Board of Directors
Nikki is a Real Estate and Leasing Property Manager of Western Products and Affiliated Companies in Fargo.
She started her career at Eide Helmeke as an auditor for approximately three years. She then went to work for Western Products, a family business.
Since having small children to play with and care for, her involvement in community and professional activities has been limited to working with the Society’s Young CPA Group, acting as the PTA Treasurer for the past 2 years and also volunteering with other functions at her children’s schools.
Nikki graduated from UND. She is married to Blake Nelson (CPA) and has a 7 year old son (Drew), a 4 year old daughter (Anna), and an 18 month old daughter (Marin).
She enjoys going to the lake in the summer, water skiing, cooking and baking, snuggling up on the couch to watch a movie with her kids and spending time with family and friends.
What do you like about the Society: I like how it has helped me get to know a lot more people on a deeper level. This has been true of committee work, convention planning, chapter leadership and most currently being on the Board. Being on the Board has really helped build my confidence in sharing ideas with others respectful of each other in a fun atmosphere. I also like knowing that North Dakota still has a growing and thriving Society even though we are one of the smaller states in the country. This is due in part to the strong commitments from those in our Society office and also the dedication of our many members and volunteers who want our Society to continue to flourish for many years to come.
What would surprise people about you: Before I decided to major in accounting I thought I wanted to be an English teacher.
Len Splichal, CPA, President Elect
Len Splichal is a controller for Adams Development in Fargo. She was a dental assistant for eight years, followed by three years as a dental receptionist. She was also a tax accountant for Eide Bailly for nine years.
Splichal started getting involved with the Society right after getting her license in 1998, and has chaired the membership committee, participated in convention planning and was a board member for the local chapter (FMCPA’s). She is also involved with her church and a nonprofit radio station.
Splichal is married to Jeff, and her family includes their daughter, son, daughter in-law and granddaughter. She enjoys playing with her baby granddaughter, reading and scrap booking.
What do you like about the Society? The Society is a great way to get involved with other members of the profession. By getting involved, you have the opportunity to meet more of your follow CPAs, plus you get the opportunity to have a voice in how different aspects of the Society operate.
What would surprise people about you? When I went to college as an older-than-average student, I thought I would become a pharmacist.
Directors
Patrick Kautzman, CPA, Secretary
Patrick Kautzman is a tax partner with Eide Bailly LLP in Fargo, ND. He is a graduate of Minnesota State University Moorhead and has been a Certified Public Accountant for 11 years. Kautzman is married with three children, Jacob, Abby, and Ellery, and his hobbies and pastimes include golf and spending time with his children and their activities.
What do you like about Society? The opportunity to meet other wonderful people in related professions and being a part of an organization supporting the integrity of the CPA designation.
Clarence Sitter, CPA, ABV Clarence Sitter is a manager at Eide Bailly LLP in Fargo, ND. Clarence received his Bachelor of Science in Accounting and his Masters of Business Administration from the University of Mary, Bismarck.
Sitter grew up in Drayton, ND, but most of his family is primarily from western North Dakota. He is married to Jennifer, and has two children, Kaitlyn and Laura. His hobbies and pastimes include golf, basketball, volleyball and sports in general.
What do you like about the Society? The ability to get to know my peers and be involved within the different parts of the Society. The ability to give back to the profession.
Dianna L. Kindseth, CPA, ABV
Dianna Kindseth is a shareholder with Brady Martz in Bismarck, ND. She joined Orser, Olson & St. Peter CPA firm in 1982, which merged with Brady Martz in 1992. She is active as a volunteer in the local Chamber of Commerce, church and various other nonprofit and school activities and advisory boards.
What do you like about the Society? The Society provides me the opportunity to interact with my peers in public accounting, education, industry, nonprofit and government, and serves as an opportunity to support and promote our profession and the opportunities it provides for rewarding careers in all of these economic sectors.
Steven Britsch, CPA
Steve Britsch is the owner of Britsch & Associates, PC in Devils Lake, ND. He has been with this firm or its predecessor entities since 1994. He has been a Certified Public Accountant since 1993.
Britsch is a graduate of the University of North Dakota and is married to Barb with two children, Matthew (7) and Kayla (5). He enjoys his children’s activities, golf, riding his harley, hunting, reading, christian studies, UND hockey games and woodworking.
Some of the professional/community activities Britsch is and has been involved with include: former president of the Rotary Club, member of Mayor’s Business committee, former member of the ND P-16 Education Task Force, former Church Treasurer, former Trustee of the NDCPA Society Foundation.
What do you like about Society? The ability to meet and network with other professionals across North Dakota.
What would surprise people about you? I had hair at one time!
Taryce Malnaa, CPA
Taryce Malnaa is a shareholder with Brady Martz in Minot, ND. She has been with them since graduating from college at Minot State University in 1990. Malnaa is the current president of Northwest Estate Planning Council Board of Directors and a board member of Vincent United Methodist Church. She enjoys camping, cooking and knitting.
Born and raised in Des Lacs, ND, Malnaa is married to husband, Lester, and has three children, Elizabeth, Alex and Patrick.
What do you like about the Society? The society is always willing to assist. Anything I have ever asked them to help with, they have done it in a timely manner and made me feel that I mattered to the association.
What would surprise people about you? My husband and I own and operate an antique steam tractor engine.
Rick Horn, CPA
Rick Horn is president of HJL Management Company in Mandan, ND. He was born in Mahnomen, MN and graduated from the University of North Dakota. Horn is a board member of the Mandan Kiwanis Club, treasurer of Mandan Soccer Club, treasurer of North Dakota Chapter of NAHRO and director of Mandan Growth Fund. He is also a member of the AICPA & NDSCPA.
Horn has been married to his wonderful wife, Lynnette, for 17 years and has two daughters, Ashton (14) and Alexis (10), and a son, Austin (7). He has lived in Mandan for the last 13 years and enjoys being involved in his children’s activities, as well as basketball, golfing and hunting.
What would surprise people about you? We just finished building a new house outside of Mandan, and we are still married!
What do you like about the Society? The Society is a great way to network with others in the profession.
Tracee S. Buethner, CPA
Tracee S. Buethner is a partner with Widmer Roel PC in Fargo. She is a graduate of Minnesota State University of Moorhead. Prior to joining Widmer Roel PC, she worked in the Phoenix market as an audit manager with a regional accounting firm and then worked as an internal auditor with a publicly traded company. Tracee is currently a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Institute of Internal Auditors, North Dakota Society of CPA’s, North Dakota Association of Nonprofit Organizations, National Center for Employee Ownership. And a Member of the NDSCPA Membership Committee.
Previously, she served as the co-chair of the 2004 AICPA New Member Forum, chair of the NDSCPA Membership Committee, completed 5-year term on the Certification Committee of the Arizona State Board of Accountancy, and member of the NDSCPA Convention Committee.
She is active in community functions and is currently a member of the finance committee of a large nonprofit organization serving the Fargo-Moorhead area, and a volunteer for various projects. Tracee is also a member of various nonprofit and member organizations. Born in Fargo ND, she enjoys reading, photography, traveling, and paleontology.
What I like about the Society: After moving back to the FM area, the Society provided a great opportunity to meet and network with other CPAs in the state. Most of all, it provides a way to give back to the profession through involvement in various committees.
What would surprise people about me: Through out my life, I have been involved with showing dogs. First as an exhibitor, then as the chairperson of the largest event show in the Southwest and now as a national coordinator for the Keeshond Club of America.
Terri Bushaw Clark, CPA
Terri Clark is the Chief Financial Officer at UND Aerospace in Grand Forks. She taught Accounting at UND for 5 years after earning a Masters in Accountancy at UND; and she has been at Aerospace for 23 years - leading the finance teams for both
the Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences and the UND Aerospace Foundation.
Terri is the former CPE committee chair for NDSCPA, Board Member for NDSCPA, Diocesan Finance Council - Diocese of Fargo, and a variety of leadership roles at St. Michael’s Church
Terri is from Rolette, ND and has undergraduate degree in Math and French from UND. She is married to Paul Clark; has 4 grown children; 3 of them are married; 8 grandchildren ages 1 to 8.
Hobbies and Pastimes: (Who has time for a hobby?) Mostly spend time with family - followed by short periods of recovery. Enjoy reading fiction and doing crossword puzzles when I get the opportunity.
What I like about the Society: Opportunity to meet, collaborate with other CPA professionals; ability to participate in and influence professional matters; easy access to continuing professional education.
What would surprise people about me: I don’t FEEL short.
Marci Schorsch, CPA
Position: Senior Accounting Analyst
Firm/Company and Location: Basin Electric Power Cooperative, Bismarck ND
Employment Background:
Basin Electric Power Cooperative June 1985 to present. Rotated in various Accounting sections at the Great Plains Synfuels Plant in Beulah, ND, transferring to Bismarck in 1988. Worked in corporate income tax for 15 years and then moved into Financial Reporting and Accounts Receivable where I am currently.
Professional/ Community Activities: AICPA member, NDSCPA Board of Directors, Bis-Man Chapter of CPA’s, Basin Electric PAC representative, Religious Education teacher, congregational song leader, church choir member, Designer Jeans (Down Syndrome support network) volunteer.
What I like about the Society: The NDSCPA brings great pride to the CPA profession in our state by providing advocacy, cohesiveness and quality services to CPA’s practicing in all areas of the profession. I particularly like the spirit evident in the Society by the friendly and hard working committee members and the overall positive networking environment created for both young and old. The NDSCPA is a very worthwhile organization to get involved with to enhance your Accounting experience and have some fun while doing it!
What would surprise people about me:
My vision out of college was to become a high-finance corporate executive and marry CEO of ‘Large, Multi-National Corporation’ in ‘Metropolitan’, USA. Instead, I went to work in Accounting and Income tax in Bismarck, ND, became a CPA and married a telephone man born and raised in Richardton, ND. Just two years ago when we purchased rural property near Carson, ND, I continued this divergent path by becoming a part-time farmer/rancher’s wife. It’s funny how things turn out for the best as I absolutely LOVE where I’m at and wouldn’t change a thing!
Anything else: (school, children, birthplace, etc.)
Born and raised in Bismarck, ND. Attended Moorhead State University (now University of Minnesota-Moorhead) and received a B.S. degree in 1984 with a double major in Accounting and Finance. Received my CPA certificate in 1991. Married in 1988 to Ron who is currently employed by CenturyLink. We have three beautiful children: Mylee (18), Rylan (14) and Makiah (9).
Hobbies and Pastimes: Singing, teaching (religious education, weight loss & nutrition), reading (leadership and personal growth).
Michael Schmitz, CPA, Past President
Mike Schmitz is the office and tax manager of the Bismarck office of Widmer Roel PC. He has been with them since 2003. Prior to that, he was an adjuncted tax professor at the University of Mary, senior vice president and senior trust officer at BNC National Bank, partner with Gregory K. Cleveland & Co. and director of finance AAction Moving & Storage.
Schmitz is a member of Excellence in Business, St. Mary’s High School Finance and Development Committee, former president of the Alumni Association, former president of the Parish Council Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, former Cub Scout Troop chairperson, volunteer coach and baseball umpire, member of the Bismarck Mandan CPA Chapter, AICPA, NDSCPA, NDSCPA’s Ethics Committee and chair of the Society Taxation Committee.
Schmitz graduated with a BA double major in accounting and business administration from the University of Mary. He's married to Janel and has two sons, Jason and DJ. His pastime has been spent following his sons' extra curricular activities, boating and golf.
What do you like about the Society? The Society is a great network of professionals.
What would surprise people about you? In my spare time, I volunteer as a bus driver for extra
curricular activities.
