ACC601 - Accounting Capstone - Speaker Series Archives

SPRING 2012 Preparing for the Profession Speaker Series

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Professor Jesse Ligo '82 and Amy Klipa Ligo '84 hosted the Accounting Capstone class at their farm for a lasagna dinner and agricultural business tour where Ligos emphasized the importance of living your dream.

 

Robert Jazwinski, CPA/PFS, CFP ‘75, President and Sarah T. Jazwinski, MBA, Tax Preparer, Operations Support - JFS Wealth Advisors, shared life lessons learned from owning and operating their own business, as well as, providing sound financial advice to our soon to be graduates.

 

Randy Staggers, CPA ’81, Senior Vice President, Administrative Services & Financial Operations - Highmark, explained that clients expect their accounting professionals to be reactive, proactive, and interactive.

 

Mark Giallonardo, JD, LLM ’83, Principal – Hill, Barth, & King, LLC, defined the great difference in expectations between a profession, as opposed to a job, and how important it is to be a participant and not a spectator in your career.

 

A.J. Ray, Senior Market Manager/Client Relationship Executive - KForce , stressed the importance of networking on LinkedIn, through community involvement, and business relationships.  He recommends reading How To Win Friends And Influence People.

 

Eric Jackson, Regional Manager - Becker Professional Education, explained the 5 key steps in the CPA Exam process:  Qualify, Apply, Prepare, Schedule, Succeed.

 

SPRING 2011 Preparing for the Profession Speaker Series

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The final event for Accounting Capstone is a homemade lasagna dinner at Professor and Mrs. Ligo's farm,  Drove Pasture Farm.  After dinner, Professor Ligo gave the students a farm tour, discussing not only the many aspects of production agriculture, but how accounting knowledge has made the farm successful.

 

Rob Jackson '91, MBA, FACHE, Westminster College Trustee, and CEO of Grove City Medical Center, enlightened the class about the importance of being prepared when opportunities arise.

 

CPA Chris Wright, a Supervisor with Hill, Barth and King LLC, informed students about the importance of relationships and networking both for client recruitment as well as the job search process.  Having a positive attitude and effeciency in the workplace were items Chris stressed with the Accounting Capstone class.

 

Pete Chiappa, Director of Business Operations with Seegrid Corporation, discussed the many avenues that an accountant may pursue.

Matt Dangel '09, Staff Accountant with McGill, Power & Bell, and Sara Davis Dangel '09, Universal Associate with ErieBank shared their recent post graduation experiences with the Accounting Capstone Class.

Eric Jackson, Field Marketing Specialist, from Becker Professional Education provides students with educational tools to pass the Uniform CPA Exam.

 

SPRING 2010 Preparing for the Profession Speaker Series

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WC Alumni, Professor Smith, and the Accounting Capstone Class enjoyed dinner and a farm tour at Drove Pasture Farm.  Professor Ligo explained the nature and practices of his family's agriculture business.

 

Professor Ligo stressed the importance of career and personal goal setting, while students contemplated and listed their goals.

 

Ken Romig, Vice President of Financial Management Services, Westminster College, discussed some of his career path highlights, focusing specifically on public accounting, banking, and non-profit accounting.

Dean Owrey, CPA, Partner, Assurance Services and Campus Recruiting, Ernst & Young LLP shared his experiences from over twenty years working in public accounting, as well as insights into the recruiting process.

 

Representatives from Becker Professional Education explained their CPA Review course to the Accounting Capstone class.

 

Jennifer Cidila, CPA, Partner, Carbis Walker, LLP discussed with the Accounting Capstone students the keys to work/life balance and the difference between employment at a large firm versus a smaller firm.

 

Jordan Belosh '09 and Matthew Saines '09 informed Accounting Capstone students about their experience as staff accountants for Paparone Stillwaggon & McGill.

Field Trip to Carbis Walker in New Castle, PA

Dean Fair '84, C.P.A. speaks to Capstone class