Alumni of the Fox School of Business at Temple University gathered with business leaders and guests at the First Annual Accounting Achievement Awards on April 25, 2017, to celebrate their shared Fox School heritage and honor five noteworthy graduates of the Department of Accounting.
The inaugural event provided a great opportunity for the Fox School community to connect with fellow alumni from classes spanning 50 years, as well as make new industry contacts, meet current faculty and students, and learn about the recent achievements of the Department of Accounting at the Hyatt at The Bellevue in Philadelphia.
Among the nearly 275 guests were five alumni who received awards reflective of their impressive professional careers and civic service in the Greater Philadelphia region:
- Rising Star Award — Ross S. Reiter, CPA, Senior Manager, KPMG
- Public Accounting Award — Lori F. Reiner, CPA, Partner-In-Charge, EisnerAmper LLP, Philadelphia Office
- Corporate Award — Stanley C. Middleman, President and CEO, Freedom Mortgage
- Community Service Award — Anthony J. Conti, CPA, MBA, Managing Partner, Retired, PwC, Philadelphia Office
- Lifetime Achievement Award — James N. Solano, CPA, MBA, MS, Professor and Sports Agent
The excitement of the honorees was obvious and their positive energy contagious as each expressed appreciation for the Fox School and enthusiasm for their alma mater recognizing them as the inaugural award winners.
“I’m honored and humbled to be recognized by Temple University,” shared Stanley Middleman, president and CEO of Freedom Mortgage, as he received the Corporate Award. “To be a part of the first Accounting Achievement Awards is extraordinarily important and I feel especially honored because, as I’ve told my children and tell people everywhere I go, accounting is the language of business.”
“It’s great to be part of the class that is the first class,” followed Anthony Conti as he accepted the Community Service Award with two of his grandchildren. Conti ended his speech with a request for all audience members involved in community service to stand, stating “I applaud Temple for recognizing community service. We’re here on your behalf accepting for you. Stay involved in the community, continue to give back, and give yourselves a round of applause; you certainly deserve it.”
In addition to engaging and reconnecting with alumni and friends, attendees also supported the next generation of accounting professionals by raising more than $150,000 for the Accounting Achievement Awards Term Scholarship Fund, a new scholarship created to support high-achieving accounting students in pursuing their undergraduate and Master of Accountancy (MAcc) degrees.
“The First Annual Accounting Achievement Awards was a great occasion not only for honorees and guests, but also for hosts. The event let us engage and reconnect with alumni and friends of the Fox School who have helped shape and support the business school’s time-honored tradition of preparing business leaders for successful careers,” said Eric Press, PhD, chairman of the Department of Accounting. “It was a pleasure to see our current faculty and students interact with alumni, hear about the success they’re enjoying in their careers, and share memories, experiences, and ideas for the future.”
The Second Annual Accounting Achievement Awards is slated to take place in May 2018. The nomination process will open in Fall 2017 at fox.temple.edu/accountingawards.
To support the Accounting Achievement Awards Term Scholarship Fund, contribute online at giving.temple.edu/givetoaccounting. Learn more below about this year’s winners and their connection and affinity for the Fox School.
2017 Accounting Achievement Award Recipients
Ross S. Reiter, CPA, received the Rising Star Award, presented to a public or private accounting professional who has demonstrated leadership skills and a commitment to the Fox School. Reiter, BBA ’09, is a senior manager at KPMG’s tax consulting practice in Philadelphia.
Lori F. Reiner, CPA, was presented with the Public Accounting Award for outstanding success in the public accounting sector. Reiner, BBA ’86, is partner-in-charge of the Philadelphia practice of EisnerAmper LLP, specializing in providing accounting, auditing, and advisory services to closely held and private equity-backed companies.
Stanley C. Middleman received the Corporate Award, presented to executive-level professionals in the non-public accounting profession who have shown excellence in the areas of financial reporting, accounting, and/or tax expertise. Middleman, BS ’76, is the founder and CEO of Freedom Mortgage Corporation, a national mortgage banker headquartered in Mount Laurel, N.J.
Anthony J. Conti, CPA, MBA, was celebrated with the Community Service Award for outstanding contributions to the accounting profession and local communities. Conti, MBA ’73, maintains an active civic career following retirement from a 36-year career with PwC, including 29 years as a partner. He has served the Philadelphia community in several civic leadership positions, including interim president and CEO of the United Way on a volunteer basis.
James N. Solano, CPA, MBA, MS, received the Lifetime Achievement Award, presented to professionals who advance the accounting profession through sustained leadership in public accounting, business, or academic communities. Solano, BS ’66, MBA ’68, MS ’79, has had a distinguished 48-year career in the Philadelphia area, successfully balancing his professional career as an accounting professor, practicing CPA, and professional sports agent with active involvement in community service as a founder of two charitable foundations.