John Sehi Receives Distinguished Alumnus Honor

​A Norfolk businessman formerly of Neligh has been recognized by the Nebraska Community College Association (NCCA).

John W. Sehi was honored for outstanding career achievement recently with the NCCA’s Northeast Community College Area Distinguished Alumni Award during the organization’s annual meeting here. The award is presented annually to one alumnus from each of the five of the state’s community college areas.

Sehi, CPA, CVA, CGMA, is currently a shareholder and vice president of Sehi & Associates, P.C., a certified public accounting firm in Norfolk. He has two-and-a-half years of auditing and tax experience with a national certified public accounting firm and 40-years of experience in auditing, litigation services, business consulting, tax planning and preparation while practicing locally.

Sehi is a native of Neligh and received an associate of arts degree from Northeastern Nebraska College in 1973. Northeastern was a predecessor to Northeast Community College.

“The dedication, professionalism and sense of caring of the instructors at the college exhibited while I was there set an example for me and had a profound impact not only my choice of careers, but also my lifelong desire to help people in my chosen profession,” he said. 

Sehi said one class at the College changed his life forever.

“I took an accounting class, the first I ever had in my life. I fell in love with the class and the instructor, E.H. Williams, and what he put in my head and what he put in my heart. This class is where I found my passion. That was where I found out who I was and what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. (Williams) taught me all about that," he said.

Sehi went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration, with High Distinction, from the University of Nebraska in 1974.

He is a Certified Public Accountant, a Certified Valuation Analyst and a Chartered Global Management Accountant. Sehi is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts and the Nebraska Society of Certified Public Accountants, where he has served as a board member and on various committees for a number of years. 

He was inducted into the Northeast Community College Hall of Success in 1981 and was selected as an Entrepreneur of the Year in 2002 by the University of Nebraska Center for Entrepreneurship.

Sehi has served on the board of directors, as trustee, and as an officer of various organizations, including Sacred Heart Church, Sacred Heart Endowment Fund, Nebraska Christian College Foundation, Norfolk Area Crimestoppers, Link Halfway House, Prime Time Toastmasters Club, Norfolk Morning Optimists, Norfolk Area Soup Kitchen, Faith Regional Health Services Foundation and the Norfolk Arts Center.

He has been married to his wife, Victoria (Dvorak-’74), for 38 years. They have one son, John, who along with his wife Caitlin, the parents of two children, are employed as doctors of physical therapy in York, Nebraska.
Sehi said he is pleased to be a Northeast alumnus. 

“I have been watching Northeast grow and it is amazing to see what’s going on out there. I know it’s staffed with people like Paul Bailey (2016 NCCA Faculty Member of the Year), people very similar to those I encountered 40-years ago as they taught us the things we needed to know. I am so proud to be part of it," he said.