Accounting Awards Celebrate Alumni Achievements, Student Success

St. John Fisher University honored the recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award, Alumnus of the Year, and Rising Star Awards at the 36th 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, the Accounting Awards Celebration honors graduates and students who embody Fisher’s fundamental values. This year’s celebration, held on March 25, drew more than 300 alumni, faculty, staff, students, parents, and regional accounting professionals to honor alumni for remarkable career success, notable philanthropic endeavors, and exceptional contributions to the Fisher community.

The celebration was emceed by Fisher alumna Aimee Jozic ’05, a graduate of the accounting program and business development director for Insero Talent Solutions and Consiliarium Group. Dr. Gerard J. Rooney, president of the University, offered welcome 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. It is always a wonderful opportunity for our students to interact with accomplished alumni, with the hope that they can see themselves in you,” said Rooney. “Your collective achievements, along with your support of our recruiting and fundraising efforts and our student internships, help to set our program apart from the others. Your continuing involvement in the institution is both impactful and appreciated.”

Dr. Daniel Connolly, dean of the School of Business, offered remarks.

“Tonight, we celebrate the achievements of alumni, rising stars, and the students who will soon follow in their footsteps,” said Connolly. “Former president Dr. Don Bain often said:  ‘Students are our most precious responsibility, and alumni are our proudest achievement.’  Tonight, we see that truth on full display.”

The Lifetime Achievement Award was given to John Heveron, Jr., CPA, a member of the Class of 1969.

For more than five decades, Heveron has helped shape best practices in nonprofit accounting and governance while remaining deeply connected to the University and its accounting community.

After beginning his career at Ernst & Ernst and earning his CPA certification, Heveron founded his own practice dedicated to serving nonprofit organizations. That practice grew into Heveron & Company CPAs, a firm built on what it describes as “care, competence, and common sense.” Over time, the firm expanded to employ more than 20 professionals and became widely recognized for its specialized expertise in nonprofit audits, compliance, governance, and financial management. Though no longer an owner, Heveron continues to work part-time at the firm he established.

Heveron is widely regarded as a thought leader in nonprofit accounting. For more than 25 years, he has authored Nonprofit GPS, a quarterly newsletter providing practical guidance to nonprofit leaders, and he has presented extensively for the National Center for Independent Living and other nonprofit leadership organizations. His influence also extends to professional education, including work with the New York State Foundation for Accounting Education.

His contributions to the profession have been formally recognized through induction into the Rochester CPA Society Hall of Fame and service as past president of the Rochester Chapter of the New York State Society of CPAs. In recognition of his professional excellence and service, Fisher honored Heveron as Outstanding Accounting Alumnus in 2003, and he continues to give back as a member of the University’s Accounting Advisory Board.

The Accounting Alumnus of the Year Award recognizes graduates who embody Fisher’s core values while demonstrating remarkable career accomplishments, notable humanitarian work, and exceptional contributions to the University. The 2026 recipient was P.J. Guisto, CPA, a graduate of the Class of 1989.

Guisto is a highly respected accounting and advisory professional whose career spans more than three decades and reflects a deep commitment to excellence, leadership, and service within the accounting profession. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Accounting in 1989 and has remained closely connected to the University and its mission throughout his professional life.

Guisto began his career at KPMG LLP, where he advanced to manager in assurance services, developing a strong foundation in audit, internal controls, and risk management. He later served as senior manager of internal audit at Goulds Pumps, gaining valuable industry experience that informed his future work advising organizations through complex operational and financial challenges.

In 1998, he founded JC Jones Advisory Services, building the firm into a trusted partner for organizations navigating business process improvement, mergers and acquisitions, internal audit, Sarbanes-Oxley compliance, and operational transformation. His work has helped organizations strengthen governance, improve performance, and make data-driven decisions—contributions that have had a lasting impact on the practice of accounting and advisory services. In August 2023, Guisto sold the firm to Acclarity Group and now serves as an executive advisor, continuing to share his expertise while semi-retired.

A dedicated alumnus, Guisto has served on the University’s Accounting Advisory Board since 2003, helping guide curriculum relevance and support the preparation of future accounting professionals. His career, leadership, and enduring commitment to Fisher exemplify the values of integrity, service, and professional excellence that define the accounting profession.

At the celebration, five graduates were honored with Rising Star Awards. Introduced in 2004, this award recognizes recent graduates of Fisher’s accounting and finance program for their accomplishments early in their careers. The 2026 recipients are (left to right) Nicole VanThof ’14, ’15MBA, William VanApeldoorn ’18, ’19MBA, Marissa Rozaklis ’17, ’18MBA, Robert Riggio ’15, and Anna Moynihan ’16, ’17MBA.

VanThof earned her bachelor’s degree in 2014 and her MBA the next year, earning her the double Cardinal distinction. She began her career at PwC in audit before joining EY as a technical accounting consultant. She now serves Corning Incorporated as senior manager of internal audit and controls. She is actively involved in the community and is a member of the Junior League of Rochester.

William VanApeldoorn is another double Cardinal, completing his undergraduate degree in 2018 and his MBA in 2019. He serves as an outsource controller within The Bonadio Group’s outsourced accounting and finance practice. With more than eight years at the firm, VanApeldoorn specializes in delivering back-office accounting solutions for clients in the manufacturing and distribution sector, helping organizations streamline operations and drive financial insight.

Rozaklis, a double Cardinal, earned her accounting degree in 2017 and her MBA in 2018. She joined PWC before moving to Constellation Brands where, since 2021, she has been manager of the strategic analytics team. In this role, she oversees the long-range planning process and delivers scenario analyses and initiative tracking that support executive decision-making.

Riggio earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting in 2015 and began his professional career at Insero & Co. CPAs. He advanced to audit manager before joining Harter Secrest & Emery LLP as controller in 2022. In 2025, he was promoted to director of finance and controller, where he now leads a nine-member finance team and partners with firm leadership to drive financial strategy and operational excellence. 

A double Cardinal, Moynihan earned her bachelor’s degree in 2016 and her MBA in 2017. She currently serves as treasury manager at Rochester Regional Health, bringing a decade of experience in healthcare finance. She specializes in accounting, cash management, and liquidity planning, leveraging data-driven strategies to optimize treasury operations. Active in the Healthcare Financial Management Association, Moynihan currently serves as president of the Rochester Chapter, leading initiatives that provide networking, volunteer, and educational opportunities for her peers.

Nearly 70 students were honored with scholarships and awards during the ceremony, highlighting Fisher’s ongoing commitment to preparing the next generation of accounting and finance professionals and the impact of donors and community support.

The success of the Accounting Awards Celebration is made possible through the leadership of a dedicated committee of accounting alumni, together with faculty and staff from the School of Business.

The Accounting Awards Celebration was supported by The Bonadio Group as presenting sponsor, MMB+Co as dinner sponsor, and more than a dozen table and additional sponsors.