Fast Forward continues to grow not only through innovation in utility infrastructure, but also by investing in passionate, high-performing individuals. We’re excited to spotlight Toshiyuki (Toshi) Nishikata, who joined Fast Forward as a Finance & Accounting Intern and quickly became a vital part of our operations during the summer of 2025.
Toshi, originally from Fukuoka, Japan, is currently pursuing a double major in Accounting and Finance at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Since joining Fast Forward, he has taken ownership of critical financial processes—implementing project-level profitability tracking, streamlining journal entries, and collaborating on financial reporting to improve our visibility into operations.
“I wanted to work somewhere I could immediately make an impact,” said Toshi. “Fast Forward gave me the opportunity to apply what I’ve learned in the classroom to real business challenges—whether that’s reconciling complex transactions, supporting investor materials, or conducting strategic cost analysis.”
Toshi also worked closely with our accounting advisors to resolve legacy issues, clean up historical loan records, and design custom reporting tools that empower leadership to make faster, more informed decisions. “Toshi’s work ethic, attention to detail, and eagerness to take on big challenges have been exceptional,” said CEO Dusty Birge. “He brings clarity to our financials and is never afraid to dive into complex problems. He’s been a tremendous asset to the team.”
Toshi’s introduction to Fast Forward, also demonstrates the value of collaboration between the local university system at UNK and it’s support for getting students real practical experience. Especially those interested in Entrepreneurship! In addition, over 1/3rd of the Fast Forward organization is UNK alumni!
Thank you Toshi, and best wishes in your final experiences at UNK!