The 2025 Dr. Frank L. Simonetti
AWARDS SUNRISE CEREMONY
Honoring Distinguished Business Alumni
The annual Dr. Frank L. Simonetti Distinguished Business Alumni Awards is an established tradition originating in 1987. The awards have honored 165 College of Business alumni while raising thousands of dollars for the Dr. Frank L. Simonetti scholarship.
April 18, 2025
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Doors will open at 7 a.m., and breakfast will be available at 7:30 a.m. The program will begin promptly at 8 a.m. in the Martin Ballroom, located in the Jean Hower Taber Student Union.
BUSINESS ALUMNI Simonetti Award recipients
President & CEO
Sgt. Clean Car Washes
Kenneth D. Brott serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Sgt. Clean Car Washes, a role he has held for six years.
He earned his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from The University of Akron in 1985 and received his CPA certification in 1987. He worked for Arthur Andersen for one year before joining DRB Systems in 1985. Ken served on the International Carwash Association board for six years in the mid-1990s, holding the position of Vendor Vice President for three consecutive years. He also served as Chairman of the ICA’s Market Research Committee. Additionally, Ken was President of the Lake Local School Board for two years and remains active with “Stark Tank”, an entrepreneurial initiative for Stark County.
Ken has been married to his wife, Karen, for 32 years and has two children. An inveterate Buckeye, he owns a small farm in Canton, Ohio, and enjoys reading, cycling, and woodworking in his free time.
Partner and Chair of Taxation Practice Group
Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs, LLC
Richard B. Fry, III serves as a business tax attorney with Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs. He joined the firm in 2008 as an Associate and was elected Partner in 2015. Richard provides clients with trusted advice on significant transactions, tax planning, and the complex challenges they face in their daily operations.
His practice focuses on state and local tax compliance and controversies, including Ohio and multistate sales/use tax, commercial activity tax, and personal income tax issues, as well as federal income tax controversies with the Internal Revenue Service. Utilizing his tax background, Richard advises clients on the business and tax implications of commercial and real estate transactions.
Richard takes pride in understanding his clients’ business needs and objectives, helping them achieve their goals in the most beneficial, yet practical, manner. As a former Chair of the Ohio State Bar Association Taxation Committee, he has been invited to present his insights on tax laws and policy to Ohio legislators. These opportunities have provided him with invaluable insight into the legislative process and the practical considerations that shape tax policy.
Richard is a proud two-time graduate of The University of Akron, earning both his Juris Doctor and Master of Taxation in 2008. He enjoys giving back to his community through volunteer work with several charitable organizations in Northeast Ohio, including the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio and Stewart's Caring Place, both of which have been particularly fulfilling for him.
Senior Vice President
PNC Bank
As a Senior Vice President and Relationship Manager in corporate and institutional banking, Don is responsible for managing the middle market lending activity within the Greater Akron region. He has 25 years of banking experience including his time in the retail branch network and as a credit analyst.
Don has been a service leader throughout his career engaging in roles where he can use his skills as a problem solver and provide financial expertise for non-profit community organizations throughout Summit County. Previous board leadership includes Weaver Industries, Greenleaf Family Center, The University of Akron Alumni Association, The University of Akron College of Business Alumni Board, and Direction Home / Akron Canton Area Agency on Aging and Disabilities, including the Direction Home Foundation Board.
Don was the first recipient of the United Way of Summit County’s Young Philanthropist of the Year award. He is also a graduate of Leadership Akron’s Signature Program - Class 25.
Don grew up in Hudson and graduated from The University of Akron with a Bachelor of Science in Corporate Finance and Financial Services. He currently resides in Tallmadge, Ohio where he serves as Ward 2 City Councilman and lives with his wife, Jodi, and two daughters, Alexandria, 18, and Avery, 16.
Vice President Assurance Services
Meaden & Moore, Ltd.
Kendra is a native of Dayton, Ohio and moved to Akron to attend The University of Akron where she graduated with a degree in accounting in 2004. She is a licensed CPA and works for Meaden & Moore as Vice President in the Assurance Services practice where she also serves as lead for the firm’s not-for-profit practice.
Over her 20+ years with the firm, Kendra has worked directly with numerous privately held corporations and not-for-profit organizations performing both attestation and tax services. She is also a member of the firm’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion committee, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and the Ohio Society of Certified Public Accountants.
Her current community and philanthropic pursuits include Treasurer of the United Way of Summit & Medina County, Board Member and Nominating Chair of the Akron Art Museum, Board and Executive Committee Member of the Greater Akron Chamber, Board Member of the Akron Community Foundation, Founding Committee and Board Member of the Black Giving Collective Fund of the Akron Community Foundation, and member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Akron Alumnae Chapter. Her previous community involvement includes past President of ArtsNow, past President of the Women’s Endowment Fund of the Akron Community Foundation, past Treasurer of ATHENA Akron, 2019 Chair of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Light the Night Walk Akron, Junior League of Akron, Leadership Akron Class XXXIII, and Torchbearers alumni. She is also an annual presenter on not-for-profit financial basics to Leadership Akron’s Diversity on Board program and has previously served as a panelist on diversity in the accounting industry for Brouse McDowell and AGN International.
In addition to receiving the 2025 Dr. Frank L. Simonetti Distinguished Business Alumni Award, Kendra has received several professional and community based awards including 2024 Ohio Society of CPAs Women of Power Honoree, 2024 Cleveland Magazine’s Women of Distinction, 2021 inaugural 40 under 40 Black CPA (a National award established in honor of the centennial celebration of the first Black CPA), 2019 Crain’s Cleveland 40 Under 40, and 2016 Greater Akron Chamber 30 For the Future.
In her spare time, Kendra enjoys traveling, visiting wineries, coffee shops, and cigar lounges, and spending time with her fiancé, Jerry Myers, Jr.
Retired
Senior Accountant, Lockheed Martin and Manager of Major Gifts, Girl Scouts NEO
Pamela Reece Valentine was the General Treasurer of the Women’s Home and Overseas Missionary Society for the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church for eight years.
The second of four children, Pamela was born in Monroeville, Alabama. At a young age, she and her family relocated to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She graduated from Langley High School in Pittsburgh and is a 1978 graduate of The University of Akron in Akron, Ohio where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in accounting.
An active member of the Wesley Temple A.M.E. Zion Church in Akron, Ohio, she has served as the President of the Young Adult Missionary Society, the Chairperson of the Annual Prayer Breakfast, a facilitator for Vacation Bible School, a member of the Christian Education Board, a member of the Trustee Board, Stewart Board, currently serving as the church treasurer, and is involved in other church-related activities. In the A.M.E. Zion denomination, she served as the District President of the Women’s Home and Overseas Missionary Society and has actively promoted health, women’s, and children’s issues. Additionally, she is a facilitator with Women of the Word Bible Study.
She is retired from Girl Scouts of NEO as the Manager of Major Gifts. Girl scouting builds girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place. She is also retired from Lockheed Martin as a Senior Accountant.
Pamela is actively involved in many professional and civic organizations: Scout Council as the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees for Western Reserve Girl Scout Council, and a past president of the Board of Trustees for the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) of Summit County. She is an active member and past two-term Chapter President of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., a non-profit public service organization committed to sisterhood, service, and scholarship. She currently serves on the Board of Women’s Endowment Fund, Project Grad Akron Board, ATHENA Akron Board, past President of the Association of Fundraising Professionals Northeast Ohio Board, Jewish Community Center, and Child Guidance Akron.