The Distinguished Graduate Award celebrates the outstanding professional or personal achievements of graduates of the Goodman School of Business at Brock University.

2022 Distinguished Graduate
Rhonda Klosler
(BBA ’93)
National COO & Ontario Market Leader
RSM Canada
Rhonda has nearly 30 years of public accounting experience to her role as Chief Operating Officer at RSM Canada LLP. She joined Collins Barrow Toronto, as an 18-year-old intern in the audit practice and eventually became a partner and a member of the leadership team. She has been instrumental in the tremendous growth of the firm during her tenure. In 2017, Collins Barrow merged with RSM, and she became COO of RSM Canada. In this role, Rhonda works with the leadership team on executing the firm’s national strategy. Rhonda’s core strength is relationship-building – both in her personal and professional life. Known for her drive to get things done, she has a keen ability to tap resources among her high-performing team. She begins internal meetings with her motto – “make a choice to make a difference” – calling on RSM’s motivated and capable professionals to take an all-hands-on-deck approach to building RSM Canada. She is a CPA, CA, having earned her designation in 1993 and became a partner in 2001. In 2012, Rhonda completed the Harvard Business School Professional Services program and in late 2021, was named a Fellow by CPA Ontario, the highest distinction bestowed upon a CPA in the accounting profession.
We will honour Rhonda at a separate event planned for spring 2023. More information will be shared closer to this event.
About the award
Year | Honoree | Title |
2021 | Cheryl Brandon (BBA ’04) | Co-founder of Waterton Global Resource Management |
2020 | Sean Washchuk (BAcc ’96) | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of CCL Industries Inc. |
2019 | Rita Middleton (BAdmin ’87) | CEO, Interim CFO, and Board Member International Solar Solutions |
2018 | Brian Parsons (BAdmin ’90) | President and CEO Willis Towers Watson |
2017 | Joanne McKee (BAdmin ’86) | Chief Financial Officer, Ryerson University |
2016 | Martin Philp (BAdmin ’80, MA ’86) | Founding Partner, Next Advisory |
2015 | Jason Sparaga (BBA ’93) | Co-Founder and Co-CEO, Spark Power Corp.,Oakville |
2014 | Mark Arthur (BA ’77) | President Industrial Alliance Private Wealth Management, Toronto |
2013 | Anne-Marie Robinson (BSc ’87, BBA ’90) | President Public Service Commission of Canada, Ottawa |
2012 | Fred Losani (BAdmin ‘ 87) | Owner and CEO Losani Homes, Hamilton |
2011 | Jeff Park (BAcc ’95) | Executive Vice-President and CFO SXC Health Solutions Corp, Chicago |
2010 | Kristian Knibutat (BAdmin ’86) | Partner PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Toronto |
Year | Honoree | Title |
2009 | James MacLellan (BAdmin ’87) | Partner Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, Toronto |
2008 | John Zoccoli (BAdmin ’86) | President Jamzoc Holdings Ltd., o/a Tim Horton, St. Catharines |
2007 | Jim Ryan (BAdmin ’84) | CEO Party Gaming,Gibraltar |
2006 | Dr. Stephen Young (BBA ’91) | Managing Director of Accounting Policy Citigroup’s Corporate and Investment Bank (CIB), New York |
2005 | Debbie Sevenpifer (BAdmin ’87) | CEO Niagara Health Systems, Niagara |
2004 | Dr. Paul Ingram (BBA ’90) | Professor of Management Columbia University,New York |
2003 | Deborah Rosati (BAdmain ’84) | President RosatiNet Inc.,Ottawa |
2002 | Doug Wilkinson (BBA ’91) | Partner Deloitte, Toronto |
Nominations, consisting of a letter outlining the nominee’s achievements supported by two additional letters and/or newspaper clippings, resume, awards, journal articles etc., will be accepted until the end of July each year. A committee consisting of the Dean, Chairs of each Department, and graduates will select the recipient.
Rules
- Nominees must have graduated from the Brock Faculty of Business or Goodman School of Business (hold a BAdmin, BAcc, BBA, MAcc, MBA, or MSc in Management degree)
- Nominees must have fifteen years post-graduate experience
- All nominees should demonstrate at least one of the following criteria:
- Outstanding professional achievements
- Outstanding educational achievements
- Outstanding community achievements
- Outstanding volunteer achievements
- Outstanding entrepreneurial achievements
- An ongoing commitment to Brock University
- Graduates may nominate themselves
- Current Brock faculty and staff are excluded
- Nominations must be received by March 1
The committee reserves the right to bestow the award to a graduate they feel is a worthy recipient.
Send nominations to Daniel Stranges (dstranges@brocku.ca)