Meet the Board : Bland Cares Foundation

	Kailey Riskowski, CPA, CHFP President At Bland & Associates, I work in our Audit and Assurance Department which includes coordinating various engagements with our clients, leading teams of staff in our efforts to complete the engagement and following up with our clients throughout the year to touch base, answer any questions, etc. I also work in our Federal Contracting Department which entails serving federal agencies through the performance of services outlined in our statements of work. I am terrible at singing, but I love doing it. Luckily my kids are fans (they are required to be, ha!)!
	Megan Geissinger, PHR, SHRM-CP Vice President Growing up in Columbia, Missouri, Megan Geissinger says her childhood dream was to be a professional ballet dancer, but she ultimately chose a career in human resources to help people succeed. “I love to support employees so they can be more effective in their positions, hopefully leading to a stronger culture, thus building a successful organization,” she said. She joined Bland & Associates in 2019 as a Manager in the Human Resources department, with a goal to support their mission of “creating a fulfilling and dynamic workplace culture”. “I truly consider the employees of Bland my ‘customers’” so I fully intend to support, challenge, and embrace those relationships,” Megan continued. In 2003, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Management from Truman State University. She moved to Omaha following graduation and earned an M.B.A. with concentrations in Finance and Human Resources from Bellevue University in 2007.
	Cara Zimmer, CPA Secretary Cara Zimmer, CPA says her childhood dream was to have her own dance studio. She started as a competitive dancer at an early age and was on her way to a degree in dance and arts management at Oklahoma City University when an accounting class changed her plans. “I took my first accounting class and being the math and science-minded person I have always been, I was intrigued by the detail and organization of accounting,” she said. “Some may think that is the most drastic career path change they have ever heard of, but it makes perfect sense to me,” she continued. “I really like numbers, but I also love the challenges, stability, and flexibility this career offers.” Zimmer currently serves as a Manager in the Bland & Associates, P.C. (Bland) Audit Department, a position she began in 2020. In this role, she is heavily focused on the firm’s health care and long-term care clientele, serving as both the main point of communication with the client and the lead of the team.
	Jacob Aschoff Treasurer Jacob grew up in Omaha, where he was homeschooled and began pursuing his associate’s degree at 17 years old. He went on to earn his undergraduate degree in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska Omaha in 2022, followed by his MBA with an emphasis in Analytics in 2024. He is a Supervisor in the Tax Department at Bland & Associates, where he specializes in partnerships and real estate projects of all types. Jacob enjoys the constant problem solving the tax industry provides, often viewing the work as a series of puzzles to solve in order to bring clarity and value to clients. Inspired by his mother, who was a personal trainer, Jacob values staying active and enjoys finding new ways to challenge himself physically. He also appreciates time outdoors, especially camping and connecting with nature, which provide balance and perspective alongside his professional life. Through his role on the board, Jacob is grateful for the opportunity to use his skills and experiences to give back to the community and support the mission of the Bland Cares Foundation
	Matt Fowler Director A self proclaimed “Military brat” who moved all over the midwest, but is proud to now call Omaha home. Matt learned from his father at an early age the importance of always listening to others and providing your time to anyone who asks. He now puts this into practice by actively communicating with clients, hearing their challenges and needs and offering effective solutions. Matt helped Bland start an annual scholarship program through the Midlands African Chamber of Commerce in an effort to promote the accounting field to a younger generation. Matt is the proud father of two caring and intelligent but yet still very Neanderthal sons, Van and Nash. We are all lucky to be taken care of by my loving wife, Julie.
	Danie Senske Director Although Danielle (Danie) Senske explored various majors in college, ranging from Criminal Justice to Education, she says her coursework in Accounting I and II ultimately determined her career path. Senske initially served at Bland & Associates as an Intern during the 2010-2011 school year. In December 2011, she graduated Cum Laude from the University of Nebraska – Omaha with a BSBA in Accounting. She officially joined Bland as an Associate in January 2012, a position she held until promoted to a Senior Accountant in 2014. In just one year, she was promoted to Supervisor then Manager, Director, and now serves as a Tax Partner, focusing on partnership, corporate and individual taxation with a heavy concentration in the real estate industry. Her client base consists primarily of real estate investors, brokers, developers, property managers, and construction contractors. She says it’s important to have on-going opportunities to learn and develop. “Working in the tax department definitely fits the bill,” she said. “Researching and learning something new occurs almost every day. The job is challenging in a good way and mentally rewarding.”
	Rachel Turek Director Growing up in Omaha, Rachel Turek aspired to be a veterinarian but shifted gears when she received a B, in place of her typical A, in college chemistry. She was ultimately inspired to join the accounting profession by her CPA mother. She performs audits, reviews, and compilations of a variety of industries, specializing in not-for-profits and audits of employee benefit plans. She also works on commercial and governmental entities. Turek joined Bland & Associates in 2013, most recently serving as a Director in the Audit department. Turek earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting at Bellevue University in 2011, where she was named Student Athlete of the Year in 2009 in volleyball. She is a Certified Public Accountant, Certified Fraud Examiner and also holds an AICPA Not-for-Profit Certification II and AICPA Advanced Defined Contribution Plans Audit Certification. She met her husband, Ryan Turek, when he moved from Michigan to play for the Omaha Lancers. He played semi-professional hockey for about five years and they traveled and lived in various places including Charleston, South Carolina, Salt Lake City, Utah, Anchorage, Alaska, and Victoria, British Columbia, before settling back in Omaha and having their daughter, Harper, in 2019. Their newest addition, Scarlett, was born in 2022.