Firm Establishes Scholarship To Honor Festi’s 40-Year Career
Nov.14, 2016 | New Philadelphia, OH – Rea & Associates, a regional accounting and business consulting firm, honors employees for their contributions to community, client service, the public accounting profession and to the firm as a whole. This year, for his long-time dedication to the accounting profession, Frank Festi, Jr., CPA, CFP, was nominated by his peers and selected by the Spotlight Award Committee to receive the firm’s fourth annual Chet Stocker Award for Service to the Profession.
“Frank emulates what it means to give his all to the profession,” said Anita Martin, CPA, a manager in Rea’s Medina office. “He just has that personality that makes people want to connect and smile and he brings his entire being into the profession and that reflects just walking around Medina County.”
Festi, who will retire from public accounting on Dec. 1, 2016, after 40 years of service, earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from Muskingum University. He has served in various leadership roles with the Medina County Economic Development Corporation, the Medina Rotary Club, the Medina City School Foundation and the United Way. He was previously presented with the Medina Jaycees’ Distinguished Service Award. Festi delivered the 2016 Baccalaureate address at Muskingum University at which time he was also granted an honorary doctor of humane letters degree as a distinguished business professionals and dedicated volunteer leader on behalf of education, the arts, community service and economic development.
For his continued dedication to the firm and to the accounting profession, Rea & Associates has established a one-time scholarship to Muskingum University in Festi’s name.
Chet Stocker was a managing partner at Rea and a steward for the accounting profession. He believed that it was important to contribute to the advancement of accounting, accounting professionals and the professional organizations that contribute to the strength and solidarity of the profession and to our society as a whole. In his honor, the Chet Stocker Award for Service to the Profession is given to the Rea & Associates employee who demonstrates this same dedication while contributing their own time and talent to further advance the accounting profession. Winners of this award are nominated by their peers. In September, a committee is formed to review the nominations and select the winner. The winner is then revealed during a ceremony that takes place at the annual Rea & Associates Retreat. Past recipients of the Chet Stocker Award for Service to the Profession include Darlene Finzer, CPA, QKA, CSA and Nancy Schreiner.
To learn more about the Chet Stocker Award for Service to the Profession, visit the Rea & Associates YouTube page and watch the video that features this year’s winner.