CPA

Kelly Barada

Kelly earned a Bachelor of Science with majors in Finance and Accounting at UNL and she has 19 years of experience in public accounting. She enjoys making sure her client’s questions are taken care of and always wants them to feel comfortable contacting her for help. Kelly primarily works with business-related tax returns including like-kind exchanges.

Kelly and her husband, Tim, love to watch their daughters, Alex and Emerson, play sports including basketball, soccer, cross country, track, and dance. Even when her daughters are not competing, she enjoys attending other sporting events with her family.

Her passion for sports comes from her own involvement in high school athletics as a state champion in both the 1600 Meter Run and 3200 Meter Relay when she attended Fremont High School.

Client Relations

Val Bartunek

Val came to Lincoln by way of Liberty, Missouri, landing at Lincoln Southeast High School her junior year.  She attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln studying Early Childhood Education to pursue her dream of teaching pre-kindergartners. After teaching for 21 years, she took a professional leap. While continuing to fulfill her passion for working and connecting with people, she entered the client relations field specializing in client and partner on-boarding processes. 

 Outside of the office, Val spends her time with family and her partner, Scott, where they are often found attending their kids’ numerous sporting events and loving on their two dogs. Val professes to be the biggest fan of the Kansas City Chiefs and is not afraid to show it or her avid enthusiasm for the Boston Celtics and the New York Yankees. Travel is in her sights as she looks forward to visiting Hawaii and Greece someday. 

Val brings to the firm extensive experience in client services and appreciates the importance of building client relationships for the long-term. She believes the most important SP core value is relationships. With her experience and beliefs in client relations, she will be an asset to our firm in recognizing and meeting our clients’ needs. 

Team Accountant

Heather Brundieck

Heather, a graduate from the University of Lincoln with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management, is currently working towards her Master’s in Professional Accountancy and concurrently sitting for the CPA exams.  As a previous small business owner, her extensive experience in customer service with a keen attention to detail will serve her clients well and foster positive long-term relationships with them.   

An Iowa native, Heather calls Lincoln home with a few stops in between as the result of several expatriate assignments.  She and her husband, Shane, and their two children, Isabelle and Oliver, have had multi-year stints in the United Kingdom, Beijing, and Berlin.  As a family, they welcomed these experiences and gained a deeper understanding of other cultures and customs.   

In her free time, Heather enjoys volunteering for various organizations, including the Junior League of Lincoln – holding several offices, as an alum of Leadership Lincoln, past board member of The Hub-Central Access Point for Young Adults, and she served on the Young Life Fall Showcase planning committee.  Heather looks forward to keeping her travel adventures alive and her passport full, her “Bucket List” includes trips to Antarctica, The Maldives, and an African Safari. 

Team Accountant - Enrolled Agent

Mark Chapin

Mark specializes in business and individual tax preparation at SP Group. He is an Enrolled Agent and a UNL grad in Computer Science and holds a certificate in Family Financial Planning. He is currently working towards CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification. Originally from Nebraska City, he grew up in two family businesses and developed a desire to help people where needed. This parlayed into establishing and building a Fortune 5000 technology company for nearly 25 years.

The busy tax season ends just in time for Mark to jump on his bicycle to train for gravel races and an annual ride across Iowa. When not on his bike, he spends time with his wife and two children enjoying their music and cheer activities. When they have time to get away, the destination is commonly focused on food, drink, and music.

Team Accountant

Brad Devall

Brad is a former business owner and was voted a “40 Under 40 Award Winner” by the Lincoln Business Journal in honor of his achievements as an entrepreneur and young professional. He enjoys the opportunity to collaborate with his Team members at SP Group to serve the tax and accounting needs of both individual and business clients.

Brad hails from Nebraska’s Irish Capital, O’Neill, and now lives in Lincoln with his wife, Stephanie, their daughter, Ashlynn, and son, Alec. As a student at UNL from 1986 to 1990, Brad played football for Coach Tom Osborne. Now he enjoys coaching football for Lincoln Southwest High School and never passes up the opportunity to go fishing with his son when the busy tax season is over each spring.

Team Accountant

Jessica Fairbanks

Jessica is a recent graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a Master’s in Professional Accountancy.  A former tax intern at SP Group, she re-joins the firm as a full-time Team Accountant and, concurrently, will be sitting for the CPA exams.   

 Jessica believes the most important SP core value is relationships.  She values the importance of building and maintaining relationships and by utilizing her background as a Clifton Strengths coach, she looks forward to fostering positive relationships with coworkers and future clients. 

 Jessica is a Hutchinson, Kansas, native and loves any opportunity to be outdoors. One of her goals for the coming year is to compete in more triathlons, as she enjoys riding bikes, swimming, and running. In her free time, Jessica enjoys trying out new recipes, caring for her plant collection, and reading a good book.  An avid world-wide traveler, she has already visited eight countries and looks forward to visiting more in the coming years. 

TAX INTERN

Robert Frost

Robert, a junior accounting major with a minor in finance, comes from the north Dallas area. Driven to succeed in academics, he will complete his bachelor of science degree in three years. Upon graduation in the spring of 2025 with a Masters in Professional Accountancy, he plans to sit for his CPA exams. Currently, he enjoys sharing his academic skills as an accounting tutor in the Tutoring Center and will be a Clifton Strengths coach this year.

In his free time, Robert enjoys playing golf, running 5K’s as a hobby, hiking, and traveling. A fun fact, he’s been to 23 countries and now has plans to visit as many national parks as possible. As an avid music collector spanning varies genres, he appreciates all kinds of music and loves when someone introduces him to a new sound to explore.

CPA

Jason Hardy

Jason sinks his teeth into investing strategies and investing options. His niche is working with business owners and self-employed individuals to reduce taxes and minimize liability risk through proper entity selection.

Jason is a Dallas native and a huge Cowboys fan. His favorite movie is The Shawshank Redemption but he has no desire to find himself in the real-life role of the main character (as a prisoner giving “sound financial advice” to his fellow inmates!).

He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from UNL and cheers on the Husker football team. Jason maintains a connection to his alma mater as a Board Member and Trustee for the Alpha Theta Chi fraternity. In his free time, Jason enjoys golfing, watching football, and taking road trips, especially his annual trip to Las Vegas.

Director of First Impressions

Abbie Jenkins

Abbie is the warm and caring first contact clients are greeted by when they step through our doors or call our office.  Her infectious smile and laugh will welcome anyone that meets her, as well as her unwavering desire to make every client feel truly cared for and part of the SP Team in her role as Director of First Impressions. 

Abbie, a Lincoln native, attended Lincoln Southwest High School.  With an Associates in Early Childhood Education from Southeast Community College, she pursued her love for children as a preschool teacher for the last 10 years.   

In her free time, she teaches spinning and kickboxing and shares her passion for health and fitness through her exuberant teaching style.  She enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, and loves a live concert, attending around 200 concerts to date.  Her “bucket list” includes sky diving and one day, scuba diving while exploring the Great Barrier Reef. 

TAX INTERN

Aidan Kelly

Aidan is a junior at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln majoring in accounting with a minor in business analytics. He plans to continue his education by completing a Master’s in Professional Accountancy from UNL and then pursue a career in public accounting. A driving force for Aidan is to build and foster relationships for the long-term. He is currently using his relationship skill set to help his peers meet their goals as a Peer Career Coach in the Business Career Center.

Aidan hails from La Grange, Illinois, and is an avid Chicago sports fan. He supports the Bears, Bulls, and White Sox, but on Saturdays, he cheers for the Huskers. He loves the great outdoors and at every opportunity, he takes part in a round of golf, hiking, or driving the open roads. One of his goals after graduation is a cross-country road trip to visit various national parks.

Client Service

Amanda Largis

Amanda was born in Grand Forks, North Dakota, grew up in Columbus, Nebraska, and now calls Lincoln home. She attended Wayne State College, receiving her Bachelor’s in Theater with an Endorsement in Elementary Education.  Upon graduation, she set her sights on a new stage and moved to Orlando, Florida where she worked for seven years at Disney’s Animal Kingdom as a guide on the Kilimanjaro Safaris Ride.   

After a stint taming wild animals, she returned to Lincoln and her Nebraska roots to pursue her love for teaching preschool-age children.  While teaching, she continued her interest in theater and cheerleading and began coaching Cheer at Pius X High School.  With her varied background, Amanda brings a unique perspective on customer service to our office that will be a benefit to our relationships with clients. 

Outside of the office, Amanda spends her free time hanging out with friends and family, including her nieces and nephews.  As a proud and supporting aunt, she keeps busy attending all their activities. Her “bucket list” includes going on an actual safari in South Africa to experience animals in their native homeland. 

Enrolled Agent

Trevin Little

Trevin, a Lincoln native and East High School graduate, recently earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.  While attending UNL, he was a member of the Club Golf team for three years.   

He thrives on competition which was sparked in his early years growing up with an older brother.  After college graduation, Trevin’s competitive drive kicked in and motivated him to complete the Enrolled Agent certification process.   With his new credential in hand, paired with his competitive nature, he will offer a unique pathway for his clients to achieve success and growth.  

Outside of the office, Trevin is often found on the golf course. His summers are spent using the Nebraska Golf Passport to travel across the state for golfing with friends.  Believe it or not, Arizona is his favorite place to test his golf skills in mid-July taking advantage of high-heat, low-cost desert prices at top-rated courses.  

Other interests include cheering on his beloved Huskers, spending quality time with family and friends, and traveling.  Family trips include a visit to every Major League Baseball stadium in the United States.  Their next family quest is to attend all four major golf events. During Covid, Trevin began the task of self-taught guitar lessons.  With no musical background, it’s been a challenge but one he enjoys and relishes how far he has progressed through the countless hours of watching YouTube videos.   

Client Outreach

Kim Miller

For Kim, it’s all about relationships. She strives to serve with a smile, being helpful, and above all, listening to her clients’ needs. Her favorite part of her job is to interact with her clients and our staff. One of her top five Gallup Strengths is “Positivity” and that is obvious from the moment you meet her.

Kim’s favorite hobbies take place in the great outdoors where she enjoys hiking, skiing, biking, swimming, and golf. She treasures family time with her two sons, Tayler and Trae, and looks forward to vacationing and celebrating holidays together. She’s also an ice hockey fan, a sport that both of her sons have played. In a house filled with boys, there isn’t a sport they don’t love, but Kim finds time for her love of performing arts.

Kim is a Kappa Kappa Gamma Adviser, a Representative to the National Convention and a past Board Member for KKG Housing Corporation. She is also a Colorado State DECA Judge and Director of Dance Ministry.

Client Support

Melissa McCurley

Melissa makes her mark as a conscientious and hard worker with an eye for detail, making sure her tasks are completed correctly to ensure clients’ needs are met efficiently. Her pride shows in her organizational skills, from having her files carefully sorted on her desk at work, to even keeping her clothes sorted by color in her closet at home. “A place for everything, and everything in its place!”

Melissa has a husband, Josh, a daughter, Kirsten, and a son, Dylan. She has been an assistant coach on her son’s baseball team since he began playing at age six. She is a fan of Husker football, Atlanta Braves baseball, and the Star Wars movie franchise.

Shareholder / CPA

Darin Petersen

Darin is a co-founder of SP Group and enjoys seeing his clients and friends succeed in their various endeavors. With the understanding that most clients prefer less stress, less tax, more profit, and more wealth, Darin puts himself in his clients’ shoes to offer suggestions and ideas that will benefit their personal and business financial goals.  Darin has extensive experience with corporate, partnership, and individual taxation.

Darin cherishes his family, enjoying time spent with his wife Jennifer, their two sons, Max and Fletch, and daughter, Piper.  During his college years in the early 90’s, he was a Freshman All-American Shortstop for the UNL baseball team. Nowadays, when he’s not playing catch with his kids, you might find him watching youth sports, golfing with buddies, taking on a fitness challenge, or indulging in his favorite snack food – Little Debbie chocolate donuts (about 20,000 of them since those Husker shortstop days) washed down with a Coca-Cola fountain drink.

Team Accountant

Clayton Peterson

Clayton, a 2018 graduate of UNL with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a former two-year tax intern at SP Group, recently re-joined the firm full-time as a Team Accountant.  He believes the most important SP core value is relationships.  Building on a strong coworker foundation, he looks forward to fostering positive relationships with clients.  He plans to continue his education by pursuing his Master’s Degree in Professional Accountancy and sitting for the CPA exams concurrently.

A Lincoln native and graduate of Lincoln Southeast High School, Clayton played golf at the high school level and at the collegiate level as a member of both the Lincoln Southeast Community College and UNL Golf teams.

Outside of the office, Clayton enjoys spending time with his family and golfing with his friends, tallying three career hole-in-ones. He is an avid sports fan and always enjoys rooting for the Huskers.

TAX INTERN

Brooke Poppert

Brooke calls St. Paul, Nebraska, her hometown and is a junior accounting major at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. After initially playing college basketball for a year, she eventually landed in Lincoln to pursue an accounting degree. Upon graduation, she hopes to continue her education while preparing to sit for the CPA exams.

In her free time, she serves on the leadership team at The Salt Company Ministry encouraging other co-eds to have a meaningful and spiritual relationship through Gospel-centered teachings. Her other interests include attending all Husker sporting events, going to coffee shops, walking with friends, and a round of golf where she shows her competitive side.

Team Accountant

Kevin Rademacher

Kevin is a UNL grad and formerly worked as a fully licensed Financial Advisor. His role at SP Group includes preparation of personal and business tax returns, producing financial statements, and utilizing QuickBooks to help clients track income and expenses.

The youngest of five, he enjoys big gatherings with his extended family including organizing games and activities for his fifteen nieces and nephews. He and his wife, Laura, live in Omaha and enjoy playing disc golf and tennis.

On any given weekend night, Kevin is likely to be at the theater as he’s a big film buff and always a reliable source for an excellent movie recommendation. His national television claim to fame is high-fiving Jimmy Fallon during a taping of The Tonight Show.

CPA

Ross Reynolds

Ross is a Lincoln native and attended Lincoln Southeast High School. He graduated from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln in 2016 with a Master’s in Professional Accountancy.  Ross is a CPA with four plus years of public accounting experience and has been with SP Group since 2014.  He has also worked in construction, remodeling, and the rental real estate business for seven years. He is fluent in Spanish and studied in Granada, Spain during college.

Outside of the office, Ross loves to spend time at the lake with family and friends.  He is also an avid Huskers and Kansas City Royals fan.

CPA

Chris Robinett

Chris earned his Bachelor of Science degree in both Finance and Accounting from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.  With over thirty years of experience in public accounting including twenty-two years for a local firm and most recently, having his own firm for nine years, Chris brings extensive experience in both business and individual tax planning and preparation.  He enjoys working with small business owners to minimize tax liability through utilization of tax laws, entity selection, and retirement plans.

Chris believes the foundation for developing and maintaining a plan for success is achieved by nurturing client relationships. As a former small business owner, Chris values the importance of building long-term relationships with his clients, fostering a partnership vital to sustaining growth and developing a plan for their financial success.

Growing up on a farm near Franklin, Nebraska, where most of his family still resides, he enjoys visiting family and appreciates the quiet of the country.  His work ethic stems from his time on the family farm – long days on the farm translated easily into long days during tax season.  Outside of work, Chris enjoys watching Nebraska football and volleyball.  He is looking forward to traveling with his partner, Joe, including a trip to Italy and Greece, the number one item on his “Bucket List.”

TAX INTERN

Jennifer Sedlacek

Jennifer is currently a junior at the University of Nebraska Lincoln majoring in accounting. Growing up in Nehawka, she learned the value of hard work spending her summers working at Platte River State Park. Her love for animals is evident in her many years showing prized livestock through 4-H. Influenced by this agricultural mindset, she served as the Nebraska Beef Ambassador during high school. This experience led Jennifer to learn from family businesses that drive Nebraska’s economy and, ultimately, sparked her interest in accounting and tax law.

When not working or studying, Jennifer serves as the treasurer for Phi Mu sorority utilizing and developing her accounting skills. Other hobbies include spending time outdoors and as a true Nebraskan, watching Husker football.

TAX INTERN

Neleigh Slusarski

Neleigh, born and raised in Columbus, is a senior at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln majoring in accounting with a minor in communication studies. She is an honors student currently working on her senior thesis and is a member of Beta Alpha Psi. After graduating in May, she will be preparing to sit for the CPA exams.

In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends. Her love for traveling and seeking out new adventures begins with looking for different restaurants to visit. She plans to travel to five different states this year while sampling food along the way. As an avid runner, she hopes to run a half marathon by the end of the year.

Director of Operations - Enrolled Agent

Troy Stentz

At SP Group, Troy is responsible for supervising many aspects of the firm’s operation including the management of tax return projects.  He has a deep-felt connection to entrepreneurs and the challenges and triumphs they face, from his years of owning and operating a small business with his family.  He loves to help businesses and people grow, by being a patient and trusted advisor. 

 Troy was an English major in college (with a minor in Business) and attended his last two years at UNL on a creative writing scholarship. For some reason, he’s the go-to guy at SP Group for drafting a letter or proofing a press release. 

 Troy and his wife Lisa, take turns planning a surprise vacation every year. Whoever is getting surprised gets a weather report and a suggested packing list, but the destination is kept secret until the departure date. His favorite destination? A trip Lisa planned to the Scottish Highlands for a two week stay in the loch-side village of Ullapool. 

Managing Shareholder & CPA

Dave Swan

Dave believes that relationships matter. He seeks to develop and keep long-term relationships with his clients because it’s what he would want in a financial partner. His entrepreneurial spirit is always pushing him to help people and businesses be more successful.

Dave is a founder of SP Group and has extensive experience with corporate, partnership, and individual taxation and overall wealth planning.

Dave is blessed to be married to Tracey and hopes to be a role model for his two daughters, Kate and Lauren. He grew up in Grant, Nebraska, before attending the University of Nebraska where he was a member of both Farmhouse Fraternity and the Innocents Society. Dave still loves to play “old man” basketball and he also coaches his daughters’ youth basketball teams.

CPA

Erica Vossler

Client Specialist

Amy Windle

Amy is a fifth-generation graduate of Neosho High School, Neosho, Missouri, and received a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from the University of Tulsa.   Having the best interest of the client in mind is the result of her “southern” small town upbringing where she was taught the importance of building authentic relationships.   Her experience in retail management and the public education field brings an adaptable and open perspective of customer service for her clients.  This unique combination of talent, paired with years of experience in customer relations, combine to provide a perfect fit in assisting payroll and sales tax clients.

SP Group’s core values are what has drawn Amy to our practice, most importantly, the core value of Team Work.  The saying “it takes a village” is the foundation to every endeavor she pursues.

Raising her two, very independent, funny and beautiful daughters, Lucy and Zoe, not only brings her great pride, but are her greatest joy. In her free time Amy enjoys biking, reading, gardening, doting on her first grandchild, Faye, and trying to love running.   She has completed a half marathon, participated in MS150, a 150-mile bike ride benefiting muscular dystrophy, and was on the original crew team at TU.  Amy’s ultimate goal would be to complete one 5K a month, even if it involves some travel.

CPA

Austin Zimmerman

Austin graduated from the University of Nebraska in 2012 with a bachelor’s degree in Accounting, completing the Master of Professional Accountancy program in 2014. As a member of the Nebraska men’s golf team, he was a four-year letter winner and was named to the Big XII Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll from 2008-2011 and the Big Ten Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll in 2012.

Austin has over five years of public accounting experience, specializing in auditing and assurance services and tax preparation.  Born and raised in Lincoln, Nebraska, Austin thrives on building relationships in the community, and is always happy to sit down with a client to help them reach their financial goals. Austin truly personifies SP Group’s core value of building strong, long-lasting relationships with clients as well as other team members.

When he’s not at the office you’ll likely find Austin on the golf course with friends and family, or at home listening to vinyl records, especially anything by The Beatles or Stevie Wonder. Austin is also a self-proclaimed “dog whisperer” and boasts that he has never met a dog that didn’t like him instantly. He has made three hole-in-ones during his lifetime-all at Firethorn Golf Club, where he is a member. Austin is an avid U.S. history buff and would love to visit Washington, D.C., someday.