Val Bartunek

Val came to Lincoln by way of Liberty, Missouri, landing at Lincoln Southeast High School in her junior year. She attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln studying Early Childhood Education, Youth and Family Studies to pursue her dream of teaching. 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 her fiancé, Scott, their four kids, family and friends. They are often found golfing, traveling, 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 Mexico each summer, amongst other destinations throughout the year, and visiting Hawaii following her and Scott’s January 2025 wedding.

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 is an asset to our firm in recognizing and meeting our clients’ needs.

Heather Brundieck

Heather is a graduate from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln with a bachelor’s degree in business management and a master’s in professional accountancy from the University of Illinois Urbana – Champaign. As a previous small business owner, her extensive experience in customer service with a keen attention to detail serves her clients well and fosters 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. Currently, Heather and her husband are living part-time in Kansas City, MO in the Power & Lights district. They are enjoying the city lifestyle which allows them to walk most places and experience live music
almost nightly.

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 many others. 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.

Kelly Barada

Kelly earned a Bachelor of Science with majors in Finance and Accounting at UNL and she has 25 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 businessrelated and individual tax returns.

Kelly and her husband, Tim, have two daughters, Alex and Emerson. When Kelly isn’t cheering on her husband’s teams, she enjoys attending other sporting events or traveling with her family.

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. He parlayed this experience into building a Fortune 5000 technology company, which he ran 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.

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.

Jason Hardy

Jason enjoys sinking his teeth into the technicalities of investing strategies and 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.

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 welcomes anyone that meets her, and her unwavering desire to make every client feel truly cared for and part of the SP Team makes her perfect in her role as Director of First Impressions.

Abbie, a Lincoln native, attended Lincoln Southwest High School. With an associate in early childhood education from Southeast Community College, she pursued her love for children as a preschool teacher for 10 years.

Outside of SP Group, Abbie teaches spinning and kickboxing and shares her passion for health and fitness through her exuberant teaching style. Abbie enjoys spending time with her fiancé, Taylor and their Bernadoodle, Falcon. They love summers at the lake, live music, and exploring all things “dog friendly” around town. Abbie and Taylor are looking forward to their destination wedding in May 2025 when they will celebrate with their friends and family.

Tammy Johnson

Tammy joins SP Group with a diverse background. She began her career as a legal secretary after obtaining an Associate of Arts in Paralegal Studies. After working in the legal field for almost twenty years, she spent the next eleven years in the nonprofit sector. That experience piqued her interest in a new field exposing her to the world of finance where she worked closely with a financial advisor. Most recently, Tammy was a Client Implementation Manager at a large international company.

Tammy believes her greatest accomplishment is raising her four grown children as a single parent. She has three grandchildren that bring her immense joy. When not working, you will find Tammy outdoors walking, kayaking, and lying by the pool. She also spends a lot of time with friends and family and her partner, Chad, enjoying his two dogs, and watching the Huskers and Dallas Cowboys. In the future, Tammy hopes to do some traveling in the U.S. and abroad.

She was drawn to SP Group’s core values, the most important being relationships. Tammy strives to build client relationships for the long-term while providing the best experience along the way. Her unique set of skills are a great asset to SP Group and our clients.

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 to pursue 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 supportive 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.

Trevin Little

Trevin, a Lincoln native and East High School graduate, 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, Trevin 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 golfing with friends. Other interests include cheering on his beloved Huskers, spending quality time with family and friends, and traveling. Trevin and his family made it their mission to watch a ballgame at every Major League Baseball stadium in the United States and accomplished it. Their next family quest is to attend all four major golf events.

Trevin recently married the love of his life, Taeva, in June of 2024. He still doesn’t know how he pulled that off as she is admittedly way out of his league.

Kim Miller

For Kim, it’s all about relationships. Whether she’s working with clients, her team members, or recruiting and developing tax season interns, she strives to cultivate and establish long-term relationships at all levels, local university administration and faculty included. 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 also finds time for her love of performing arts.

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

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. Outside of the office, Melissa enjoys spending time with her family, going on cruises to the Caribbean Islands and spending time with friends at the lake. She is also an avid fan of the Atlanta Braves and Huskers.

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 taxes, 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.

Clayton Peterson

Clayton Peterson is a dedicated team accountant at SP Group, where he leverages his analytical skills to navigate complex tax situations for clients. He enjoys helping his teammates, whether it’s training interns or solving technology challenges. With a passion for building strong relationships, a core value of SP Group, Clayton is committed to fostering connections both within the workplace and with clients.

A proud native of Lincoln, Nebraska, Clayton graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. His loyalty to his roots is evident in his enthusiasm for Husker athletics, a passion he shares with many fellow Nebraskans.

Outside of his professional life, Clayton is an avid golfer who thrives on the spirit of competition. Whether it’s on the golf course or in the office, Clayton’s competitive nature drives him to excel and continuously improve.

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 highfiving Jimmy Fallon during a taping of The Tonight Show.

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 ten 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.

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.

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.”

Jennifer Sedlacek

Jennifer Sedlacek, a graduate of the University of Nebraska Lincoln with a bachelor’s degree in accounting, is currently advancing her career by pursuing a master’s degree with the aim of becoming a CPA. Her favorite value within the SP Group is competition, a trait she cultivated through her active participation in various youth sports and extracurricular activities.

Raised in Nehawka, she learned the essence of hard work during her summers at Platte River State Park and developed a deep affection for animals through her extensive involvement in 4-H. As a former Nebraska Beef Ambassador, Jennifer gained valuable insights into the significance of family businesses in Nebraska’s economy, igniting her passion for accounting.

In her leisure time, she enjoys outdoor pursuits and as a true Nebraskan, watching Husker football.

Bobby Simmons

Bobby Simmons brings a strong educational background and diverse experiences to his role at SP Group. He graduated with a major in accounting from Nebraska Wesleyan University. His career path was influenced by a pivotal internship at SP Group, where he discovered his passion for accounting and identified our organization as the group he aimed to join upon graduation.

During his time at Nebraska Wesleyan University, Bobby distinguished him self both academically and athletically. He played college baseball for five years and was a four year letter winner. Bobby’s dedication to academic excellence earned him recognition as a three time Academic All Conference player and a CSC Academic All District player.

Bobby possesses a solid foundation in accounting principles and practices, honed through his academic studies and practical experiences. He believes in continuous learning and growth, striving to enhance his skills through CPA exam preparation and ongoing professional development. He is focused on obtaining his CPA certification to further his career aspirations and contribute effectively to the accounting profession.

Outside of work and academics, Bobby enjoys cooking, playing disc golf, and coaching baseball at various levels.

Laurie Sipple

Laurie’s skills in customer service began at the young age of twelve selling lake resort tickets for swimming and camping. This passion for working and interacting with people of all ages and backgrounds has been her life’s driving force. Having personally been touched by family members with special needs, she was an elementary school para for Lincoln Public Schools and most recently a disability services coordinator at Nebraska Wesleyan University. She pursued an art degree from UNL and worked as a special events coordinator at UNL’s Sheldon Museum of Art. She continues to express her creative side, finding joy in building, remodeling, and using her power tools.

Growing up in a small farming community in the rural hills of Gretna, NE, Laurie found her love for animals, gardening, landscaping, enjoying large expanses of open land, and breathing fresh air. To satisfy her rural yearnings within the constraints of city life she has raised pet chickens. Tapping into her creative side, she designed and constructed their coop affectionately called the “Chick Mansion”.

Other hobbies include spending time with her three children, Sarah, Alissa, and Ryan, and a wondrous brood of grandchildren who all live nearby. Her “Bucket List” includes exploring her European roots and traveling to Italy and France to explore the art, architecture, vineyards, and exquisite international cuisines of each country.

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, moved to Laramie, Wyoming, in 2023 after living in Lincoln, Nebraska, for over 30 years. They enjoy exploring the wild spaces both near and far from their homebase during the long winters and spectacular summers in the Cowboy State. They also make regular trips back to Nebraska to catch up with friends and family.

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 become more successful.

Dave is a founder of SP Group and has extensive experience with corporate, partnership, and individual taxation and overall wealth planning. He’s so proud of the wonderful team that we have at SP Group and takes personal responsibility for making SP a place they want to be.

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, eat a medium rare filet, and play golf with his buddies.

Erica Vossler

Erica received her Master of Public Accountancy degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2019. She has been with SP Group since she started her first internship in 2017 and has worked as a CPA with the firm since passing her CPA exams in 2020. As a native of small-town Exeter, Nebraska, Erica knows the importance of building relationships and enjoys nurturing those with her clients while working alongside them long-term.

In her free time, Erica enjoys spending time with her daughter, Rory and goldendoodle, Sully, attending different Husker sporting events with her husband, Brady, and traveling with friends. Her favorite part about SP Group is the people and how they all live out the firm’s core values of: Relationships, Teamwork, Competitiveness, and Life-Work Balance.

Mikayla Wallace

Mikayla recently graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with highest distinction, majoring in accounting with a minor in management. Originally from Sioux Falls, SD, Mikayla is pursuing a master’s in professional accountancy in the fall of 2024, aiming to become a Certified Public Accountant after graduating.

After interning with SP Group last tax season, Mikayla is excited to continue her journey with the firm as an intern for one more year and a full-time staff member post-graduation. She values the firm’s inviting culture and the opportunity to grow professionally. She is excited to take part in all of SP Group’s social events and spend more time with her coworkers.

Outside of work, Mikayla enjoys being with friends and family, vacationing at Lake of the Ozarks, and pursuing her goal of reading 15 books this year.

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, combines 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 Teamwork. The saying “it takes a village” is the foundation to every endeavor she pursues.

Having raised two very independent, funny and beautiful daughters, Lucy and Zoe, not only brings her great pride, but one of her greatest joys. In her free time Amy enjoys biking, reading, gardening, kayaking, camping, anything outdoors, and most importantly, doting on her three grandchildren, Faye, Wesley, and Graham.

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 twelve 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 selfproclaimed “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.