Alumnus Honored during Fisher’s Accounting Awards Ceremony

St. John Fisher University honored esteemed alumnus James Bowers ’70 during the 33rd annual Accounting Awards Banquet held on Wednesday, April 26.

The Accounting Alumnus of the Year Award which was created more than 30 years ago to honor the achievements of Fisher accounting alumni. Recipients of the award exemplify Fisher’s core values, and have noteworthy career achievements, engaged in significant humanitarian efforts, and made outstanding contributions to the St. John Fisher University community.

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.

During the awards ceremony, the University also honored five alumni with Rising Star Awards. Given to alumni who have found success early in their careers, the award honors career achievements, involvement with both the community and the University, and demonstrated potential for even greater success as their accounting careers mature. The winners included: Ali Kramer ’13, ’14 (MBA), Cory Morton ’12, ’13 (MBA), Timothy Robinson ’13, Jacob Skeval ’13, and Hannah Anderson Weinmann ’13.

Kramer is a double Cardinal, graduating from Fisher with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and an MBA with a concentration in accounting. She currently serves as controller for Butler/Till, where she has worked since November 2021. During that time, she has guided her team through significant growth and has plans to continue growing.

Cory Morton, another double Cardinal, graduated with a degree in accounting in 2012 and an MBA in 2013. He began his career at PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP in the Rochester Assurance practice, before joining EagleView, Inc. as a technical account manager. Today, Morton serves as the controller at Bryx, Inc., a growing business in the public safety industry.

Timothy Robinson, a graduate of the Class of 2013, went on to earn a Master’s in Health Care Administration from Louisiana State University in 2020. Since obtaining his degree from Fisher, he has worked in corporate accounting and finance roles throughout the past 10 years. The bulk of his experience has been with Rochester Regional Health, beginning as a business planning analyst, with three promotions leading to his current role as director of operations.

Following his graduation from Fisher in 2013, Skeval obtained his MBA from SUNY Oswego and earned his CPA license. He became staff accountant at Testone, Marshall & Discenza, LLP, before joining The Bonadio Group in January 2015, serving government and not-for-profit clients. In 2018, he completed the Batiste Leadership Emerging Leadership Program, and in 2022, he was promoted to the role of principal at The Bonadio group.

Anderson Weinmann graduated from Fisher in 2013 and began her career with PwC as an intern. She was promoted to senior manager within the firm’s Trust Solutions Health Industries practice two years ago. As a licensed CPA in both New York State and North Carolina, she has served a broad client base on the east coast. Today, she works with several higher education clients, helping to navigate significant transactions and providing technical expertise to local colleges, several Ivy Leagues, and larger universities in the South.

Fisher also recognized nearly 70 students for their academic achievements during the ceremony. The awards are sponsored by the Accounting Alumni Society and the Department of Accounting and Finance in the School of Business.