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Women in Accounting Summit

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Crete Carrier Riverview Lodge at Mahoney State Park

28500 W Park Hwy (I-80 Exit 426)
Ashland, NE 68003

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6.00 Credits

Member Price $344.00

Non-Member Price $404.00

Overview

Elevate, Empower, Excel: Own Your Future!

Please see the agenda tab.

If you have eight (8) or more individuals registering from one organization, please contact the Society office to receive a discount.

Designed For

Women leaders within the accounting and finance community.

Notice

Conference materials will be available electronically in the My CPE section of the NESCPA website two days prior to the conference. 

Dietary Restrictions?

Please contact the NESCPA office at society@nescpa.org or (402) 476-8482 with any dietary restriction at lease two weeks before the Summit.

Lodging 

Mahoney State Park

Embassy Suites (La Vista)

Hampton Inn (La Vista) 

Kimberly Creek Retreat (Ashland)

Sponsorship Opportunity

Increase your organization’s exposure, heighten your brand recognition, and drive sales by claiming your sponsorship or exhibit space at this Nebraska Society of CPAs conference. Visit Sponsor an Event for details and to help your corporate message effectively reach Nebraska CPAs.

Wednesday, August 27

General Session

- Welcome from Chairman

This session is available to registrants only.

General Session

- The Leadership Shift: From High Achiever to Strategic Leader - Kelli Thompson, Leadership & Executive Coach

Kelli Thompson, Kelli Thompson LLC

Kelli Thompson

Kelli Thompson is an award-winning executive coach and speaker who is on a mission to advance women to the rooms where decisions are made. She has coached and trained thousands of women to trust themselves, lead with more confidence, and create a career they love. She is the founder of the Clarity & Confidence Women's Leadership Program, and a Stevie Award winner for Women in Business—Coach of the Year. She is the author of the critically acclaimed book, Closing The Confidence Gap: Boost Your Peace, Your Potential & Your Paycheck.

We often promote people from doer to leader and assume a magic transformation will happen - that they’ll shed the identity they had as a doer, and evolve overnight into a strategic leader who is comfortable coaching, delegating and making hard decisions.  High achievers may struggle to become strategic leaders because it’s tempting to believe the myth that “doing all the things” will help them achieve their goals and become respected leaders. After all, it was being a great “doer” that earned them recognition and promotions - it’s part of their identity. Unfortunately, this just keeps them in an advancement trap. This is especially challenging for women who navigate an extra layer of challenges like the unpaid workload. Women get 44 percent more requests at work to volunteer for unpaid, non-promotable tasks. In addition, taking on this unpaid work often keeps women labeled as “unstrategic.” 
 
More is not always better, in fact, it leads to burnout and resentment. It’s time to level up your leadership and advance your role from doer to leader, not by doing more, but by doing L.E.S.S. This session teaches simple tools to:• 

  • Help you cut the Limiting beliefs that keep you saying yes when you want to say no, 
  • How to Express your expectations and set boundaries collaboratively, 
  • Shift your identity from doer to leader by allowing for the discomfort of delegating and coaching others without intervening, and
  • Start delegating. You’ll learn practical strategies to clean up your calendar, delegate effectively and create a healthier work/life rhythm so you can be the strategic, visionary leader you are meant to become.

This session is available to registrants only.

General Session

- Breaking the Glass Ceiling: The Journey of Women Leaders - Panel - Kathy Farrell, Amy Knust, and Jen Hamann

Amy Knust, Eide Bailly LLP

Amy Knust

Amy Knust is a Partner at Eide Bailly.  Amy helps clients reach their strategic business goals by assisting them with digital transformation including the evaluation and selection of technology solutions designed to streamline business process and support growth. She leads organizations through modernization of their technology systems with a focus on business applications, data analytics and process automation.

Kathy Farrell

Kathy Farrell

Kathy Farrell was named College of Business dean in December 2017 after serving as interim dean for nearly one year.

Farrell served as the chair of the college's Department of Finance from 2014 to 2017. As the college's associate dean from 2010 to 2014, she oversaw the development and implementation of new programs, including the business minor for non-business students, a hybrid career services model, and the Professional Enhancement program for all undergraduate business students.

Farrell has been a faculty member of the College of Business since 1993. She has earned both the college's "Distinguished Teaching Award" (twice) and its "Research Award." Her teaching focus is on corporate finance and banking at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Her primary research interests include executive compensation, executive turnover and succession, and other corporate governance issues.

Farrell has served on two corporate boards. Prior to earning her doctorate in finance from the University of Georgia, Farrell was an auditor for KPMG Peat Marwick in Baltimore and Atlanta. She earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting and finance from Kent State University.

Jennifer Hamann

Jennifer Hamann

Whether serving as Union Pacific's first woman chief financial officer or volunteering for community activities, Jennifer Hamann's leadership positively impacts those around her.

In recognition of her efforts, The Manufacturing Institute - the workforce development and education partner of the National Association of Manufacturers - named Hamann a recipient of its 2023 Women MAKE Awards, honoring women in science, technology, engineering and production careers who exemplify leadership and excellence.

Hamann, executive vice president and chief financial officer, oversees all aspects of the railroad's financial activities and represents Union Pacific across the industry. Throughout her 31-year career, she's held numerous leadership positions in Finance, Investor Relations, Marketing and Sales, and Workforce Resources.

Join us for an inspiring panel discussion featuring three accomplished women leaders as they share their journeys to success, the challenges they’ve faced, and the strategies that helped them rise to the top. From navigating bias and breaking barriers to leading with authenticity and mentoring the next generation, this session will provide valuable insights and actionable advice for women at all stages of their careers. Don’t miss this empowering conversation on leadership, resilience, and the future of women in business.

This session is available to registrants only.

General Session

- Powered Productivity: Tech Tools to Get Stuff Done - Beth Ziesenis, Your Nerdy Best Friend

Beth Ziesenis

Beth Ziesenis

Beth Ziesenis.  Beth Z cuts through the noise to bring you tech tips, tools and tricks for productive productivity, sexy social media, tolerable to-do lists and truly collaborative collaborations.

She is exciting, fun, and packed full of knowledge that she shares in easy-to-digest sound bites. Beth takes the fear out of technology and helps you get right to the point with effective apps and tools that you can integrate into your everyday work and life.

Exasperated by email? Peeved about passwords? Tired of tedious tasks? You're not alone.

Discover how to use free and bargain technology tools you never knew existed to work more efficiently with your teams, get organized and finally get stuff done.

  • Discover low-cost, high-value apps and tech tools that you can start using right away.
  • Learn great tech tips and app ideas from your colleagues.
  • Get new ideas to increase efficiency, improve relationships and get things dones!

This session is available to registrants only.

General Session

- Lunch & Tradeshow

This session is available to registrants only.

General Session

- PowerRelate: Elevate Your Impact Through the Power of Storytelling - Wendy Van, Open Window Communications

Wendy Van

Wendy Van

Wendy Van has been coaching professionals to be powerful spokespeople for their industries for nearly 30 years. With her background in journalism, and public speaking, she has coached numerous industry leaders, academic researchers and mission driven professionals to effectively communicate their messages to all audiences with curiosity, integrity and authenticity.

Networking is more than just exchanging business cards—it’s about creating genuine connections that inspire collaboration and mutual growth. This interactive session will explore how embracing curiosity, practicing authenticity, and leading with integrity can transform your approach to professional connections. Discover techniques for active listening, describing the passion behind your work, and finding unique ways to connect on a deeper level. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or new to your career, you’ll leave this session inspired and equipped to reimagine networking as a catalyst for collaboration, and growth.

This session is available to registrants only.

General Session

- Trade Show, Networking, Social Time

This session is available to registrants only.

General Session

- Authenticity: The Superpower to Transform Your Career - Melissa Hurrington, Premier Claims

Melissa Hurrington

Melissa Hurrington

Melissa Hurrington is a respected Finance and Business Professional with a seasoned career across multiple industries. She is a servant leader who sees beyond the numbers and instead sees the impact people make on a business. Aside from her husband and two children, nothing makes Melissa more proud than watching her team's individual growth under her leadership.

Melissa believes in showing up as the best version of yourself every day. Learning and growing is a necessity in both her personal and professional life. Her belief in pushing yourself to be 1% Better has become an unofficial motto of the entire team at Premier Claims.

In a world where facades and polished exteriors often dominate the corporate landscape, embracing authenticity can be a game-changer. Join Melissa Hurrington, a trailblazing CFO who has shattered conventional norms, as she shares her journey of staying true to herself in the high-stakes world of Corporate. Melissa’s unapologetic approach to leadership, where realness, vulnerability, and personal integrity take center stage, proves that you don’t have to sacrifice who you are to reach the top. This keynote will explore how authenticity can empower leaders, inspire teams, and take your career to new heights. Through personal anecdotes, insights, and practical advice, Melissa will challenge you to rethink traditional notions of professionalism and embrace your true self as your greatest asset. Prepare to be inspired to remove the ceilings you’ve placed on your career and show up with unfiltered authenticity.

This session is available to registrants only.

Non-Member Price $404.00

Member Price $344.00