Honorees Announced for Third Annual Accounting Advisory Council Accounting Hall of Fame

LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J., March 26 -- Rider University issued the following news:

Rider'sAccounting Advisory Council is pleased to announce the honorees for the Third Annual Accounting Hall of Fame to be held during an awards dinner on May 8, 2014, at the Pines Manor Restaurant in Edison, N.J.

"In addition to honoring these distinguished alumni, we will be raising funds for Accounting Advisory Council scholarships through your support for this special evening," said Lawrence N. Frankel '79, CPA, who is spearheading the event. "By attracting the best and brightest high school seniors, Rider can maintain its margin of excellence in the accounting field."

This year's honorees include:

Service to the Community: Theresa Richardson '96, CPA

Since graduating from Rider, Theresa Richardson '96 has been active in the accounting profession, in the community and with Rider University.

Theresa serves as a partner for WithumSmith & Brown and her diverse expertise includes not-for-profit, manufacturing, distribution and transportation companies. She was also selected as one of New Jersey's 2013 Best 50 Women in Business by NJBIZ.

Theresa is an active member of the Somerset County Chapter of The American Red Cross where she was instrumental in providing charitable care and helping to rebuild her community after Hurricane Floyd. She is also an active member of Branchburg Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) and served as the organization's treasurer from 2005 to 2009. At BBBS Theresa is known for leadership, dedication, enthusiasm and time commitment. As a volunteer at The Agape House, Theresa organizes holiday programs that provide gifts for children. She also serves as a member of the Somerset United Way and previously served as a member of the finance committee. She is on the leadership committee of the Garden State Go Red for Women Organization and serves as treasurer of the Flemington Raritan Business Association.

Theresa is a member of Rider University'sAccounting Advisory Council and she serves as guest speaker for the Accounting Society.

Achievement in Governmental Accounting: Richard Fair '75, CPA

Rick Fair '75 has over 30 years experience in New Jersey state government including serving as the New Jersey State Auditor from 1989 to 2008. While in this role, Rick was responsible for performing financial and performance audits of all state agencies in New Jersey. Rick is the immediate past National President of the Association of Government Accountants, past President of the National State Auditors' Association and formerly a member of the Comptroller General's advisory committee on government auditing standards and domestic working group.

Rick has received many honors including the National State Auditors Association William Snodgrass Distinguished Leadership Award and the Walker Excellence in Government Performance and Accountability Award. He taught Governmental Accounting at Rider and was a founding member of the Rider University Accounting Advisory Council.

Lifetime Achievement: Tony Dimun '65, CPA

Tony Dimun '65 has had successful careers in both public and corporate accounting and as an entrepreneur in the medical devices industry. Since 2001 Tony has served as Chairman of Nascent Enterprises, LLC, a medical device venture advisory firm. Prior to his work with Nascent Enterprises, LLC, he was Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Strategic Concepts, Inc., a financial advisory company with specific focus on venture capital and acquisition transactions. Tony has also served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Vital Signs, Inc., a publicly held anesthesia and respiratory medical device company, as senior executive at American Express Business Advisors, as Senior Vice President at First Atlantic International Merchant Bank, and as Senior Manager at Ernst & Young.

Tony is involved with Rider as a member of the President's Advisory Council, and an Executive-in-Residence for Rider Applied Leadership Institute for Science Professionals. He also serves as a member of the Board of Trustees of the New Jersey Center for Biomaterials, a non- profit collaboration of the three leading New Jersey universities and a Board Member at MELA Sciences.

Faculty Lifetime Achievement: Alan Sumutka '72, CPA

Alan Sumutka has been a member of the Rider community for over 40 years, first as a member of the class of '72 and later as a member of the Rider faculty, where he teaches taxation courses. Many students taught or advised by Professor Sumutka not only passed the CPA exam, but also reached the top of their professions in the area of taxation. While at Rider, Professor Sumutka has been honored with numerous teaching awards, including the New Jersey Society of CPAs Outstanding Educator Award, the Lindback Distinguished Teaching Award and the Rider Business Advisory Board Innovative Teaching Award.

Professor Sumutka is also the recipient of many research leaves and grants, and is the author/co-author of more than 35 articles and 1 book in the area of taxation. His articles have appeared in The Journal of Financial Planning, The Journal of Accountancy, The Tax Adviser, Taxation for Accountants, The CPA Journal, and others.

For more information about the event, please contact Dr. Margaret O'Reilly-Allen, chair of the Department of Accounting, at [email protected].

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