Ryan Fronius was named by the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) as one of the organization’s 2025 Young Leader Award Winners. This award recognizes PICPA members under the age of 40 who demonstrate a commitment to the accounting profession through PICPA participation or community volunteer activities.
Don Johnston, a partner in GYF’s Tax Services Group, recognizes and appreciates Ryan’s dedication to the profession and the firm. He nominated Ryan for the award, noting:
“Ryan sets a high standard for work ethic, professionalism and personal accountability. His leadership not only drives the success of the tax group, but also elevates firm performance.”
Ryan’s drive and dedication is evident in his career trajectory. He started at GYF in January 2014, following his December 2013 graduation from Geneva College. Within five years, he was promoted to a manager role in the Tax Services Group, and he was named as a senior manager in 2023. These rapid promotions were the result of his willingness to put in the work to improve firm operations and client service.
“Ryan’s perseverance in working through intricate technical matters reflects his commitment to excellence and a genuine desire to achieve the right outcome. I appreciate his approach to learning and growing. When challenges arise, Ryan proactively addresses issues and doesn’t hesitate to seek guidance when necessary, demonstrating initiative and a collaborative mindset,” said Johnston.
Less than two years after he joined GYF, Ryan recognized an opportunity to improve the firm’s workflow and the tax preparation process. Despite being relatively inexperienced, he led the efforts to improve the system. The changes that were implemented, which resulted in better client service and improved realization rates, helped build his confidence and motivated him to continue to serve as a leader. Ryan takes pride in always putting forth his best effort, not only to achieve his own goals, but also working for the success of his colleagues and the firm.
Ryan has coached Morgan Cuddyre since she began her career with GYF in 2021. She notes, “Ryan leads by example and takes time to teach everything he knows. He genuinely wants to see the tax team succeed and grow, and it shows in everything he does.”
As Ryan embraces his role as a leader, he recognizes the importance of teamwork. During his time at Geneva College, Ryan created strong bonds with his football teammates and has even recruited some of them to join the GYF team. He has carried his athletic experience into his professional mindset and appreciates his role as a coach for six less-experienced professionals at the firm. Ryan works to facilitate communication and cooperation between his supervisors – the GYF partners and directors – and the seniors and associates who report to him.
Ryan has become a role model for David Swisher, who joined GYF’s Tax Services Group in 2022. “Ryan’s dedication to his work and his clients set the standard for me to aspire to. Through informal coaching sessions and mutual client-service work, he has encouraged me to challenge myself to improve my technical and professional skills. I always learn new ways to better serve clients when working with Ryan,” said Swisher
He was selected to represent the tax group on the firm’s marketing committee. In this role, Ryan is tasked with encouraging newer professionals to contribute to the firm beyond their client service work. He assigns and reviews blog posts to help them improve their technical research and writing skills and supports their involvement in professional groups to begin building their professional networks. Ryan sets an example by regularly attending business development events and frequently inviting staff and seniors to join him. He actively invests in the growth and development of his team members, encouraging a sense of ownership and continuous improvement among them.
Ryan is a member of the AICPA, PICPA and the Allegheny Tax Society, and participates in programs sponsored by several organizations, including the Pittsburgh Business Exchange, Association for Corporate Growth, and the Financial Industries Network.
He is a graduate of the Leadership Development Initiative (LDI), a Leadership Pittsburgh, Inc. program for high-potential young professionals, and works to nurture the professional connections he made in his cohort. Ryan also learned about many different community service groups through his participation in LDI and was given an opportunity to join the Board of Directors of Anchorpoint Counseling Ministry. This role allows Ryan to contribute his professional expertise to an organization with a mission that resonates with him personally. As a dedicated Christian, husband and father, Ryan is grateful to be able to support Anchorpoint’s faith-based approach to building stronger families and communities.
Because of his dedication to achieving excellence in the accounting profession, along with his commitment to mentorship and community service, Ryan is a young leader deserving of this recognition.
About the PICPA
Founded in 1897, the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) is the second-oldest CPA organization in the United States and the largest CPA association in Pennsylvania. Our mission is to serve, support, and advocate for the profession and to be a meaningful resource for our nearly 20,000 members. To learn more, visit www.picpa.org
