Accounting Awards Celebrate Alumni Achievements, Student Success

St. John Fisher University honored alumni with the Lifetime Achievement Award, Alumnus of the Year, and Rising Star Awards at the 35th annual Accounting Awards Celebration, held on Wednesday, March 26, at the Joseph A. Floreano Rochester Riverside Convention Center.

Established in 1990 to acknowledge the accomplishments of notable Fisher accounting and finance alumni, this event celebrates program graduates and students who embody Fisher’s fundamental values. Award recipients showcase remarkable career success, notable philanthropic endeavors, and exceptional contributions to the Fisher community.

The awards celebration was emceed by Fisher alumna Cheryl Yawman ’86, graduate of the accounting program, and business development director for both Insero Talent Solutions as well as Consiliarium Group.  Dr. Gerard J. Rooney, president of the University, also offered remarks.

“Events like this one remind me of the impact our graduates have on our students as well as the impact our students have on our campus community today,” Rooney said. “It is always a wonderful opportunity for our students to interact with accomplished alumni, with the hope that they can see themselves in you.”

The Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Andrew Sciarabba ’65, known for his distinguished career and impact on the accounting profession.

After earning an accounting degree from Fisher, Sciarabba began his career at the firm Touche Ross. After nine years with the firm, he established a satellite office in Ithaca, New York. In 1976, he and his Touche Ross colleague, Ken Walker, started their own firm, Sciarabba Walker & Co., LLP, based in Ithaca. The company aimed to focus their work on serving locally owned and operated businesses with the aim of building a better community. Sciarabba continued to lead the firm until his retirement in 2007.

As a devoted citizen of Ithaca, he lent his talents to the community through many organizations and projects. He was the principal founder of Community Recreation Center, Inc., in 1986, helping a nine-year effort to raise capital funding to build “The Rink” in 1996. Four years later, additional efforts led to the building of “The Field.” Both facilities have served Cornell University, Ithaca College, Wells College, and the community as hockey, indoor soccer, lacrosse, and football facilities.

In addition to his ongoing work with the Community Recreation Center, he also gives his time and talent to Tompkins County Area Development, the Village of Lansing Road Improvement Committee, the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce Committee, Kendall of Ithaca, and the Cayuga Medical Foundation Radiation Therapy Center.

Sciarabba has remained an active alum, generously supporting the School of Business through philanthropy and is a member of the University’s leadership giving society, the Spire Society, as well the 1948 Society.

The Accounting Alumnus of the Year Award is awarded to individuals who embody Fisher’s core values. The criteria for the award include remarkable career accomplishments, notable humanitarian work, and exceptional contributions to the University. The 2025 recipient was Richard McGrath, a graduate of the Class of 1975.

Upon graduating from Fisher, McGrath quickly built a career and in five short years, he became a partner at Sammons, Walk, McGrath & Thaney. By 1983, the firm name changed to Walker, McGrath & Thaney, and he remained with the organization for the next decade. In 1993, he made the move to open his own practice, Richard W. McGrath, CPA, PC where he was sole practitioner for the next three decades. In 2023, he merged with regional firm MMB+Co.

McGrath is a member of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, as well as a member of the Estate Planning Council of Rochester where he served as a board member from 1999 to 2002.

He has served the Rochester community by giving his time to the boards of the Al Sigl Community of Agencies, Arts & Cultural Council, Rochester Cemetery Heritage Foundation, Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, Rochester Yacht Club, Landmark Society of Western NY, Garth Fagan Dance, and the Committee to Elect Nancy Peck to Supreme Court.

His history of service at Fisher is long, as well. He is a past member of the Accounting Advisory Board, the Trustee’s Council, and the Accounting Awards Banquet Committee, where he served as chair. In the 1980s, he sat on the Fisher Alumni Board of Directors, serving as both vice chair and chair, and general chair of the alumni fund drive. He taught as an adjunct professor for three years and is a member of the Spire Society and the 1948 Society. This fall, he will celebrate his 50th Reunion with classmates.

At the celebration, five alumni were honored with Rising Star Awards. Introduced in 2004, the Rising Star Award acknowledges recent graduates of Fisher’s accounting and finance program for their accomplishments early in their careers as well as for their contributions to the University and broader community. The 2025 recipients included Jennifer Agan ’14, ’15 (MBA), Kyle Ingalls ’14, ’15 (MBA), Adam P. Pettinella ’13, ’14 (MBA), Kyle Van Thof ’14, ’15 (MBA), and Thomas David Whelehan ’15, ’16 (MBA).

After Fisher, Agan launched her career in EY’s commercial assurance practice, where she spent five years developing her expertise in financial reporting and auditing. She then transitioned to financial consulting with CFGI, advising clients through complex financial transactions. In February 2025, she took on a new role as a financial controller at Corning Incorporated.

Throughout her career, she has played a pivotal role in helping clients achieve major financial milestones, including IPOs and de-SPAC transactions. Beyond her professional achievements, she is passionate about mentoring the next generation of accountants. Agan was actively involved in EY Boston’s college mentorship program, guiding students as they prepared for careers in accounting.

Ingalls began his career at PricewaterhouseCoopers before transitioning to Thermo Fisher Scientific, where he spent six years advancing from a financial analyst to the Rochester Site Controller. In this role, he guided a team overseeing the financial operations of a $700M+ manufacturing facility. Seeking to deepen his connection with the Rochester community and engage in the small business sector, Ingalls joined Buckingham Properties in the fall of 2023.

Beyond his professional achievements, Ingalls is passionate about mentorship and career development, dedicating time to guiding others in their professional journeys. He also actively supports Junior Achievement, contributing his time and expertise to inspire the next generation.

Pettinella began a career in accounting as an intern at Freed Maxick CPAs before transitioning into a full-time role. Progressing from staff accountant to supervisor, he joined 1RDG in 2019, advancing to director. Initially focused on tax, he now specializes in mergers and acquisitions, succession planning, and client advisory services, leading a team of 10 professionals.

Over the past five years, Pettinella has played a key role in closing more than 25 merger and acquisition transactions ranging from $2 million to $50 million, helping businesses navigate transitions and strategic growth. Managing over 250 client relationships, he ensures expert financial guidance. In 2023, he was honored with the 1RDG Hustle Award for dedication to client service and firm values.

Drawn to accounting for its strong connection to business and problem-solving, Van Thof pursued a career that leveraged both analytical skills and a deep understanding of financial operations. Beginning in public accounting, he spent over five years as an external auditor with Ernst & Young, earning a CPA license and working with a diverse portfolio of public and private clients.

Transitioning to industry, Van Thof joined Thermo Fisher Scientific as an accounting manager for the Rochester site before advancing to a senior manager role, overseeing accounting for North American sites within the LSG Division. A registered CPA in New York, he has contributed to capital expansion projects that enhance operational capabilities, helping the Rochester site meet growing business and community demands.

After graduating from Fisher, Whelehan began a career in Insero’s audit department as a staff accountant—carrying the printer bag from audit to audit—and has since grown into the role of audit manager. In this position, he works closely with client financial officers, tailoring audit approaches, mentoring the next generation of auditors, and ensuring that businesses across various industries receive high-quality assurance services. Beyond meeting clients’ audit needs, he takes pride in serving as a trusted advisor, identifying process efficiencies, and providing valuable insights to help clients reach the next level.

Of special note, Whelehan’s family inspired his career in accounting and he was joined at the ceremony by three of his brothers, who have also been honored with the Rising Star Award.

The celebration highlighted the successes of outstanding undergraduate and graduate students in the accounting and finance program. Nearly 70 students were honored with scholarships and awards during the ceremony.

The Accounting Awards Celebration is sponsored by the Accounting Alumni Society and the Department of Accounting and Finance in the School of Business.