Meet Our
SUMMER
INTERN ACADEMY
HBE’s Summer Intern Academy is an eight-week, hands-on exploratory program designed to give college students a meaningful look into the accounting profession. Throughout the summer, interns work alongside our internal teams to learn about tax, assurance, and outsourced accounting while building professional skills, making connections, and experiencing what it’s like to be part of the HBE team.
Learn.
Gain real-world experience and build skills that will shape your future.
Collaborate.
Work alongside dedicated professionals and build lasting connections.
Grow.
Develop your potential and explore career opportunities.
Get To Know
OUR INTERNS
Jorge Alvarado
School/Year: University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Senior
From: South Sioux City, IA
Hobbies: Going to the gym, spending time with friends
Fun Fact: I am first-generation college student.
GET TO KNOW JORGE
What inspired you to pursue a career in accounting?
I was drawn to accounting because it provides a strong foundation in business and understanding how organizations work. I enjoy analyzing numbers and helping clients understand them.
What’s the most fun or unusual skill you have?
I enjoy recording covers of songs I like on GarageBand and learning how to mix and master the recordings.
If you could have dinner with any historical figure, who would it be?
I would choose Steve Jobs because as a child I was always fascinated with Apple and his leadership.
What’s your favorite movie or TV show, and why do you love it?
My favorite movie is Legally Blonde. Elle Woods persevered through law school while staying true to herself and that’s something that resonates with me.
What’s the most interesting place you’ve ever traveled to?
Going camping in Colorado before the school year started last year was the perfect reset.
What are you looking forward to learning during your internship?
I am looking forward to learning more about the firm and getting hands-on experience with topics I haven’t been exposed to yet.
Ben Maly
School/Year: University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Senior
From: Lincoln, NE
Hobbies: Golf and basketball
Fun Fact: I studied abroad in Barcelona.
GET TO KNOW BEN
What inspired you to pursue a career in accounting?
My brother went into auditing, and I enjoyed hearing about what he did.
.What’s the most fun or unusual skill you have?
Remembering lyrics to a song I haven’t heard in years.
If you could have dinner with any historical figure, who would it be?
George Washington to learn more about the founding of the US and how it looked back then.
What’s your favorite movie or TV show, and why do you love it?
Talladega Nights because I enjoy racing and comedy movies.
What’s the most interesting place you’ve ever traveled to?
Morocco.
What are you looking forward to learning during your internship?
More about what type of career within accounting I would like to pursue (ex. Tax or Audit) and about HBE as a whole.
Paige Comstock
School/Year: Nebraska Wesleyan University, Sophomore
From: Ashland, NE
Hobbies: Fishing, softball, playing with my dogs, and watching Husker sports
Fun Fact: I have a twin sister, but we aren’t identical.
GET TO KNOW PAIGE
What inspired you to pursue a career in accounting?
I took my first accounting class in high school and really enjoyed it. Then when I got to college, I took more accounting classes, and I found out that I like the interconnectedness and numbers in accounting.
What’s the most fun or unusual skill you have?
I am a decent ping-pong player.
If you could have dinner with any historical figure, who would it be?
I would choose Albert Einstein because I want to see what his sense of humor was like.
What’s your favorite movie or TV show, and why do you love it?
SpongeBob because I have been watching it since I was little and it is really funny.
What’s the most interesting place you’ve ever traveled to?
Puerto Rico.
What are you looking forward to learning during your internship?
I’m looking forward to learning more about the accounting profession and gaining experience. I’m most excited to learn more about the different areas of accounting.
George Kolb
School/Year: University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Sophomore
From: Elkhorn, NE
Fun Fact: I have nine siblings.
GET TO KNOW GEORGE
What inspired you to pursue a career in accounting?
What inspired me to pursue a career in accounting was the amazing professors at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
What’s the most fun or unusual skill you have?
The most unusual skill I have is that I can do a muscle-up.
If you could have dinner with any historical figure, who would it be?
The figure I would have dinner with is Sarah Winchester. I recently had the opportunity to visit the house in San Jose, CA. The reason I would want to have dinner with her is to ask her why her house has 160 rooms, 10,000 windows, 2,000 doors, 47 fireplaces, 13 bathrooms, and 6 kitchens.
What’s your favorite movie or TV show, and why do you love it?
My favorite movie is The Greatest Showman. I like the actors in the movie and the soundtrack.
What’s the most interesting place you’ve ever traveled to?
The most interesting place I’ve traveled to is Italy.
What are you looking forward to learning during your internship?
I’m looking forward to learning more about audit.
Kaci Romero
School/Year: University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Sophomore
From: Lincoln, NE
Hobbies: Photography, music, gaming, surfing, and snowboarding
Fun Fact: I play competitively for Nebraska in Esports!
GET TO KNOW KACI
What inspired you to pursue a career in accounting?
I’ve always enjoyed learning and challenging myself! My accounting courses have pushed me to think critically and solve complex problems.
What’s the most fun or unusual skill you have?
I can speak three languages!
If you could have dinner with any historical figure, who would it be?
I would choose Benjamin Franklin because of his knowledge in business, science, public service, and so much more. I would want to pick his brain and ask so many questions!
What’s your favorite movie or TV show, and why do you love it?
Interstellar is my favorite movie because of the cinematography, emotion, and storytelling! My favorite show is Hunter x Hunter for its characters and interesting plot.
What’s the most interesting place you’ve ever traveled to?
Costa Rica! It was an amazing experience with beautiful wildlife, views, and a different environment from what I’m used to.
What are you looking forward to learning during your internship?
I’m looking forward to applying what I’ve learned in the classroom to real-world situations. I’m especially excited to build my technical skills and better understand how accounting works hand in hand with business decisions.
Eli Shaul
School/Year: University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Sophomore
From: Omaha, NE
Hobbies: Reading, working out, fishing
Fun Fact: Direct descendant of a Mayflower passenger.
GET TO KNOW ELI
What inspired you to pursue a career in accounting?
I was drawn to accounting because I enjoy seeing the underlying process of how a business operates.
What’s the most fun or unusual skill you have?
Solving a Rubik’s cube.
If you could have dinner with any historical figure, who would it be?
George Washington, because he did some incredible things.
What’s your favorite movie or TV show, and why do you love it?
My favorite TV show is Breaking Bad, because the plot is very compelling.
What’s the most interesting place you’ve ever traveled to?
Dominican Republic.
What are you looking forward to learning during your internship?
I am looking forward to meeting peers and professionals, as well as developing a foundation in accounting.
Sam Verdoni
School/Year: Benedictine College, Junior
From: Papillion, NE
Hobbies: Woodworking, running, strategy board games, watching NFL/college football, homeless ministry, and coffee hangouts with friends
Fun Fact: Whenever I play two truths and a lie, I enjoy (jokingly) bragging that my “prestigious” high school math team beat Harvard at one of our math competitions. Ironically, this is actually true … except the fact that I am actually talking about Harvard Public High School in Harvard, NE, which only has 60 students enrolled.
GET TO KNOW SAM
What inspired you to pursue a career in accounting?
Although I began college as a mathematics and economics double major, I never envisioned myself teaching mathematics or working an analyst job with economics after leaving Benedictine College. After taking introduction to financial accounting my first semester freshman year, I realized accounting was not only the perfect merging of my two interests but also a reliable and diverse career field for after college.
What’s the most fun or unusual skill you have?
Last summer, I was typically able to sell 15-25 jars of Carinara’s carrot-based (and tomato-free) pasta sauce in two-hour demos at Hy-Vees across the Omaha metro as a brand ambassador. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever foresee myself selling carrot-based pasta sauce for a college summer job!
If you could have dinner with any historical figure, who would it be?
I would love to get a meal with St. Mother Teresa! As I have become significantly involved and more in love with homeless ministry during my time in college, I am fascinated how St. Mother Teresa spent her entire life to bringing joy, hope, and encouragement to the poor of Calcutta, India. I desire to have the same outlook and love for the friends in my own life, and I would love to hear the “secret sauce” to her mission.
What’s your favorite movie or TV show, and why do you love it?
One of my favorite TV shows is the HBO series Band of Brothers. As the son of two U.S. Navy veterans, I have a profound respect for how this series realistically captures the lives of the U.S. Army 101st Airborne Division during World War II, shows the immense sacrifices of the service members who fight in wars, and begins each episode with interviews from the real-life survivors of the U.S. Army 101st Airborne Division.
What’s the most interesting place you’ve ever traveled to?
My favorite excursion away from the Midwest has been hiking on Mount Rainier in Washington.
What are you looking forward to learning during your internship?
While I am super pumped to try each of the accounting departments at HBE this summer, I am equally excited to hear how the other interns have enjoyed their college experience as well as hear the stories of how the HBE accountants got to where they are today!
Aubrey Winter
School/Year: University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Sophomore
From: Lincoln, NE
Hobbies: Reading, golfing, walking
Fun Fact: I did competitive cheerleading for 5 years.
GET TO KNOW AUBREY
What inspired you to pursue a career in accounting?
I love learning about the behind-the-scenes work that businesses do to keep running.
What’s the most fun or unusual skill you have?
I can pick out which cars are rented when driving down the interstate.
If you could have dinner with any historical figure, who would it be?
I would have dinner with Cleopatra because Egypt is a very interesting and mysterious part of history.
What’s your favorite movie or TV show, and why do you love it?
My favorite movie is Yes Man because it is funny and has a good message.
What’s the most interesting place you’ve ever traveled to?
Daytona Beach, Florida.
What are you looking forward to learning during your internship?
I’m so excited to connect with professionals in the accounting field and learn more about the different focuses in accounting.
Get To Know
OUR INTERN FACILITATORS
Sam Becker
School/Year: University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Junior
From: Lincoln, NE
Hobbies: Working out, watching sports, golfing
Fun Fact: I swam competitively for 14 years.
GET TO KNOW SAM
What inspired you to pursue a career in accounting?
I loved math growing up and took many accounting/business classes in high school that made me want to major and go into accounting.
What’s the most fun or unusual skill you have?
I have the ability to fall asleep anywhere.
If you could have dinner with any historical figure, who would it be?
James Naismith, the inventor of basketball and the first head coach at the University of Kansas.
What’s your favorite movie or TV show, and why do you love it?
My favorite TV show is Breaking Bad. It is a very interesting but entertaining show that has people making difficult choices, with great characters and constant suspense.
What’s the most interesting place you’ve ever traveled to?
Key West, FL.
What are you looking forward to learning during your internship?
I am excited to help the interns and continue to learn as much as I can about the accounting profession.
Logan Groesser
School/Year: University of Nebraska-Omaha, Graduate Student
From: Omaha, NE
Hobbies: Board games, photography, hiking, and writing
Fun Fact: I am the first generation of my family born in the US. (Bonus: I’ve caught two sharks while deep-sea fishing.)
GET TO KNOW LOGAN
What inspired you to pursue a career in accounting?
My uncle was an accountant and loved his job, so I wanted to follow in his footsteps! I found further interest through DECA (High School) and Beta Alpha Psi (College).
What’s the most fun or unusual skill you have?
I am the only one in my family who can cook my grandmother’s traditional recipes. (I can bake some mean desserts too!)
If you could have dinner with any historical figure, who would it be?
Alexander Hamilton. I’ve read the books and listened to the musical, and he just seems like an interesting guy. Would love to pick his brain on random topics.
What’s your favorite movie or TV show, and why do you love it?
How I Met Your Mother – Getting to see most of the characters grow over the entirety of the show. They start off as not the best people and slowly grow into truly decent individuals. I love character development!
What’s the most interesting place you’ve ever traveled to?
Nashville, TN / Grand Ole Opry.
What are you looking forward to learning during your internship?
Learning about the other areas of HBE (Assurance and 360)!
INTERESTED IN JOINING OUR TEAM?
We’re always looking for motivated individuals who want to learn, grow, and make an impact. Explore internship and career opportunities at HBE.
