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 2021. All biographical information current at the time of the award.
Degree:
- B.S. Biology ’14
Bio:
Brandi Burns received her Bachelor of Science degree in 2014 and currently serves as a Pediatric Physician Assistant at Children’s Healthcare. After graduation, she received her Master of Medical Science in Physician Assistant Studies from Salus University where she received training in general pediatrics, emergency medicine and neonatal intensive care. Brandi is passionate about helping families with weight management through healthy eating and exercise, infant care and nutrition, concussion diagnosis and sports medicine.
Brandi is well known by her peers and students as serving as a Pre-Professional Health advisor for students and mentoring future Physician Assistants both at Alvernia University and Salus University. She is an active member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants and the Pennsylvania Society of Physician Assistants.
Brandi has been instrumental in advising Alvernia’s Pre-Health Club, active member of Alumni Council and assisting students in securing internships in the medical field. She is dedicated to helping students learn how to serve others and prepare them for a career in medicine. In her free time, Brandi serves as a volleyball coach at Surge
Volleyball Club in Fleetwood, PA.
Conor Delaney
Degree:
- B.A. Accounting and Business Management ’07
Bio:
Conor Delaney founded The Good Life Companies in 2012 after seeing a gap in the marketplace for successful advisors that wanted a turnkey solution to support their independent financial advisory practice. Prior to forming Good Life, Conor served as both a financial advisor and branch manager for Waddell & Reed Financial Services. With his co-founder, Courtnie Nein, The Good Life Companies has grown into a national firm. Conor has been recognized as a Finalist Forbes Top Next Generation Wealth Advisors Award and Top Millennial Advisors Award; Greater Reading Chamber of Commerce Rising Star; and a Top Financial Advisor in the Country for Mid-Size Broker/Dealer.
Conor has served Alvernia through service on Alumni Council from 2008-2014, mentoring students in the Business Department, formalizing an internship program between The Good Life Companies and Alvernia’s Business Department, participating in mock interviews, business socials and other events which support student growth and development. He has also served as a community volunteer with the Shillington Lions Club, South Mountain YMCA, King’s Academy and Republican Chapter of Berks County.
Kate Ecke
Degree:
- Bachelor’s in Social Work ’11
Bio:
Kate Ecke is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who specializes in trauma and trained in Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing, Trauma Focused Equine Assisted Psychotherapy and Functional Family Therapy. She has published two fiction books, a social emotional curriculum for grades K-8 and a counseling guide
for school mental health professionals to address harassment, intimidation and bullying. Kate is the founder of The Unconventional Therapists; a boutique therapy practice disrupting the mental health paradigm which currently operates in New Jersey and Pennsylvania providing therapy to over 150 clients.
She is also the Founder & Owner of Be Herd Equine Assisted Healing, a private practice that offers equine therapy, group coaching, horse integrated yoga, equine-assisted Reiki and spiritual retreats. Kate routinely speaks about bullying at local schools and organizations to share a story of triumph and finding self-value.
Kate serves as Chair of Alvernia’s Alumni Council and is an active member of the Alvernia Women’s Council. In addition, she participates in admission events at New
Jersey high schools and is a guest speaker at Alvernia’s social work events.
Kyle Levengood, CPA, CFE
Degree:
- B.A. Accounting and Business Management ’08
Bio:
Kyle Levengood was offered a position with Herbein + Company while a senior at Alvernia and was the first Alvernia student to earn a Certified Fraud Examiner designation before he graduated in 2008. In 2019, Kyle was named a partner at Herbein where he is responsible for overseeing firm audits working closely with clients and Herbein team members. He works primarily within the dairy, food and beverage, manufacturing and distribution and employee benefit plan industries throughout 10 states. In addition to these responsibilities, Kyle serves as the Auditing Quality Control Partner for Herbein.
In 2018, Kyle graduated from the Leadership Berks Program where his group worked with the Berks Opera Company. He is also active with Safe Berks and Greater Reading Young Professionals serving in a variety of volunteer roles. Kyle is dedicated to lifelong learning and supporting the personal and professional development of Alvernia students by serving as a member of Alvernia’s Business Department Advisory Board and a mentor for the O’Pake Institute. Additionally, he is a member of the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.
