2024 Accounting Hall of Fame

“Recognizing individuals for outstanding career accomplishments and service contributions to the Department of Accountancy, UND and society.”

2024 Accounting Hall of Fame Inductees

Brent Anderson

Brent Anderson is originally from Williston, ND. He graduated from UND in 1984 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, majoring in Accounting and Banking & Finance, and minoring in Economics.

Brent began his career as a CPA and tax professional with Peat Marwick (later KPMG) in the St. Paul offices. He then spent 11 years with Burlington Northern Inc., moving to Ft. Worth in 1992 when the company relocated its headquarters. During his time at BNI, he gained valuable experience in internal audit, financial planning, business analysis, M&A, treasury, and investor relations, which paved the way for his career with high-growth entrepreneurial leaders such as i2 Technologies and Meritage Homes. He retired in 2021 as VP of Investor Relations and Corporate Communications.

Brent is a strong advocate for supporting nonprofit organizations and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Vocal Majority, a renowned Dallas-based musical chorus. He is also active in his church and other charitable organizations. He played an active role in the recent construction of the new Delta Upsilon fraternity house at UND. In his leisure time, he enjoys golf, pickleball, hunting, fishing, and traveling with family and friends.

Brent and his wife Laura (BSBA ’84) reside in Colleyville, TX and have three daughters – Kristin, Hannah (Dyson), and Erica, in Dallas/Ft. Worth and Coeur d’Alene, ID. Both are proud UND alumni and are passionate about promoting financial literacy and personal financial management for people of all ages, especially youth transitioning into their careers. They have collaborated with the Nistler College to establish a Financial Wellness center inside the Nistler building to provide tools and training for the communities they serve.

Joan McCusker

Joan McCusker is the Executive Vice President of Operations and Corporate Strategy for Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota. She also serves as a board member for Starion Bank, Learn to Live, and Northern Lights Council, BSA.

Joan returned to North Dakota six years ago from Minneapolis-St. Paul, where she held several senior leadership positions, including Chief Financial Officer at the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation and at Lawrence Merchandising Services. Prior to that, she had a career of over 20 years with Alliant Techsystems, Inc. (previously a part of Honeywell), serving in various senior management positions in Corporate Accounting and Finance, Human Resources, Compliance and Ethics, and Information Technology.

Joan grew up on a farm near Crosby, ND. She graduated with an accounting degree from Minot State and earned a Master of Accountancy from UND in 1987. She is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive) and is NACD certified in Cybersecurity Oversight. In 2016, Joan was named CFO of the Year by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal.

Joan and her husband, Joe, currently reside in West Fargo, ND. They have two adult sons, Nathan (Tainá) and Taran, and a grandson, Noah.

Chad Flanagan

Chad Flanagan grew up in Egeland, ND before attending the University of North Dakota (UND), where he received his bachelor’s degree in accounting in 1998. He earned his CPA license that same year and obtained an ABV (Accredited in Business Valuation) in 2002. He has worked his entire career at Eide Bailly after joining in 1998. His early career focused on growing the Business Valuation and Transaction Advisory practice. Chad specializes in providing expert valuations for transactions, wealth management, and litigation support, as well as general business consulting, including strategic and succession planning. He made Partner in 2009 and added the role of Fargo Market Leader in 2017. Chad also serves on the Eide Bailly Board of Directors, contributing to the strategic direction and governance of the firm.

As a proud alumnus of UND, Chad’s involvement with the accounting program continues, including serving as a mentor in the Pancratz Mentor Program, guiding and supporting the next generation of professionals. Additionally, he serves on the UND Nistler College Advisory Council, contributing his expertise to help shape the future of business and accounting education.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Chad is passionate about personally giving back to the community. Serving as the United Way Campaign Chair and the FMWF Chamber Board of Directors Chair, Chad leads initiatives to support and uplift the community, demonstrating his commitment to making a positive impact. He volunteers with local nonprofits regularly and participates in community events, always looking for ways to make a positive impact.

In 1997, Chad married his wife Emily (Lien), also a proud alumna of UND (1998), who shares equally in the community’s passion. Together they are very involved in the United Way, Hospice, and Make-A-Wish. Their UND pride has been carried forward by their eldest son Fletcher (25), a UND graduate in accounting (20,21), and their middle son Caleb (22), currently attending UND. Their youngest son Thomas (16) is a Junior at Shanley High School.

Since graduating in 2014, Andrew has distinguished himself as a leader in the accounting, finance, and data analytics fields.

John C. Berg Award Recipient

Andrew Leizens

Andrew started his career at PwC, where he made significant contributions to the Consumer Finance Group. During his time at PwC, he traveled across the U.S. to audit banking mergers and acquisitions and also provided consulting services to top banks on various data analytics needs.

Currently, Andrew is the head of the Data Analytics Department at the Royal Bank of Canada Wealth Management Division. In this role, he collaborates with senior executives from all departments, offering valuable insights that drive strategic decision-making.

Apart from his professional achievements, Andrew is dedicated to giving back to the community. As the Vice-President of Compas, a non-profit organization that supports over 130 professional teaching artists, he plays a crucial role in bringing creative experiences to Minnesota.

On a personal note, Andrew recently celebrated the birth of his son, Neo. This milestone has added a new dimension to his life, further inspiring his passion for both his career and his community work.