Four alumni were recognized for their career accomplishments and outstanding service to the accounting and finance division of the Beacom School of Business, including the following.

Terrance Kurtenbach | Wessington Springs, South Dakota | Chief Financial Officer | Life Science

Kurtenbach graduated from USD in 1983 with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting whereupon he joined Touche Ross & Co, predecessor firm of Deloitte LLP. Over a 36-year career at Deloitte, including 26 as a partner, Kurtenbach served clients across a wide variety of industries including agribusiness, software alternative energy and manufacturing. He practiced in numerous offices including Minneapolis, Tokyo, Milwaukee and Chicago. After his retirement, Kurtenbach continued his work in Life Sciences as a chief financial officer for companies in the medical device and cancer research. 

Kurtenbach’s wife, Kristie, is also a graduate of USD. They reside in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with two grown daughters. He is currently on the boards of Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity and the USD Foundation. He returns to South Dakota often and remains a part-time resident of Wessington Springs.

Andy McQuistan | Sioux Falls, South Dakota | Senior Bank Examiner | Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

 McQuistan Graduated from the University of Nebraska Kearney in 1994 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Finance). In 1994, he started his career at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) in Sioux Falls and became a commissioned examiner in 1997. He was promoted to a senior bank examiner in 2014 and to a senior large bank examiner in 2017. He is currently serving as a manager in the Sioux Falls office. 

Over the last 29 years at the FDIC, McQuistan has spent significant time examining large and complex banks in the Midwest and in the Northeast. Additionally, from 2001 to 2010 he taught at the FDIC Training Center in Arlington, Virginia. Since 2008, he has been assigned as the FDIC’s lead recruiter at USD. Through his partnership with USD, the school has ranked as one of the FDICs top 10 locations nationally for hiring bank examiners and interns. 

McQuistan's wife of 23 years, Becky, graduated from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in 1996. They have five children. He enjoys coaching youth sports and volunteering at The Banquet serving meals. 

Nina Braun | Rapid City, South Dakota | CEO Partner | Ketel Thorstenson, LLP 

 Braun holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from Georgetown university, and a Master of Professional Accountancy from the University of Southern California. After serving as an Audit Manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers in the Washington, D.C., area, she joined Ketel Thorstenson in 2005. Her career now mainly focuses on tax and advisory services. 

Her passion lies within helping mid-market businesses find their way through complicated tax codes. Braun currently works with the internal team and executive committee of the firm to improve its processes and support its professionals. 

Srinivasan Ragothaman Ph.D | The University of South Dakota

Ragothaman has contributed invaluable service to the Division of Accounting and Finance, the Beacom School of Business and the University of South Dakota for 32 years. He has taught in the Division of Accounting and Finance and worked directly with over 5,000 students and taught over 15 different accounting courses. 

Ragothaman has published over 50 peer reviewed journal articles and won many awards, including the Governor’s Technology Grant, AAA Outstanding Research Award and the PricewaterhouseCooper’s grant. He is honored to count 27 Beacom colleagues and six former students as his co-authors. Ragothaman has served as the division chair of accounting and finance for four years. 

The following students received the Outstanding Academic and Leadership award. 

  • Abigail Boysen
  • Logan Bunkers
  • Isabella Denniston
  • Zachary Lemon
  • Hanna Neesen
  • Trey Peterson
  • Michaela Rotert
  • Megan Bierschbach
  • Kade Boltjes
  • Carissa Doran
  • Carter Karst
  • Samantha Kunze
  • Analese Martinez
  • Audrey Paulson
  • Jacob Solano
  • Rachel Stuckenbroker
  • Joe Adams
  • Esther Agbeniyi
  • Olivia Atkinson
  • Isabella Bauman
  • Ellie Cline
  • Mattisen Dias
  • Henry Eckhoff
  • Ben Feist
  • Wilson Feist
  • Avery Feterl
  • Mattea Fiegen
  • Alexander Green
  • Kyle Kyriss
  • Camryn Lund
  • Alexis Moran
  • David Newton
  • Ellie Reuter
  • Tyson Test
  • Haley Weber

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