Author: Kristy DeGering

Ketel Thorstenson, LLP announces the promotion of Carrie Christensen, CPA to Senior Manager in the Tax Department.

Carrie Christensen, CPA, joined Ketel Thorstenson in 2013 in the Tax Department in the Rapid City office.  She holds a Master of Business Administration and Management degree from the University of Phoenix and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree from the University of Maryland University College.  She provides tax planning, consulting, and preparation services to individuals and businesses.  Her specializations include real estate professionals, rental partnerships, medical professionals, and the hospitality industry.  She is an expert in assisting clients with IRS issues and leads the IRS response team at Ketel Thorstenson.  Christensen is a member of the South Dakota CPA Society (SDCPA) and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).  She is a SD CEO Women in Leadership 2019 graduate and a board member of the American Red Cross.  As Senior Manager, her responsibilities include management duties, strategic planning, ensuring a positive client experience, seeking training and education opportunities for staff and clients, and mentoring staff.

Nikki Ritzen has been promoted to Manager. Elizabeth Davis, Chris Jansen, CPA, Nicole Laub, Hannah Sheffield, CPA, and Cassandra Stevens have all been promoted to Senior Associate.

Nikki Ritzen, promoted to Manager, is originally from Chadron, NE. She graduated from Chadron State College with a degree in Business Marketing and joined the accounting profession when she joined us in our Rapid City office in May 2015. She now works remotely from Texas in the Accounting Services Department. The different challenges that arise each day along with working with clients is Nikki’s favorite part about her job. She looks forward to collaborating with staff on their goals, growing the department, and introducing new technology into their processes in her new role as Manager.

“KT has taught me everything I know about the accounting industry. I love having a company I enjoy showing up to work at everyday – even if it is just across the house to the desk,” said Nikki.

Elizabeth “Liz” Davis promoted to Senior Associate, has a Master of Accounting degree from Utah State University, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development from Brigham Young University. Before coming to Ketel Thorstenson in August of 2018 her accounting experience included governmental audit, internal audit, city finance, light manufacturing, and church accounting. Here at Ketel Thorstenson Liz works in the Accounting Services Department. She and her husband, Corey, have 3 children and a son-in-law. Liz plays the piano, occasionally running her own piano teaching studio, and regularly plays the organ at church. She loves dark chocolate, is an avid reader, and enjoys clogging, hiking, camping, and kayaking.

Chris Jansen, CPA, promoted to Senior Associate, is originally from Sheldon, Iowa and attended the University of South Dakota in Vermillion for both his undergraduate and master’s degrees. Chris joined Ketel Thorstenson in January 2020. He enjoys working at KTLLP because of the great coworkers and how much fun they have. In his free time, Chris enjoys hiking and golfing. You can find him on the golf course most of the summer when he is not at the office. Chris also enjoys spending time with his nephews.

“The firm has my best interests in mind and furthers my knowledge of accounting. I am grateful to work at such a great company,” said Chris.

Nicole Laub promoted to Senior Associate, attended Black Hills State University where she obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Professional Accountancy with a specialization in Human Resources. Nicole joined Ketel Thorstenson in August of 2018 and specializes in the hospitality industry.  She loves the family dynamic at Ketel Thorstenson and all the different clients that she gets to work with. Outside of work Nicole enjoys camping and spending her weekends on the lake.

Hannah Sheffield, CPA, promoted to Senior Associate is originally from White, SD and joined our team in January 2020. She spent a year at Black Hills State University studying Spanish Education but transferred to the University of South Dakota. At the recommendation of a mentor, she took some accounting classes quickly falling in love and changing her major. Hannah has always loved the Black Hills so moving back after 4 years was an easy decision. When accepting a job at Ketel Thorstenson Hannah loved the idea of working with local businesses and making an impact on the people that live right here. From January-April you can find her at the office preparing taxes, but when she has free time May-December she loves to golf, go to concerts and rodeos, travel, hike, and make the occasional trip up to Deadwood for Blackjack and dancing!

“I never knew just how much I’d love this company, the people I work with, and the tax law that I continue to learn more and more about,” said Hannah.  

Cassandra Stevens, promoted to Senior Associate, joined our team in November of 2020. She is originally from Wyoming but currently resides in Minnesota working remotely. Cassandra is the oldest child in her family, her dad is a coal miner, mom is an insurance agent, and sister is in child development. Cassandra has been in public or private accounting for several years now and her family drives her to keep going and spend every day doing what she loves.

Congratulations to our new Manager and Senior Associates on these well-deserved promotions. We deeply appreciate all your hard work.