web1_Marcellus_shale_logo.jpg

Wilkes to present “Frack It Or Leave It” panel discussion of Pa.’s energy, environmental policies

web1_web1_autozone_416x416-1-.jpg

AutoZone in Dallas now open

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Robert J. Ciaruffoli, a 1975 graduate of King&#8217;s College and a retired member of the Office of the CEO at Baker Tilley Virchow Krause LLC, one of the nation&#8217;s largest accounting and advisory firms, will provide the address at King&#8217;s 67th Annual Commencement exercises, the college has announced.</p><p>Approximately 500 students will receive either a bachelor&#8217;s or master&#8217;s degree at the ceremony, which will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 22, at Mohegan Sun Arena. In addition to addressing the graduates, Ciaruffoli will receive an honorary doctor of humanities degree from King&#8217;s.</p><p>A Swoyersville native and the oldest of 10 children, Ciaruffoli moved with his family to Forty Fort when he was a teenager. After graduating from Kingston&#8217;s Central Catholic High School in 1969, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps, serving in Cuba, Panama, Italy, Greece, Turkey and Spain. Following his military service, Ciaruffoli returned to the Wyoming Valley to earn an accounting degree at King&#8217;s College.</p><p>In 1979, Ciaruffoli joined Parente Randolph LLC, an accounting firm, eventually becoming chief operating officer and managing partner. When Parente Randolph merged to form ParenteBeard LLC, he became the new, Philadelphia-based company&#8217;s CEO and board chairman. With Ciaruffoli at the helm, ParenteBeard merged with Baker Tilley. Today, Baker Tilley is the 12th largest CPA firm in the country, with 2,500 employees nationwide and revenues of $475 million. Ciaruffoli retired at the end of 2015.</p><p>An active and involved parishioner in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Ciaruffoli was approached by Archbishop Charles Chaput to preside over the World Meeting of Families, to be hosted in Philadelphia in 2015. He accepted without hesitation and, with the blessing of his employer, volunteered a year and a half of his time to develop that important event, managing more than 70 full-time employees and subcontractors.</p><p>Ciaruffoli&#8217;s leadership role with that organization led to what he has called the opportunity of a lifetime: bringing Pope Francis to Philadelphia. He traveled to Rome a number of times to meet with Pope Francis to arrange for his attendance at the World Meeting of Families. During that historic visit, Ciaruffoli was never far from the pontiff&#8217;s side.</p><p>In addition to his leadership role at Baker Tilley, Ciaruffoli has been an active member of both state and national accounting industry professional organizations.</p><p>A former member of the King&#8217;s College Board of Directors (1994-97), Robert Ciaruffoli, in his successful professional career and personal life, exemplifies the King&#8217;s ethos through his commitment to community and service to others, according to a prepared statement from the college.</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_Ciaruffoli_Robert.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Ciaruffoli </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_Ciaruffoli_Robert.jpg</photo0><caption0>Ciaruffoli </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Times Leader Staff</p><p>tlnews@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach the Times Leader newsroom at 570-829-7242 or on Twitter @TLnews.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Business leader, alumnus and Pope Francis visit planner to be King’s commencement speaker