Meet Our Team

John Christianson

Beyond’s Leader, John O. Christianson, is a certified public accountant and Team Partner of Beyond and lives by Willmar, Minnesota. After graduating from the University of Minnesota with an accounting degree, John’s extensive farming background led him to perceive the need for a full-service accounting and consulting firm with specialized expertise in the agribusiness world.
Under his guidance, John has grown the Christianson companies into a nationally recognized group with over forty years of experience in agriculture, grain processing and renewable fuels. In today’s robust and rapidly evolving rural economy, John is committed to providing cutting-edge financial analysis and growth consulting to ensure the continued health of agriculture and renewal energy in rural America and has the Team to do it.
Angela Furney

Angela applies her 26 years experience in Agribusiness with 24 years experience in working with GP and 2 years working with D365 Finance and Operations.  In her current role, Angela works with customers to make current business processes more efficient. This includes finding new modules, software solutions, or making current operating procedure improvements. She is also part of the Beyond team for implementation of new software, training, and support.  Angela continues to strive to ensure our customers have the best customer service experience possible.

 

Barb Bontrager
Barb has over 30 years in finance, accounting, and management of grain processing and ethanol production firms. She helps clients by filling gaps in management and/or executive roles/duties; adding a fresh perspective to identifying and prioritizing areas of improvement while streamlining accounting and financial reporting processes/systems. Prior to joining Beyond, Barb was CEO of an ethanol facility for 9 years and CFO for 8 years.
Brady Riopelle
Brady applies his 13 years of technical experience over client services, operations and financial support.
Chris Simonsen
Chris applies his 25 years of experiences in business process analysis, operational recommendations and client support.
Craig Coil
Craig’s 16 years of experience comes from accounting and controller positions at a grain processing plant, business process analysis, best practice recommendations, data analysis and client services.
Daryl Friesen
Daryl’s 38 years of experience comes from a background of accounting at a large grain coop, accounting management, business process analysis, applications design, best practice recommendations and customer support.
Fred Gould

Fred’s 25 years of experience includes accounting positions across multiple agribusiness companies. His background includes working in manufacturing, agribusiness and transportation plus provided CFO, Controller, and Business Development Manager positions in the manufacturing and ERP software industries.

Janet Pagel

Janet’s 26 years of experience comes from 18 years at an Ethanol plant as Logistics Coordinator and GP/Intellego Power-user, as well as 8 years as a solutions analyst.  As a solutions analyst, Janet helps with providing client support,  upgrading GP/Intellego software, implementing additional 3rd party solutions and new implementations.  Janet’s favorite part of her job is helping clients find ways to work smarter, not harder. 

Jennifer Vogts

Jennifer Vogts is a CPA and joined Beyond in August of 2023 in the role of D365 F&O Consultant. Jennifer brings 13 years of experience working in the biofuels industry, managing software applications. She has a diversified background with 9 years of experience implementing ERP systems, over 10 years managing software applications and over 15 years managing accounting teams. Jennifer enjoys helping clients understand their ERP system to maximize efficiency and improve business processes. She works with product design, business process analysis, data analysis and customer support. Jennifer holds both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in Professional Accountancy.

Jennifer spends her free time with her husband, their twin daughters and their two dogs. She enjoys volunteering for her daughters’ school, chauffeuring and cheering for her daughters to various activities, and crafting.

Jessica Buster

Jessica’s 22 years of experience comes from multiple positions within the agriculture sector; from an assistant at a brokerage firm, grain merchandiser for both privately owned companies and cooperatives, commodity controller for an ethanol company with multiple plants and grain elevators, and a general manager for a grain, feed, and swine production cooperative. “My favorite part of the job is working with customers to help find resolutions or proficiencies within their daily processes.”

Jessica and her husband operate a small family row crop and livestock farm.  She’s a co-leader for a local 4-H club and the secretary for her local county Farm Bureau board. 

JoAnn Bechtold
JoAnn has over 40 years of experience across multiple industries including grain processing. JoAnn’s experience includes controller positions as well and owning and operating a Dynamics GP business for 15 years. JoAnn assists clients with business processes, data analysis, support and controller services.
Kate Tucker
Katie has been involved with the Ag business off and on for nearly 25 years. Several years as Administrative Assistant for RDI Technologies/Agris. Several years as web and marketing manager with a strong background in Ag, Multimedia and Web Design. She assists the entire team with all their social media and website marketing needs plus administrative backup.
Sarah Hepner
Sarah’s experience includes working in financial accounting at an ethanol company for 5 years and in accounts payable at a global manufacturing company for another 5 years. Along with Sarah’s 10 years of experience in the accounting field, she has an additional 5 years of experience in customer service and management. Sarah holds a Business Administration degree from Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois.
Sheila O'Meara
Sheila O’Meara

With over 28 years of experience, Sheila has held various accounting positions across diverse industries. Her expertise extends beyond traditional accounting roles—she also serves as a functional software consultant specializing in Dynamics GP and D365 Finance and Operations. Sheila collaborates closely with clients, offering guidance on best practices, accounting strategies, operational efficiency, data analysis, and exceptional client services.

Sheila also volunteers with her local High School Trap Shooting Team as a board member and an assistant team manager.

In her free time, Sheila enjoys spending time with Family, Friends and her Furry Friends too. She also likes to travel.

Steve Squibb
Steve is the team leader for Beyond and his 22 years of experience cross multiple industries and accounting positions. Steve’s experience in manufacturing and Ag coop accounting and management brings multiple disciplines to the team. Steve assists with business process analysis, best practices, data analytics and client support.
Todd Marxhausen
Todd Marxhausen started with Beyond in January 2022 as part of the Professional Services Team. Todd has spent 25 years in IT working with application systems in both agriculture and construction based businesses. Todd enjoys volunteering as a Firearm Safety Instructor, youth sports and at church. Spare family time is spent outdoors traveling, fishing or hunting.

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