Women Corporate restaurants in the United States, Canada, Directors. Mexico, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the Philippines. FranOther honors earned by Smith include: chised restaurants in Panama, India, and Nation’s Restaurant News Power List Top Vietnam are expected to open in 2016. Ten 2014, 2015, and 2016; CNN Money In 2015, Buffalo Wild Wings’ systemwide Best CEOs of 2014; Twin Cities Business revenue was $3.6 billion. Outstanding Director Award in 2014; Twin Cities Business Hall of Fame in Smith joined Buffalo Wild Wings as 2012, and Minneapolis/St. Paul BusiChief Financial Officer in 1994 when it ness Journal Women in Business Career was a fledgling chain of 35 restaurants, Achievement Award for 2010, among mostly in Ohio. With her keen financial many other awards. and leadership skills and a healthy dose of tenacity, Smith worked to establish a Prior to joining Buffalo Wild Wings, sound infrastructure and build the talSmith sharpened her business acuented team that has helped the company men with positions at the international grow from a regional chain to a thrivaccounting and consulting firm KPMG, ing national and growing international LLP, and during her 11 years at the nabrand. In 2003, Smith led the company tional franchise company, Dahlberg, Inc. in its initial public offering, raising more (now Miracle-Ear, Inc.), where she ended than $50 million, which has helped fund her tenure as Chief Financial Officer. the company’s exceptional growth. Smith was honored as a featured speaker The restaurant industry has recognized for the 2003 Hultberg Lectureship Series, Smith’s outstanding achievements and which recognizes successful women in leadership. She has been the recipient of business and graduates from the UND the industry’s highest awards, including College of Business & Public Administrathe Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators tion.
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STUDENT P R O F I LES
Kyle L. Simonson of Andover, Minn., just completed his fourth year at the University of North Dakota. Simonson is majoring in accountancy, with a minor in military science. He chose accountancy because he wanted to be able to understand the inner workings of businesses. Simonson is currently contracted with the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps and upon graduation he will serve as a United States Army Officer. He hopes to enter either the Military Intelligence branch, the Finance Corps or the Medical Service Corps. His dream is to be placed in a command position.
Kyle Simonson
Major: Accountancy Minor: Military Science
Hometown: Andover, Minn.
Simonson has completed two internships, participating in both the Army Cultural Understanding and Language Program and the Intelligence and Security Command Internship Program. As a UND student, Simonson has received recognition with a number of awards: the President’s Honor Roll, the Dean’s List, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Award, the German Award, the German Armed Forces Badge of Military Proficiency, and five different Reid Taubenheim, an accountancy major who is minoring in computer science, is looking forward to his third year at the University of North Dakota. Taubenheim chose accounting because he wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps. “Seeing the success he has achieved professionally also drew me to accountancy,” said Taubenheim. While he is unsure of what exactly his dream job is, Taubenheim currently has multiple internship offers. He believes internship experiences will help him learn more about the many options for starting his career in accounting.
Reid Taubenheim
Major: Accountancy Minor: Computer Science Hometown: Farmington, Minn.
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At UND Taubenheim has enjoyed success both in and out of the classroom. His academic accomplishments include recognition on the Dean’s List and the Big Sky Academic Honor Roll. As a UND football player, Taubenheim was a Big Sky All-Conference player as a freshman, the FSC leading rookie scorer in 2015, and a four-time Big Sky Player of the Week. As a student athlete with a demanding major, Taubenheim has a full schedule.
scholarships. Outside of the classroom, Simonson has taken advantage of opportunities for involvement and leadership development. He has served as the Chapter President of Phi Beta Lambda, the UND Chapter Treasurer of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, and a volunteer with Special Olympics North Dakota. Simonson says his most valuable experiences as a UND accounting student happened when he was juggling school and extracurricular commitments. He says this taught him how to push himself and develop a strong sense of discipline, while never allowing himself to give up. He encourages incoming students to take advantage of as many involvement opportunities as possible, through student organizations, university activities, and/or community events. “I also encourage students to seek out mentors among the faculty and allow them to nurture you both academically and professionally,” said Simonson.
However, he makes time to take advantage of other involvement opportunities. He is an officer in the Accounting Club and consistently volunteers at Phoenix Elementary School and St. Joseph’s Food Pantry. Taubenheim’s top piece of advice for incoming accounting students is to go on the Accounting Field Trip. The Accounting Field Trip is an annual two-day trip to Minneapolis that includes alumni networking events and site visits to firms that recruit UND accounting graduates. Taubenheim says the field trip gives students the opportunity to learn more about the profession and individual firms, and it helps students get a sense of which firms best fit their individual interests and personalities. Taubenheim recognizes the value of connecting with alumni and recruiters, and he encourages students to participate. “Any opportunity to network has to be taken. Along with good grades and extracurricular activities, networking is the most important thing for students looking for internships and full-time job opportunities.”
Zsofia Barandi was born and raised in Budapest, Hungary. In May 2017 she will graduate from the University of North Dakota with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. Moving forward, she plans to remain at UND to pursue an MBA.
Zsofia Barandi
Major: Accountancy
When Barandi decided to attend UND, she needed to consider more than her own interests, since her husband was just completing his last months of Army service in Texas. The couple was looking for a university that would work for both of them – and that school was UND. Barandi was attracted to UND by its strong academic programs and its reputation for being military-friendly.
Barandi says she was always interested in busiHometown: ness, so when she got to UND, she started out as a banking and financial economics major. Budapest, Hungary She decided to switch to accounting after learning about all of the wonderful opportunities the department has to offer. Barandi completed an internship at Baker Tilly in Minneapolis, and this experience confirmed her interest in taxation. She is excited to start a full-time position at Baker Tilly in the fall of 2019, after she completes her MBA.
As a UND student, Barandi has been recognized for her impressive academic accomplishments. She has been on the Dean’s List and the President’s Honor Roll every semester that she’s been enrolled, and she is a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma and Beta Alpha Psi honor societies. Barandi received the D.J. Robertson Award, recognizing the 4.0 GPA she earned in both semesters of her freshman year, and she was awarded the Clifford Anderson Scholarship, recognizing her achievements in the Elements of Accounting courses. As the highest ranking junior in the College of Business & Public Administration, Barandi was awarded the Gilbert Gimbel Scholarship in 2016. This fall she will receive the Kathleen M. Branley Scholarship and the Richard J. Peters Scholarship. Outside of the classroom, Barandi serves as treasurer of the UND International Organization. She also serves as an International Peer Mentor helping international students make successful transitions to UND. Her advice to incoming students is straightforward and reflects her own experience: “Just work hard. It will always pay off in the end.”
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Pictured: Connor Danford, Brandon Block, Jess Neigum, Aja Steinfeldt
Alumni Take the Driver’s Seat in Recruitment
Up until January of 2016, Brandon Block and Jess Neigum were the only University of North Dakota alumni working at Wipfli LLP’s Minneapolis office. Neigum, a 2011 graduate of UND Department of Accountancy, is a senior audit accountant. “I like the flexibility and the career work-life balance at Wipfli,” said Neigum.
Block, a 2012 graduate, agrees with Neigum, “Plus, I enjoy that I can drive my career.” He’s a senior tax accountant with two years of experience at Wipfli. In addition to driving their careers, these two have taken the driver’s seat on another project: recruiting at their alma mater. “Basically, the Minnesota region of Wipfli has four keystone schools, and we saw an opportunity to extend the recruiting efforts,” said Block. “So Jess and I put together a business plan and got permission from our regional director to start recruiting at UND.”
Pictured: Brandon Block, Jess Neigum, Connor Danford, Aja Steinfeldt
As Wipfli’s first interns from UND, Steinfeldt and Danford This summer, the firm hired its first-ever UND wanted to set the bar high. Their efforts did not go unnointerns, Aja Steinfeldt and Connor Danford. ticed. “I was actually set on a different firm,” said Steinfeldt. “When Connor and Aja started their internships with “I had almost accepted their offer, but then I met Wipfli, I already had pretty high expectations, as I knew with Wipfli. One of the where they were coming from [UND]. Not only did they biggest things for me was exceed expectations, they further raised the bar for the when Brandon talked about recruiting at UND next group of interns and new associates coming in with - how he and Jess initiated the UND degree under their belts,” says Wipfli LLP, Tax it and got the go ahead to Manager, Ibragim Mirzoyev. start something when they were both young. Wipfli took their ideas to heart. So I thought, okay, well, if they want to give me Wipfli’s Recruiting Specialist, Bree Woodruff, said the relaa chance, why don’t I give them a chance.” tionship between UND and the firm has been great, starting with Danford and Steinfeldt’s internships. “They stood Danford also found a fit for himself at the firm. out among the group,” said Woodruff. Well enough to leave “It was pretty easy to decide to come to Wipfli,” he said. “I felt prepared coming here. What you a long-lasting impression. In the fall of 2017, Steinfeldt and Danford will become full-time Wipfli employees. actually do is completely different from school, but the general work ethic I got from UND and its rigorous coursework is what really prepared me.” 11
With the new recruiting relationship Block and Neigum helped to develop, Steinfeldt and Danford may not be the only UND graduates joining the staff at Wipfli. “We are trying to get creative with ways we can partner with the university,” said Woodruff, “especially given the distance.”
Neigum also looks back fondly on her time as a UND Accountancy student. “Especially if you get active in the different programs,” said Neigum, “you become close with your teachers - it’s almost like they become our secondary parents and we become their children. We had that close connection with the professors.”
One way the firm has decided to support UND accounting students is through a program that they already use at Employees at Wipfli can relate to the “family” feeling, and two other universities, the Wipfli Textbook Program. This senior leaders at the firm are pleased. Block and Neigum program reimburses students who receive an A in their In- feel working for Wipfli offers an opportunity for students from a challenging termediate Accounting program to find a class for the cost of their “Over the years, we’ve had, and continue to place where they fit textbook. in culturally, much have, UND accounting alumni as part of our like they did at “It’s a way to get our team [Brandon, Jess, Aja, and Connor]. We UND. “It feels like name out there and a family working connect more with have embraced these former UND students as here. So we just students,” said Woodpart of our Wipfli family where their intelliwant to bring more ruff. “We can’t always of our UND family gence and hard work ethic play a critical role be there once a month down here,” said to do some kind of in serving our clients,” says Wipfli LLP Partner, Block. Establishing recruiting activity, so Sam Wimmer. a campus recruiting we thought it might relationship is a rebe a good program to markable undertakimplement.” ing for two young In the meantime, Block and Neigum continue to do every- alumni. Block and Neigum say it has been rewarding to build on the department’s foundation of life-long relationthing they can to keep giving back to UND Accountancy, ships between faculty, students, and alumni. Their leaderthe program that gave them so much. “I had an amazing ship and commitment is a profound gift to UND accounting experience at UND, and I feel like it’s probably one of the students, that of new career opportunities and a relationship more challenging programs in the whole Midwest,” said with UND that extends beyond graduation. Block.
Paying it Forward Lee Rensch (2011) and Remington Zacher (2012) are two recent CoBPA graduates committed to making a difference in the lives of the next generation of accounting students. Rensch and Zacher teamed up to simultaneously start two new scholarships for Department of Accountancy students. Their gifts were inspired by the generous alumni-funded scholarships they received while attending UND. Beginning in the fall of 2016, Rensch and Zacher will each provide a scholarship for an accounting student. “I treasure my days at UND and I am excited to be in the position to give back to UND. A lot of people talk about it, but we wanted to actually do it and show that you don’t have to be 60 and retired to start giving back,” said Rensch.
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After passing the CPA exam, University of North Dakota 2012 graduate, Remington Zacher received a bonus from Deloitte, where he was starting his career as an international tax consultant. While most new college graduates would have many uses for this bonus, Zacher chose to donate the money to the university that he says has given him so much. “When I was a student, one of the accounting alums
visiting
later, Zacher was sitting on the other side of the table at this event, serving as a discussion leader, sharing his story, and facilitating conversations with students. “It is great to see how this event has evolved, including the partnership between the Arts & Sciences and Business colleges,” said Zacher. In 2016, Zacher also participated in a special event for admitted students at Target Field. He was part of an alumni panel discussion and also networked with admitted students, answering their questions about college and why they should attend UND.
Pictured: Remington Zacher visiting campus mentioned this idea, and I thought it was really cool,” said Zacher. His position in the Minneapolis office of Deloitte gives Zacher the opportunity to assist with recruiting and visit campus a few times a year. Zacher said that as a UND alumnus he is able to engage in a “different conversation” with students.
While Zacher is highly engaged in student and alumni networking events, he also finds time to enjoy one of his favorite pastimes, attending UND hockey games. Zacher says he has traveled to over 30 venues for games including every WCHA and NCHC venue. He has even attended the Frozen Four tournament five years in a row. Zacher’s engagement as an alumnus builds upon his campus involvement during his student days. As a member of the CoBPA Student Advisory Council, he was able to meet alumni, see what they were doing, and begin to learn the importance of giving back and the impact that it makes.
Zacher’s ongoing engagement with UND extends beyond his role in campus recruiting. In the spring of 2016, Zacher’s involvement in one event came full circle. As a student, Zacher played an integral role in planning the first CEO Summit, now known as the College of Business & Public Administration’s Morrison Leadership Summit. Five years
“You can make an impact in just a few moments,” said Zacher. Though he may not realize it, Zacher is a shining example of what it means to give time, talent, and treasure. Zacher’s commitment to UND and the breadth of his contributions have already made positive differences in the lives of students. In the coming years the impact of Zacher’s engagement will undoubtedly be multiplied as these students follow in his footsteps and become the next generation of dedicated UND alumni.
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Staying Connected
& Giving Back University of North Dakota sophomore accounting student Shawn McHale says he remembers learning about the College of Business & Public Administration’s Pancratz Career Development Center on his first day of freshman orientation.
Pictured: Shawn McHale, Josh Nelson “Pancratz is awesome,” said McHale, who as a freshman began utilizing the Center’s resources for preparing resumes, writing cover letters, and getting career development advice. Now he is part of the Pancratz Career Development Center’s Mentor Program. The Mentor Program pairs current UND business students with recently graduated or experienced alumni. McHale says that one of the aspects he likes about the program is meeting people who went through the accounting program and can help him learn about different directions that he could take in starting his career. Recent accounting graduates Josh Nelson and Libby Rabon are two of the newest mentors in the program. “The Mentor Program is a great way to stay connected as alumni and give back,” said Nelson. Nelson, an Operations Staff Accountant at HMS Host, serves as a mentor for McHale and finds the experience rewarding. He says he and McHale connect nearly every other day via email, phone, text messaging, and occasional dinner meetings. McHale is already benefitting from his connection with Nelson. “This mentorship has helped me realize that I have somewhere I can go and lots of different options with my degree,” said McHale.
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Rabon heard about the Pancratz Mentor Program while she was attending UND but says she didn’t have the opportunity to be a part of it. After graduation, “Kathy Lund [Director, Pancratz Career Development Center] encouraged me to be a mentor, and I thought it sounded wonderful,” said Rabon. “I had such a good experience at UND that I wanted to help other people be successful.” When Rabon decided to volunteer, Lund already had the perfect fit in mind for her - junior accountancy major Rebecca Birdsell. Rabon and her mentee usually connect on the phone, but they also utilize Skype. Rabon is currently an associate at PwC in Minneapolis, so she is able to discuss internships and share her recent professional experiences. “I want to be able to give back to students and stay involved,” said Rabon. She feels the program is a good experience for both mentors and mentees, and she finds it energizing to meet young people who want to pursue careers in accounting. In the same circle of recent alumni is Andrew Leizens, a 2014 graduate with degrees in accounting, Chinese studies, and finance. Leizens is an experienced associate in PwC’s Consumer Finance Group. He joined the Pancratz Mentor Program because he thought it would be a good way to get involved. Leizens says companies are using many different forms of communication for recruiting, and students should be familiar with them. He uses a variety of communication methods to connect with his mentee. “Using conference calls helps show students different ways to log into a call,” said Leizens. Through WebEx, Leizens was able to show his mentee Sarah Strube what he does and explain some of his work with dashboards. Pancratz mentors volunteer their time and help students achieve their career development goals. For more information about the program email und.pancratzcenter@UND. edu.
Rabon, Nelson, and Leizens are just a few of the Pancratz Career Development Center Mentors who are making a difference in the lives of UND students. As young alumni, they are already leaders in paying it forward to the next generation of Department of Accountancy students. Pictured: Josh Nelson, Shawn McHale, Libby Rabon
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UND in
ACCOUNTING
The public accounting profession has made great strides in achieving gender diversity. Women comprise almost half of both new accounting graduates and new hires by CPA firms, and women now lead two of the Big Four public accounting firms.
For decades, the University of North Dakota has graduated women who became leaders in the accounting profession, including Shirley (Hubbard) Martz, who in 1946 became one of the first women to practice as a CPA in the state of North Dakota. She later co-founded a firm that evolved into today’s Brady Martz. More recent graduates continue to take leadership roles in the accounting profession, including Katy Voecks and Sara Lord. Voecks, a 2004 graduate, began her career as an associate at PwC, and she is now an Assurance Senior Manager. “While I was going through school, professors were helping me and guiding me to make sure I was doing all the right things to get that first good job. They also helped me get the backbone of my accounting knowledge. That helped make me successful in my career,” said Voecks. She is succeeding along with other women at her firm. “Fifty percent of our new hires are women. We’re also making strides at increasing the number of women in the partnership. Since I started here, it’s always been that way. It’s really a great career choice,” said Voecks. Lord, a 1998 graduate, is the National Director of Assurance Services at RSM-U.S., LLP. She says she also sees more women who enter the accounting profession taking on leadership roles.
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“It’s been 50/50 for quite awhile; you’d hire just as many men as women in public accounting. However, the challenge was not seeing as many women make it their life choice. Now, I’m watching the number of women in leadership roles increase,” said Lord. Voecks believes a career in accounting is something women in college should strongly consider. “Everyone in accounting has the ability to drive their career in their own way and make their own path.” Lord agrees. “There are a lot of reasons for women to go into the accounting field. I think one of the biggest reasons I’m excited to stay here is that it’s a job where I’m helping other people. Also, in public accounting, no day is the same. Every day when I come to work, there are all different kinds of things to do. It is great because you have opportunities to do so many different things within one career.” Finding the right career path is part of success. “I would say that goes back to finding things that people are passionate about,” said Voecks. “Students going into college want to graduate and get a job, and accounting is great because there is demand for graduates,” said Lord. Despite the varied career opportunities and strong demand for accountants, some students may not be immediately attracted to accounting. “I think there are just misperceptions about the field—people think we’re just the nerdy office type. But actually, we’re pretty fun people,” said Lord. Voecks and Lord have successfully built rewarding careers and achieved leadership positions in public accounting. They remain engaged with the UND Accountancy program, and as alumnae and leaders they serve as role models for accounting students preparing to start careers.
Dawn Dexter takes an unexpected career path
If you asked Dawn Dexter whether she thought her career would lead her to where she is today, she would laugh and tell you, “Um no, not in a million years, no.”
Dexter is currently the Senior Director of Accounts Payable for Target Corporation in Brooklyn Park, Minn. She is a Fargo native and an alumna of the University of North Dakota College of Business & Public Administration (CoBPA). She graduated in 1995 with a Bachelor of Accountancy. While Dexter says she “loves being at Target,” it’s a path she never thought she would take. Dexter started her career in public accounting. Over the course of six years she worked at Arthur Andersen and Deloitte in Minneapolis, Minn. She says that at the time, her goal was to work at a not-for-profit. That was until Target came along. “When I interviewed there, the caliber of people I was meeting with was very impressive.” So, in 2003, she took the job … and she’s still there, 13 years later. Dexter was a panelist at the CoBPA’s 29th annual Hultberg Lectureship Series in the spring of 2016. The Hultberg Lectureship gives students, faculty, staff, and members of the Grand Forks community an opportunity to hear and seek advice from successful female alumnae.
“Your career path can change very wildly; mine has. I’ve done things I never thought I would do and never thought I could do.” - Dawn Dexter
When asked what advice she would give to students, Dexter said, “There is no normal, standard, to be expected, career path. Your career path can change very wildly; mine has. I’ve done things I never thought I would do and never thought I could do. And all of that has been extremely valuable for me from a learning, growth, and professional development perspective. So I would say take some risks, take on new challenges, and don’t feel like you have to follow a specific
pre-designated career path.” Dexter also encourages students to be themselves at work. “At first, you sometimes feel pressure to fill a certain mold, or be perfect, or be what you see as the perfect CPA. You don’t need to do that. You want to find a company where you can be yourself, and you’re going to be happier, and they’re going to be happier to have you.” Dexter says her decision to work for Target was one of the best she’s ever made. “I love the fact that it’s never the same day after day. There’s always something new coming up, a new role, or a new opportunity. That’s probably what keeps me here.” For Dexter, travel to India is one of those opportunities. “We partner with India on a lot of things,” Dexter said. She’s been to India three times, most recently in June 2016. Dexter says there are a couple hundred people working on Target’s accounts payable in India, and she enjoys the time she spends working there. “Everyone is proficient in English, and there are many college graduates,” said Dexter. The travel involves more than work, and she has been able to explore the culture and enjoy socializing with the employees. “When I go to India, they take me shopping, they take me out every night to dinner. They are amazing hosts and extremely friendly people,” said Dexter. As Dexter continues her career at Target, she sees how her accounting and business coursework at UND helped to prepare her. However, she wishes she had taken more systems classes. “Systems are such a huge part of what we do these days. I think accounting and systems are going to be more and more integrated in the future,” said Dexter. While Dexter’s career may not have followed the path she expected, she says she’s glad that things played out the way they did. And maybe, just maybe, when she “semi-retires,” Dexter will get back to pursuing that early goal of working for a not-for-profit.
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FAC U LT Y PROFILES
Tammy Gerzewski already had a bachelor’s degree in recreation from the University of North Dakota when she chose to follow advice from a teacher who said, “With an accounting degree you can do anything in business.”
Tammy Gerzewski
Clinical Assistant Professor of Accountancy
MAcc., University of North Dakota
She completed both Bachelor and Master of Accountancy degrees at UND, and is currently completing her Ph.D. in teaching and learning. Although Gerzewski has been an instructor in the Department of Accountancy since the fall of 2010, she joined the faculty as a full-time Clinical Assistant Professor in the fall of 2015. As a faculty member, Gerzewski most looks forward to teaching and building relationships with her students.
Assistant Professor Andrew Li graduated with his Ph.D. in Accountancy from Louisiana State University in May 2016. Li says he chose to study accountancy because it’s the “fundamental language of business.” He earned a Master of Accountancy with a minor in Information Systems Management at Brigham Young University.
Andrew Li
Assistant Professor of Accountancy
Ph.D., Louisiana State University
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Li was born and raised in China. He worked as an accounting professional in California and Utah before pursuing his Ph.D. In addition to being a CPA, Li also holds CIA and CFE professional certifications. Li’s professional experience played an important role in his selection for the prestigious Accounting Doctoral Scholar (ADS) scholarship administered by the AICPA Foundation.
Gerzewski believes, “To be a great teacher you must have a love for teaching and a focus on student learning. You must have a passion for and knowledge about what you are teaching, a desire to know your students and a willingness to build relationships with them. In addition, you must have a commitment to setting high but achievable expectations for yourself and your students.” In her spare time Gerzewski enjoys traveling, reading books, and going to movies. She also loves watching her children play sports and going fishing. Gerzewski lives in Grand Forks with her husband and their four children.
Li joined the University of North Dakota Department of Accountancy faculty in January 2016 and says he chose UND because it’s safe, his co-workers are friendly, and it is a supportive environment for research. Li says his teaching philosophy is the “Triple E: Entertain, Engage, and Educate.” As he begins his second semester of teaching at UND, Li is looking forward to becoming a successful professor and positively impacting his students’ futures. Li’s research interests include audit and financial topics. Currently, he is working on a paper titled, “Big 4 Auditors Have Better Earnings Quality: A Legend or an Illusion?” Li and his wife have three children, ages nine, eight, and three. In his spare time, he enjoys gardening and swimming.
Desi Arisandi might be described as a citizen of the world. Originally from Indonesia, she says she comes from a traditional Asian family. However, her family broke with the traditional view that education is not important for women by sending her to graduate school in two different countries.
Desi Arisandi
Assistant Professor of Accountancy
Ph.D., Rutgers University
Arisandi is a recipient of the Australian Government Scholarship and in 2010 graduated from the University of Melbourne-Australia with her master’s degree in accounting. She attended Rutgers University as a Fulbright Scholar and will graduate with a Ph.D. in accounting in September 2016. Arisandi will join the University of North Dakota Department of Accountancy’s faculty in January 2017. Arisandi has a strong background in accounting information systems and is conducting research using sentiment analysis measures to analyze responses to accounting Assistant Professor of Accounting Robert “Bob” Mocadlo took an unusual path to accountancy. Originally a chemistry major, Mocadlo soon found himself enjoying “business-side” interactions with co-workers more than lab work. This motivated him to pursue a degree in accounting.
Robert Mocadlo Assistant Professor of Accountancy
Ph.D., Emory University
After graduating from the University of Notre Dame with undergraduate degrees in both accounting and chemistry, Mocadlo earned his CPA and returned to his hometown of Cleveland, Ohio to work as an auditor for PwC. After three and a half years with PwC, he received a prestigious Accounting Doctoral Scholar (ADS) scholarship from the AICPA Foundation. In May 2016 Mocadlo completed his Ph.D. in accounting at Emory University. Mocadlo joined the University of North Dakota Department of Accountancy faculty in August 2016. As a new professor, Mocadlo says he is most excited for research
regulations posted on social media. With a student-centric teaching philosophy, Arisandi encourages active participation and consistently provides constructive feedback to students to support the learning process. Arisandi chose accountancy because she enjoys math and is “funny enough to change the boring stigma accounting has.” She says she chose to come to UND because she admires the close-knit relationship among faculty members and the qualities she observed in the program’s students. She is most looking forward to “meeting the students, working on research projects with colleagues, and enjoying snow days!” In her free time Arisandi likes to travel, watch science fiction movies, and hopes to eventually learn to garden.
collaboration with his fellow faculty and the opportunity to help shape the minds of students who will enter the accounting profession. For Mocadlo, accounting and auditing education is about more than rules and conventions. His teaching philosophy is based on the premise that being a good accountant or auditor involves applying critical thinking skills to accounting and business scenarios. Mocadlo’s research examines judgment and decision-making of auditors and others involved in the financial reporting process. One of his current research projects examines how advice from multiple non-authoritative sources may affect auditors’ decisions. Mocadlo is an avid board, tabletop, and video game enthusiast. He also enjoys reading and participating in online forums and discussions.
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Alumnus Drives Career to the While 24-year-old Dallas Dupey was a student at the University of North Dakota, he drove a school bus for the Grand Forks Public School District. In June, he had to tell his kids that he was “retiring.” “But you’re not sixty!” said Dupey, as he reenacted the elementary school students’ reactions to his announcement. Though he will miss driving the bus, Dupey is looking forward to starting his career and his first professional position, “I will be heading to Sioux City, Iowa to work for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or the FDIC.” Dupey completed his MBA in May 2016. He also holds a UND bachelor’s degree with a major in managerial finance and accounting as well as a minor in Norwegian. The FDIC’s mission includes maintaining stability and confidence in the banking system through bank supervision. Dupey applied to the FDIC because of his interest in both financial institutions and regulation. Dupey was the only applicant from the state of North Dakota who was invited to participate in a four-day interview in Washington, D.C. This extended interview was quite involved. “I had to complete numerous assessments. It was kind of intense,”
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Dupey said. While he is not allowed to disclose details of the interview process, Dupey readily describes how his experiences at UND prepared him for success. Dupey credits his accounting and finance classes with developing technical skills and the ability to find solutions to complex problems. His presentation and teamwork skills were honed in the MBA program and five semesters of participation in the Student Managed Investment Fund. Dupey’s study abroad experience in Norway gave him confidence in unfamiliar situations and with working in diverse groups, so he wasn’t nervous during the interview process. While Dupey benefited from each of these experiences individually, they came together to make him a strong candidate in all the areas assessed. On the final day of the interview, Dupey joined his group for breakfast. “Then someone started calling names and escorted those of us called down the hall. They didn’t talk to us. Nothing. It was just so ominous. We didn’t even know how many positions were open at each location, so I thought for sure I didn’t get one,” said Dupey. “When we got to the other room, I heard, ‘Congratulations, I think we have some offers for you.’” Dupey accepted a position with the FDIC. “I was thrilled,” he said. Completing both undergraduate and graduate degrees may have taken a few years, but Dupey’s hard work and participation in many of UND’s experiential learning opportunities paid off. During that round of interviews, the FDIC hired only 12 of the more than 1,200 applicants. “I’m very, very excited,” said Dupey.
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UND Alumnus Werner Nistler is strong in heart and mind The day Golva and Beach, N.D. native Werner G. Nistler, Jr. was dropped off at the University of North Dakota by his parents and nine siblings, his family had to sleep in the car. It was the fall of 1964, and money was tight, so they weren’t able to afford a motel room. It was just one of those sacrifices in getting an education. While attending UND, Nistler worked full time at the Smith cafeteria, played on the baseball team, was active in ROTC, and initiated into Beta Alpha Psi. His involvement with Beta Alpha Psi provided him with leadership skills and professional etiquette. “Beta Alpha Psi helped me become a more knowledgeable accountant and better person and taught me social etiquette, for which I am grateful,” said Nistler. Outstanding faculty such as R.D. Koppenhaver, Ludwik Kulas, Rodney Medalen, and Dick Korsmo played a significant role in Nistler’s experiences. “They were so instrumental in helping me learn accounting and providing me with excellent guidance and advice both inside and outside the classroom,” said Nistler. One night while Nistler was driving around campus, he hit a tree outside of Harrington Hall. He didn’t know what to do, so instead of calling his mom or dad, he went to Kulas’ office, and the professor helped him figure out what he should do next. Ten years later, when Nistler returned to campus for homecoming and stopped by Kulas’ office, Kulas quickly reached into a drawer and pulled out an accounting book that Nistler had left in his class 10 years earlier. “He was really a sharp guy; I wondered how this guy could be so brilliant,” said Nistler. After his time at UND, Nistler interned at Touche Ross accounting firm in Minneapolis prior to attending Arizona State University (ASU) where he would earn a Master of Science in Accounting. Prior to entering the business world, Nistler spent two years in the military where he operated officer clubs and golf clubs in Manhattan, Kan. and Korea. In Korea, they had slot machines, which allowed Nistler to put his accounting background to use.
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He had to be sensitive to the amount of coins going in and out, as there had been extensive theft. Yearning to get out in the business field, Nistler earned his CPA and worked for Arthur Andersen in Portland, Ore. for three years. One day when reading the paper, he noticed an ad looking for a treasurer for a small retirement community company. He was hired for this position, which led to the formation of Computran, a medical charting software company serving over 750 nursing centers. Little did he know it would be at these early companies where he would learn the ropes prior to founding Touchmark retirement communities in 1980. As he traveled the country visiting nursing centers, he saw couples having to spend their later years living apart as one partner required more care due to illness, leaving the other at home alone. This experience prompted Nistler to envision a company that would provide a continuum of care for people during their retirement years. He believed then—and still does—that people’s later years can be their happiest and most fulfilling. For the past 35 years, Nistler has served as the Chairman and CEO for Touchmark, one of Oregon and southwest Washington’s top 30 privately held companies according to the Portland Business Journal. Based in its Central Office in Beaverton, Ore., Touchmark develops and operates full-service retirement communities in eight states and Canada. Currently Touchmark has 11 communities, including one each in Bismarck, N.D. and Fargo, N.D. Two more are under construction and set to open in 2017. Touchmark communities provide residents with a range of lifestyle options including condo-style and cottage homes, health and fitness clubs, independent and assisted living, memory care, home health, home care, and skilled nursing. Touchmark’s values of hospitality, compassion, excellence, teamwork, and integrity are identified as the company’s building blocks to enrich people’s lives. “Through Touchmark, we want to improve people’s quality of life, offer an active living environment, and provide life enrichment opportunities that enable this period to be their happiest,” said Nistler. UND is also where he met two key Touchmark team players, Tom Moe and Tom Biel (from Crosby, N.D.), who along with his brother, Steve, are part of his executive team. Another brother, Charley (now deceased) and his wife Colleen also were very instrumental in Touchmark’s development.
Touchmark communities are extremely well located with many communities located in mid-tier markets. One is being developed just minutes from Portland, Ore. on 12.42 acres. The total property—more than 85 acres—includes a vineyard growing pinot noir grapes. Nistler and Colleen teamed up with Farm to Cork, LLC to create Swede Hill Vineyards. “The elevation, varied exposures, and volcanic soil are ideally suited to the growing of premium wine grapes that will be meticulously hand farmed,” said Nistler. Swede Hill Vineyards got under way three years ago with the first planting. In the fall, Nistler’s team will be able to start picking grapes for the first bottling. They are currently in the process of designing the winery building and plan to bring in outside labels to expand the offerings. Nistler says they plan to produce 10,000 cases of wine a year. Nistler enjoys the project, as he says it brings him back to the earth and memories back at the farm. “I am extremely grateful to UND and blessed in the fact that I had great parents that taught me the importance of values,” said Nistler, who along with Colleen are proud parents of six children. Throughout all of Nistler’s businesses and relationships, he has placed a significant emphasis on integrity. “Your word is your brand and your bond, and how you handle business and personal affairs with integrity is important,” said Nistler. Nistler also founded Touchmark Foundation, a public charity dedicated to enhancing the well-being of seniors. The main focus of the foundation is to offer scholarships to high school seniors interested in becoming a nurse. In addition, the foundation has contributed funding to the Washington State nursing program to help with staffing needs. Nistler said, “We chose to provide this funding because in 2015 there were nearly 100,000 nursing candidates turned away as schools didn’t have enough resources to hire more teachers.” The Touchmark Foundation raises on average $60,000 $80,000 a year through the support of volunteers and board members. There are no paid personnel, which allows 90 percent of the funds to be available for charitable giving. Touchmark and the Nistler family also recently provided a generous gift to UND to support new endowments in the Department of Accountancy and the School of Entrepreneurship. “Many in our family are very blessed to have received a great education from UND,” said Nistler. Seven of the ten Nistler children attended UND. Throughout Nistler’s life, he has continued to embed the importance of integrity and values into his business philosophy and personal life. Nistler is an excellent example of an individual who is strong in heart and mind—and it all started with his value system from his parents, faith in God, and his time at UND.
Pictured: Werner Nistler, Tom Moe
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Beta Alpha Psi Chapter Expanding With the initiation of 30 new members, the University of North Dakota’s Beta Alpha Psi chapter dramatically increased its size in the fall of 2015. Beta Alpha Psi officers Erica Anderson and Kasey Bosch attribute much of the growth to the leadership of their chapter advisors, Dr. Kate Campbell and Dr. Dee Ann Ellingson. “They were really helpful on generating ideas and service events,” said Bosch. Founded in 1919, Beta Alpha Psi is a prestigious international honor organization for financial information students and professionals with over 300 chapters on college and university campuses. Its mission is to support the development of ethical, professional, and confident leaders who will help shape the financial and business information professions. UND’s chapter is the sixth-oldest continuously active chapter in the United States. Anderson and Bosch say that one of the group’s most successful recruiting strategies was having members go into classes to speak to other students about the benefits of joining the organization. Anderson says that she benefited from her Beta Alpha Psi experience by developing leadership skills and confidence, and this helped her in the interview process as she pursued job placement opportunities in public accounting. Bosch tells prospective members that Beta Alpha Psi is a valuable experience, “All firms recognize
Fall 2015 BAP Officers and Advisors at the BAP Banquet in October 2015. From left to right: Dr. Campbell, Sam Daufenbach, Kasey Bosch, Erica Anderson, Alison Anderson, Stephani Pastir, Matthew Magnuson, and Dr. Ellingson.
this honor, and involvement with Beta Alpha Psi helps you learn about the recruiting process, prepare for life after school, and build strong relationships with other students.” Increased membership and engaged officers helped to revitalize UND’s chapter, and it was recognized for achieving Distinguished Chapter status for the 2015-16 academic year. As the organization continues to grow, Anderson and Bosch say their next goal is to become a Superior Chapter. To qualify as a Superior Chapter, individual members and chapter activities must meet requirements established by the international organization. With their new ideas and initiatives, Anderson and Bosch feel they are well on their way to achieving this notable distinction.
Our graduates continue to excel on the CPA exam. Over the last three calendar years (2013-2015), average pass rates of UND graduates taking the exam in North Dakota compared to those of others in the state and across the country are:
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ND
E x a m S ect i o n
U N D
A U D
48%
42%
47%
B E C
69 %
59%
55%
F A R
65 %
50%
48%
R E G
63 %
51%
49%
N at i o n a l
(EXCLUDING UND)
I am pleased to send you my greetings as you read this outstanding issue of the Department of Accountancy’s Alumni Magazine. The department is beginning the academic year from a position of strength, as you will read in these pages. The faculty has responded positively to the challenges of transition in department leadership and faculty retirements. Professor Kate Campbell is serving a three-year term as department chair. She is in tune with the future of the accounting field and is making sure that our courses, curriculum, and student engagement in activities outside of the classroom continue to prepare University of North Dakota students for the challenges they will face in their lives and careers. We appreciate all that our alumni do to invest in this process. We also have responded to faculty retirements by hiring three outstanding tenure-track faculty with excellent academic credentials as well as strong professional work experience. (They are introduced in this issue.) Faculty who are not on the tenure track now have the opportunity within the college to be recognized as “clinical” faculty and to be promoted based on their teaching skills. This allows us to strike the balance between teaching and research that is important to UND’s status as the state’s flagship university.
University of North Dakota’s 12th president. He has already gotten to know a number of accounting faculty as well as many of our engaged alumni as he has been out in the community on his listening tour. He understands the marketability of an accounting degree. His daughter Emily earned her accounting degree, is a CPA, and was named a manager at PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC). He has a nephew working for PwC in New York, a niece working for Deloitte in Washington, and a nephew working for an accounting firm in Alexandria, Minn. I appreciate all that you do for the department, our college, and the University. Please continue to visit us, mentor students, speak in classes, recruit our students for internships and jobs, and stay engaged. Opportunities abound to support our students and our work financially: through the North Dakota state challenge grant program, responding to a challenge grant to fund a faculty professorship to honor our recent retirees, and considering a gift to support the new and/or renovated facilities we need to educate future business professionals. If you have any questions about these opportunities, please feel free to contact me (margaret.williams@ UND.edu; 701.777.2135) and let me know how I may be of service. I hope to see you at one of our exciting Homecoming events! Warm regards,
There is also a new accountant on campus: President Mark Kennedy joined us on July 1 as the
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“I ALWAYS KNEW I’D GIVE TO UND.” As a student, Remington Zacher received several University of North Dakota scholarships, including the Presidential Scholarship and Page Scholarship, which he says helped him do and experience more as a student. When he passed the CPA exam, he used his bonus to give back to UND.
THIS IS
YOUR LEGACY.
REMINGTON ZACHER, ’12 Accounting & Chinese Studies Parshall, N.D. Senior International Tax Consultant, Deloitte, Minneapolis
If you’d like to contribute to the success of UND students like Remington, consider investing in scholarships, programs, or faculty. Contact a member of our team to learn more.
Kim Woods, ’82
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Senior Director of Development 701.777.4106 kimw@UNDfoundation.org
2015-2016 Accountancy Scholarship Recipients FALL 2015
$61,170 awarded Al P. Swanson Scholarship William Bata
Bernt Anderson Memorial Scholarship Alison Burns
Bob & Joan Bender Scholarship Nathan Haechrel
CJ and Kathleen Whalen Scholarship Drew Gauwitz
Diana & Harold Randall Family Scholarship Sanghyeon Park
DuWayne Wacker Memorial Scholarship Jacob Fisher
Eldon H. Reinke Memorial Scholarship Jed Swenson
Emil & Audrey Stoltz Scholarship Kasey Bosch
Iver & Margaret Strande Family Scholarship Ben Schreiner
Jake Wambsganss Memorial Scholarship Samual Daufenbach
Jerry & Marie Topp Family Scholarship Jed Swenson
Kukla Family Scholarship Nathan Myhre
Leonard & Carmel Cherlet Scholarship Zhixing Zhou
Lori & Mike Hendrickson Scholarship Daros Zahn
Ludwik Kulas Scholarship Erica Anderson
Mary & Art Loyland Scholarship Megan Limke
Ernest Lindstrom Scholarships
Meinhardt “Mike� Bader Memorial Scholarship
Herr Family Scholarships
Mike & Lori Hendrickson Scholarship
Brett Kosel
Alison Anderson Britten Croves Sanghyeon Park
Breann Harm
Niles Family Scholarship Ian Ballantyne
Ochoco Lumber Bruce Daucsavage Scholarship Eric Kvidt
Robert and Cassie Brostrom Scholarship Jed Swenson
Rodney Medalen Scholarship Samuel Daufenbach
Rick & Lori Lee Scholarship
Michael Johnson
Richard J. Peters Scholarship Stephani Pastir
Stan and Dorothy Hoistad Scholarship Samantha Ritten
Stuart Lundberg Memorial Scholarship Erik McLaughlin
Terri & Todd Zimmerman Family Scholarship Kasey Bosch
Rachel Hoffert
SPRING 2016
$32,800 awarded Clifford Anderson Scholarships Jordan Anderson Stephani Pastir Wade Ross
Baker Tilly Virchow Krause Scholarships Megan Limke Jamie Lyn Terry
John C. Berg Memorial Accounting Scholarships Nathan Haechrel Brett Kosel
Brady Martz Scholarships Kasey Bosch Michael Johnson
Deloitte Scholarships William Bata Britten Croves Samuel Daufenbach Danielle Kloek Alex Kohns
Mike and Lori Hendrickson Scholarship Eric Antonson
North Dakota Society of CPAs Foundation Scholarships
Erica Anderson Matthew Magnuson
Erica Anderson Landon Fuhrman Michael Johnson Mariah Lunak Ryan Nelson Jed Swenson Brennan Thorlakson
KPMG Scholarships
PricewaterhouseCoopers Scholarships
Drees, Riskey & Vallager Scholarship Robert Whalen
Eide Bailly Scholarships
Sara Feeser Kyle Simonson
Lori and Mike Hendrickson Scholarship Daros Zahn
Ian Ballantyne Sanghyeon Park Christopher Seeba
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Accountancy Department Gamble Hall, Room 220 293 Centennial Drive Stop 8097 Grand Forks, ND 58202-8097 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
UND Department of Accountancy
Calendar of Events October Sioux Awards Banquet Mellem Business Symposium Accounting Hall of Fame CoBPA Scholarship Luncheon Beta Alpha Psi Scholarship Ceremony
Thursday, October 13 Friday, October 14 Friday, October 14 Friday, October 21 Friday, October 21
November Olafson Ethics Symposium
Thursday, November 3
Visit us at business.UND.edu to learn more about upcoming events!