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Times are tough, and tomorrow’s business leaders need to be ready; ready to react to current issues and recognize new ones coming down the pike; ready to use technical knowledge in a professional way; ready to develop solutions to business challenges that are emerging in the ever-changing marketplace. So to succeed in such a regulation-governed field, Alvernia’s business students require training in current trade developments from both practical and ethical standpoints…and maybe a little humor to keep it interesting. Veteran business professor Bryan Dreibelbis punctuates lessons with colorful German colloquialisms and Groucho Marx jokes in class to make points. He never stops working to prepare students for life after graduation, drilling them with adamant advice. “Network, network, network!” crows Dreibelbis. “Get an internship, join professional organizations, get good grades — employers do look at transcripts. Develop professionally and eventually earn certification. In the accounting world, those credentials are extremely important and valuable.” And then he backs that up with opportunities, like internships with dynamic companies, and involvement in Alvernia’s Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) and prestigious Phi Beta Lambda (Future Business Leaders) Chapter, which Dreibelbis founded and has advised since 1988. His dedication has brought awards and prestige to a long line of grateful business students. “Being a member of the campus chapter of Phi Beta Lambda and IMA my entire college career, I had many opportunities to interact with other business professionals and fellow students,” said Justine Fronheiser ’10, staff accountant at Herbein & Company, Inc. “My role as president of PBL during my junior and senior years helped my leadership abilities grow. Each spring we attended a professional conference where we learned about business topics, participated in competitive events, and networked.” Dreibelbis has been teaching at Alvernia for 24 years, specializing in accounting. His technique of maintaining cutting-edge instruction focuses on keeping abreast of the latest industry advancements and interfusing his students within the business world. “Technical knowledge coupled with professionalism — or more specifically: analytical skills, problem-solving abilities, and decision-making skills are required more than ever,” he explains. “And it’s working,” says Andrew Smolarski, a junior with a dual major in accounting and management. “He makes sure to keep us up-to-date. Currently, he has
been spending a lot of time talking about the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) converting to International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS),” he said. “It would have a great impact on the way we would handle accounting if and when FASB converts to IFRS.” Smolarski is concentrating on fraud and is minoring in mathematics at Alvernia. But it’s not all about regulations. Just because doing the right thing is sometimes difficult to do in a business setting, that’s no reason to ignore ethics. “In my Accounting Information Systems class we emphasize internal control and that automatically leads to discussions of ethical issues — for example, fraud prevention and transparency of financial statements,” Dreibelbis said. “Also, in my auditing class, we spend a good deal of time covering ethics, internal control, and recent accounting scandals.” And Dreibelbis hopes that staying up-todate with new techniques and technology will help students stand out after graduation. Senior accounting major Trevor Ashley’s excitement over learning real-world applications in Dreibelbis’ classes is apparent. “We had to use an accounting program called Klooster to enter financial data, make statements, and be able to interpret what the information means,” he said. “This was my first real opportunity to take all of the knowledge taught in his classes and use it to make a true professional-looking financial statement. Being able to accomplish this was proof that what Mr. Dreibelbis was doing was really working.” Like Smolarski and Ashley, many of Dreibelbis’ students realize how much they’re gaining from the talented professor. Last year, during the depths of the economic downturn, he was asked by former student Rob Ganter ’10 to travel to a television studio in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., to attend the taping of a town-hall meeting show “Who’s Protecting Our Money?” “Rob was able to get a ticket to the taping and was allowed to bring a professor with him; he invited me,” recalled Dreibelbis. “The show was hosted by CNBC’s Jim Cramer and Erin Burnett with special guest Sheila Bair, chair of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). It was an interesting show because of the fragile state of the economy at that time.” Alvernia accounting majors use opportunities that Dreibelbis provides to prepare for careers in the industry and/or public accounting. They are encouraged to consider obtaining a Certified Management Accountant (CMA) or Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certification after
Bryan Dreibelbis CMA, CFM Associate Professor of Business Specialization: Accounting Business Department Chair (1999 to 2003) Professor Dreibelbis received his BS in Accounting and an M.Ed. from Bloomsburg University. He is a Certified Management Accountant (CMA) and a Certified Financial Manager (CFM). In addition, he has professional experience in banking, the automotive industry, and public education. He has been teaching at Alvernia University since 1987 and served as Business Department Chair from 1999 to 2003. In 1988, he founded Alvernia’s award-winning Phi Beta Lambda (Future Business Leaders) Chapter and has served as the chapter’s adviser since its inception. He is also an academic mentor and advisor for student members of the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA). Dreibelbis is a Board member for the Reading chapter of the IMA and is currently serving as IMA’s Director of Academic Relations. “Bryan has been a pillar of support to our organization for over 20 years,” said Tim Trout, controller, The Protection Bureau, and current secretary and past president of the Reading IMA. “Bryan truly goes above and beyond to provide his students with not only the training they will need to obtain business and accounting positions, but also the leadership skills they will need to succeed.” Awards • Top four members of the Reading IMA Chapter (2009) • Top five members of the Reading IMA Chapter (2008, 2007) • Outstanding Alvernia Student Advisor Award (2006) • Reading IMA Author’s Award (2002,1999) • Post-Secondary Educator of the Year Award from the Pennsylvania Business Education Association (2000) • Saint Bernardine Award for Excellence in Teaching at Alvernia (1997) • Pennsylvania Phi Beta Lambda Advisor of the Year Award (1992, 1996, 1999, 2005, 2008) • Harry S. Gross Award for Outstanding
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