My grandfather founded the Catholic Knights Life Insurance Company.  It became Pennsylvania’s largest fraternal life insurance company.  It merged into American General Life Insurance Company when I was a boy.  While my older cousins were actuaries working in the insurance industry, my father was a CPA who started his own CPA firm, the Frank P. Hess & Co., Inc.  At the age of 40, I became the owner of the Practice.  Growing up in my family, while my parents balanced us with strong Catholic values, business was also very important.   

As a young CPA I was granted a teaching assistantship at The Ohio State University while doing graduate studies there.   It was my first exposure to teaching undergraduate accounting.  Upon returning to Pittsburgh, I pursued teaching opportunities at the university level.  After teaching part time at Robert Morris College for two years I was granted a full time faculty position.  I enthusiastically accepted it and have enjoyed my twenty-five years here.  I like it here because the class sizes are small, the atmosphere of the campus is friendly and traditionally our students have done very well on the CPA exam. 

For any student interested in majoring in accounting and becoming a CPA, Robert Morris University’s Accounting Program is for you.  Our Accounting faculty is staffed with a healthy balance of academic and professionally talented people.  As a result you will find a nice combination of research oriented academics and technically proficient CPAs leading you in the classroom.  For those who do not know, Robert Morris University was originally called The Pittsburgh School of Accountancy.

Hometown: Greentree Borough, Pennsylvania.
Favorite music artist: John Denver.
Favorite TV program: college football games.
Favorite actor: Mel Gibson.
Favorite book : “The Killer Angels” by Michael Shaara.
Hobby: Following Ohio State football.
Favorite food: Pasta.
Least favorite food: Ham.
Zodiac sign: Aquarius. 

People would be surprised to know that my mother is an English war bride.  One half of my family lives in England.