Accounting Alumnus of the Year Award

The Accounting Alumnus of the Year award was created in 1990 to honor the achievements of distinguished Fisher accounting alumni.

The recipient must not only exemplify Fisher's core values, but must meet three basic criteria of noteworthy career achievement, significant humanitarian effort, and outstanding contribution to the Fisher community.

2023 Honoree

James Bowers ’70

Founder, Bowers & Company, CPA, PLLC

Bowers began his accounting career with Deloitte where he spent a decade helping clients, building his experience, and rising through the ranks to manager-in-charge for Deloitte in Syracuse. During this time, he also served for several years as an adjunct professor of accounting at Fisher.

In 1980, he made the decision to branch out on his own and founded Bowers and Company, CPA, PLLC. He has become a leading national expert in the short line railroad industry, frequently sharing his expertise at national and regional conferences. He is also an industry advocate and was instrumental in the implementation of the short line railroad rehabilitation tax credit, helping to write the bill and worked to lobby for its passing. Since founding the company, Bowers has grown the firm from one employee to a staff of more than 100.

A certified public accountant, he is a member of several professional organizations including both the AICPA and the NYSSCPA, regional railroad associations and clubs throughout New England, South Carolina, and New Jersey, and is a board member for Railroads of New York, Inc.

Bowers is active in his community, giving his time to local organizations including Interfaith Works, St. Joseph’s the Worker Church, Transitional Living Services, Dunbar Association, and the Faith-Hope Center.

He has earned recognition for both his professional accomplishments and his service to the community. In 2018, he received the Community Builders Awards from the NYSSCPA, and, along with his wife, Maureen, received the Immaculata Award from the Catholic Diocese of Syracuse in 2019.

Past Recipients

Recipients 2020 -

2022

Carol Anthony (John) Davidson ’76
Chief Accounting Officer of Tyco International

2020/2021

Herb Engert ’89
Managing Partner, Ernst & Young LLP New York Office

Recipients 2010 - 2019

2019

Lauren Gleba Burns ’82
Vice President, Business Development, for TalentBridge LLC

2018

David Pitcher ’78
Partner and Shareholder, Davie Kaplan, CPA

2017

James P. Brennan '92
Partner, Deloitte & Touche, LLP

2016

Keith Senglaub '81
Senior Vice President of Finance and CFO, Feld Entertainment

2015

Jill Knittel '94, '03 (MBA)
Financial Advisor, Sage Rutty & Co., Inc.

2014

Steven Terrigino '89
Partner, The Bonadio Group's Small Business Advisory Group

2013

Cheryl Yawman '86
Practice Director of Accounting and Finance, Cochran, Cochran and Yale

2012

Thomas Walpole '74
Owner, Thomas P. Walpole, CPA

2011

Richard Brienzi '81
Executive Vice President and CFO, Ovation Payroll, Inc.

2010

Robert E. Tokarz '71
Retired Partner, Deloitte & Touche LLP

Recipients 2000 - 2009

2009

John F. Magee, CPA '81
CFO, The Bonadio Group

2008

Raymond J. D'Agostino '74
Partner, Deloitte

2007

Michael C. Goonan '75
CFO & VP, University of Rochester Medical Center

2006

James J. Leo '71
CFO, Wegmans Food Markets, Inc.

2005

Victor E. Salerno, Jr. '66
CEO, O'Connell Electric Company

2004

Kristin M. Clark '86
Partner, The Bonadio Group

2003

John F. Heveron '69
President, Heveron & Heveron, CPAs

2002

Martin Mucci '81
Senior VP of Operations Paychex

2001

P. Gerald Sokolski '63
Tax Partner Mengel, Metzger, Barr & Co.

2000

Nancy E. Catarisano '83
Partner, Insero & Co.,

Recipients 1990 - 1999

1999

Stanley D. Konopko '76
Partner, The Bonadio Group

1998

Gary J. Scott '69
Administrative Director, Westfall Surgery Center

1997

Gerald J. Archibald '74
Partner, The Bonadio Group

1996

Edward J. Lynd '56
Financial Consultant, Retired

1995

James T. Sorenson '70
International Managing Partner, KPMG

1994

Gerald E. VanStrydonk '66
Managing Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers

1993

David A. Niermeyer '63
President, Stakmore Company, Inc.

1992

Paul E. Haney '63
Monroe County Legislature

1991

Thomas B. Hogan '67
Managing Partner, Deloitte

1990

Thomas F. Bonadio '71
Managing Partner, The Bonadio Group