UpDate - Vol. 14, No. 13, Page 9
December 1, 1994
Business alumni honored for career excellence

     Three alumni from the University's College of Business and
Economics were honored recently as the 1994 recipients of the Alumni
Award of Excellence.
     The award recognizes alumni who have exhibited excellence in
their careers and personal achievements. Recipients also must have
made significant contributions to the community and be committed to
excellence as demonstrated by personal growth, continuous improvement,
business ethics and commitment to make a difference.
     This year's recipients included Joseph H. Fisher, special
assistant to the president for financial and administrative affairs at
the University of Hartford and retired managing partner of KPMG Peat
Marwick of Hartford, Conn.; W. Robert Knechel, who is Ernst & Young
Professor of Accounting and director of research at the Center for
Accounting Research and Professional Education of the University of
Florida, Gainesville; and Emily-May F. Richards, founder and owner of
the Richards Group, P.C., a certified public accounting firm, and
corporate controller of KSL Recreation Corp., LaQuinta, Calif.


Joseph H. Fisher
     Fisher, who received a bachelor of science degree in accounting
from the University in 1966, began his career with the Philadelphia
office of KPMG Peat Marwick in 1966. He became a CPA in 1967 and was
elected to the partnership in 1974. He was instrumental in convincing
the firm to establish an office in Wilmington, Del., and was the first
leader of that office.
     In 1983, Fisher was transferred to Hartford, Conn., where he
assumed the position of managing partner. His role was subsequently
expanded to also include responsibility for KPMG's Springfield, Mass.,
and New Haven, Conn., offices-a combined practice of more than 350
personnel. Fisher retired from KPMG in 1991.
     In the course of his career, Fisher served numerous entities,
including some of the world's largest financial institutions. He has
written extensively on bank accounting matters and contributed to
AICPA Audit Guides. His efforts helped lead to the comptroller of
currency accepting statistical sampling methods in certain areas, and
he was a leader in the development of Comprehensive Federal Audits by
independent accountants at universities.
     Fisher has been involved in various community organizations. In
recent years, he has served as director and president of the
Connecticut Mental Health Association, director and vice president of
the Greater Hartford Arts Council, director and president of the
University of Hartford Associates, director and vice president of the
Connecticut Combined Health Appeal, director of the Citizens'
Committee for Effective Government, and director of Junior Achievement
of North Central Connecticut, among others.
     He currently chairs the executive committee and serves as
director of the Lyme Disease Foundation Inc. and is director and vice
president of the University Club of Hartford.
     Fisher and his wife, Linda, and one child live in West Simsbury,
Conn.


W. Robert Knechel
     Knechel received a bachelor of science degree in accounting from
the University in 1977 and has a been a member of the college's
Accounting Advisory Board.
     He began his career as a staff auditor with Arthur Andersen & Co.
in 1977. In 1978, he entered the doctoral program at the University of
North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was a teaching and research
assistant. After completing his doctorate, he joined the University of
Florida. In addition to his academic pursuits, he was awarded an Audit
Research Fellowship at KPMG Peat Marwick from 1991-93.
     Knechel is a chaired professor and director of research for one
of the preeminent doctoral accounting programs in the country. One of
the most notable contemporary educators and scholars of auditing in
the country, he has contributed extensively to numerous publications,
including the most prestigious accounting journals The Accounting
Review, Decision Sciences, Contemporary Accounting Research and
Auditing.
     Additionally, he has published two textbooks, Financial
Accounting with Lotus 1-2-3 and The MONOPOLY Practice Set: Accounting
for MONOPOLY Transactions.
     Knechel also has conducted extensive education courses for the
state of Florida and has served on numerous American Accounting
Association committees, including a term as chairperson of the
Education Committee of the Auditing Section.
     His professional affiliations include being a certified public
accountant in Florida and holding membership in the Florida Institute
of Certified Public Accountants, Institute of Internal Auditors,
Institute of Decision Sciences and the American Accounting Association
(Auditing and Behavioral Sections).
     Knechel and his wife, Kimberly, have one child and reside in
Gainsville, Fla.


Emily-May Richards
     Richards earned a bachelor of science degree in accounting from
the University and graduated magna cum laude in 1969. She also earned
a master's degree in business administration from Georgia State
University in 1986, is a graduate of the School of Banking of the
South at Louisiana State University and obtained her CPA certificate
in Florida in 1971.
     Her company, the Richards Group, provides tax and accounting
services for all types of entities: individuals, small businesses
(including both c-corporations and s-corporations), partnerships and
estates. The firm handles many closely held businesses and in doing so
provides services to both the business and the principals/ executives
who own/manage the business. The firm also designs, installs and
supports custom computer software.
     Richards began her career with First Atlanta Corp. (now Wachovia
Corp.) and served there for 14 years in various capacities in the
mortgage banking subsidiary, the lead bank and in the holding
corporation. Her positions included treasurer of First Atlantic Corp.,
director of audit for First Atlantic Corp. and all its subsidiaries,
and assistant controller and vice president of The First National Bank
of Atlanta.
     Currently, she is a past president of Financial Women
International (formerly National Association of Bank Women), which she
also has served as president and Atlanta Group vice president. She is
a certified leader trainer and has been active in presenting and
teaching others to present the association's video training session,
entitled "Looking At Leadership."
     Richards was appointed to the Board of Governors of the Georgia
World Congress Center (a major convention/exhibition facility) by the
governor of Georgia in 1980, a post she held until 1989. She was
elected treasurer in 1980 and served in that capacity until November
1989. Her other community activities include Girl Scouts, Friendship
Circle Steering Committee, Agnes Scott College Women in Business
Advisory Board, Georgia State University Executive Committee and the
United Way Allocations Panel.