Alvernia’s Four Under Forty Award was developed in 2019 by the Alvernia Young Alumni Committee to recognize the achievements of young alumni. The alumni chosen for this award exhibit high levels of success in their career, a commitment to community service, dedication to the advancement and growth of Alvernia and demonstrate Alvernia’s core values in their personal, spiritual and professional life. The following Alvernia alumni received the award in 2019. All biographical information current at the time of the award.
Degree:
- B.A. Accounting and Management ‘05
Bio:
Steve Koons, who received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting and Management with a minor in Political Science from Alvernia University in 2005, is currently a partner with Cotton & Company, LLP, an audit and accounting firm located in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia.
Before joining Cotton & Company, Koons was an auditor with the Office of Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and a senior auditor for the Government Accountability Office, where he reviewed programs and internal controls at federal agencies such as the Departments of the Treasury, Energy and Veterans Affairs.
Koons has been committed to Alvernia since he graduated, providing a gift to the Alvernia Fund every year since 2005. He serves the Washington, D.C. Alumni Chapter by planning events, connecting to alumni in the area, hosting interns and engaging students at the Washington Center.
Amy B. Klatt
Degrees:
- B.A. Communications ’08
- MBA ‘09
Bio:
Amy Klatt, a two-time Alvernia graduate, currently serves as the marketing manager at Herbein + Company, Inc., located in Reading, Pennsylvania, where she is
responsible for all digital marketing, events, and proposal writing. During her tenure at Herbein, Klatt successfully launched two websites, the most recent of which is considered as high-performing within industry metrics.
Klatt has taken a leadership role within the firm’s women leadership group, encouraging others to participate in Women 2 Women events. She has also coordinated all Herbein activities with Greater Reading Young Professionals Group, including the annual Third Thursday Networking Event sponsorship. Before joining Herbein, she handled communications and public relations for Mayor Tom McMahon. She also developed and launched a regionwide StayCation campaign for the Greater Reading Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Amy currently serves on the Communications Advisory Board of Alvernia University in which she provides insight regarding potential new courses, continuing education,
traditional and nontraditional students. Amy has developed real-world learning opportunities for various Alvernia courses and speaks with classes about her experiences and provide insights into her work in the marketing field.
Melissa Masone Ulmer
Degree:
- B.A. Communications, Political Science and English ’09
Bio:
Melissa Masone Ulmer, a 2009 Alvernia graduate who triple majored in communications, political science and English, currently serves as the assistant director for
marketing and student programs at Rowan University. Ulmer has stayed involved with Alvernia since her graduation, founding the Washington, D.C. Alumni
Chapter in 2012 when she worked at George Mason University and supporting the Alvernia Fund every year following her graduation.
Following her move to New Jersey in 2015, Ulmer joined the Alvernia Alumni Council where she now serves on the alumni and student engagement committee and is co-chair of the marketing committee.
Upon graduation, Umer continued to carry Alvernia’s five core values with her to graduate school and then her jobs exemplifying Alvernia’s mission of creating ethical
leaders with moral courage who do well and do good. She continues to be an active colleague on Rowan’s campus, within national organizations in her field and through her work with the Special Olympics.
Emily Berret
Degree:
- B.A. Political Science ‘11
Bio:
Emily Berret graduated from Alvernia in 2011 with a degree in Political Science and History. Following graduation from Alvernia, Berret moved to Washington, D.C.to work as a Staff Assistant in the White House Office of Management and Administration under President Barack Obama. She also worked as the Special Assistant to the Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers at the White House. During her time at the White House, Berret obtained her master’s degree from The George Washington University in Political Management.
Berret exemplifies collegiality through her tireless efforts to stay engaged and mentor students currently at Alvernia and goes above and beyond to make those students who are at The Washington Center comfortable in the city as well as in their work. In addition to her involvement with Alvernia and the service to her job, she is also a volunteer with BREW Beagle Rescue in Virginia. She resides with her husband in Washington, D.C. and has two wonderful rescue dogs from BREW.
