La Salle University
Michael DeAngelis Award Honorees
Chris Picariello, ’95, is President of Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JJDC (JJDC). Chris is responsible for leading the JJDC Investment Team, the strategic venture capital arm of Johnson & Johnson, and a global team of investment experts. In this role, Chris provides leadership for JJDC’s investing activities in areas of strategic importance to Johnson & Johnson and Chairs the JJDC investment Committee. Chris also leads the Johnson & Johnson Innovation Senior Leadership Team with the goal of finding and unleashing the best early-stage biotech and medtech innovations that could transform health outcomes for patients, wherever they originate.
Chris was recruited on the campus of La Salle and joined Johnson & Johnson in 1995 through the Finance Leadership Development Program. He has held roles of increasing responsibility in Johnson & Johnson such as Controller of International Operations, Controller of Research and Development, Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Finance of Janssen (now J&J Innovative Medicine) R&D, Chief Financial Officer of North America Consumer and Chief Financial and Operations Officer of Janssen Pharmaceutical Research & Development, LLC.
In his career at J&J, Chris has played a leadership role in growing and developing the Finance organization and developing strategic plans that have improved the company’s ability to deliver on business objectives and key financial targets. His strong business leadership and focus on long term, sustainable growth proved vital as he led his teams through developing and implementing strategic initiatives to restructure the business for profitable growth. Chris’ approach as a servant leader is well recognized. He is focused on creating a culture of agility, end-to-end leadership, prioritization and investment optimization which has enabled J&J to outpace the competition and substantially improve profitability.
Born and raised in Philadelphia, Chris holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from La Salle University, where he held roles of President and Vice President of two accounting clubs. Chris resides in Doylestown, PA with his wife Heather and five children Gabriella, Chelsea, Christopher, Anthony and Mary-Ellen.
Edward Trainor, ’89, is a Principal in Deloitte’s Mergers, Acquisitions and Restructuring Services practice. Based in Philadelphia, he also leads the Valuation Advisory Services group in the Greater Philadelphia region, and part of the national tax valuation practice leadership. Ed serves as a lead client services partner on various clients of the Firm. Ed’s focus is on advising several leading private and public mid-sized to multi-national clients and their senior management teams on strategic matters to both protect and enhance value to their business operations and corporate investments.
During his 30+ years of experience, Ed has provided M&A, valuation and financial advisory services for a variety of purposes including: M&A due diligence, strategic planning and reorganizations, business case assessments, model/scenario analyses, market sector analyses, initial public offerings, distressed company/worthless stock analyses, bankruptcy reorganizations, fair value financial reporting, tax planning and pre- and post-acquisition consulting, dispute resolution and other various matters. He has been involved in various industries and is a national lead Advisory Principal focused on the Chemicals, Manufacturing, Travel, Hospitality and Gaming industry matters.
Ed serves on the Executive Committee of the Board and Finance Chair of the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia, a non-profit focused on critical issues facing the Region to grow business, strengthen the local economy, create jobs, and build wealth. Ed also supports early childhood education initiatives and was the Board President of WonderSpring, a leading non-profit organization devoted to developing and providing high quality early childhood education services across 20 locations.
He has presented at investor and industry conferences and been a panelist or moderator on several topics related to Mergers & Acquisitions, fair value accounting, tax valuation considerations and value considerations in emerging markets.
Ed received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from LaSalle University. He resides in Gwynedd Valley, PA with his wife Fran and has three children, Heather (also a LaSalle Alum), Edward and Francesca.
Amber M. Wilczynski, CPA, ’07, is a Partner in PwC’s Trust Solutions Practice, specializing in the Financial Services Industry. With nearly two decades of experience, Amber has served global clients throughout the Mid-Atlantic region from her Philadelphia office.
Her extensive expertise in the Financial Services Industry includes working with large asset management advisers, SEC-registered investment companies, fund service providers, broker-dealers, and private equity funds.
Amber’s relentless pursuit of excellence and her infectious enthusiasm for client service and problem-solving have not only secured her large global clients but also led to the successful implementation of SOX in a global organization. Her innovative efforts within the firm have revolutionized contract management processes, saving countless hours annually.
As a continuous learner, Amber has played a pivotal role in developing PwC’s insights into the Mutual Fund Industry and PwC’s Thought Leadership. Beyond her professional achievements, she is an active community contributor, serving on the Audit Committee for Mural Arts Philadelphia, leading the PwC Philadelphia People Council, and representing PwC in partnership with La Salle University.
Amber’s dedication to people and community, rooted in her Philadelphia pride, extends to her family life in Haddonfield, NJ. Her journey from working full-time at ReMax, obtaining her Real Estate License, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Accounting from La Salle, and becoming a CPA, showcases her determination and hard work.
Her education at La Salle has fueled her enthusiasm and passion for her work, providing a strong academic foundation. Her alma mater continues to inspire her, shaping her career and commitment to excellence in client service.
John Reardon Young Alumni Award
Claire Andrews, CPA, ’15, is a Senior Manager within KPMG’s audit practice. She has nine years of professional accounting experience serving clients primarily within the life sciences and higher education sectors.
Claire has provided professional audit services to several large companies with a mix of publicly traded and privately held clients. Her primary focus includes financial statement audits and audits of internal control in accordance with PCAOB and AICPA requirements. She has significant experience in evaluating critical audit areas and testing the design and operating effectiveness of controls in order to ensure SOX compliance.
Claire graduated from La Salle University earning her bachelor’s degree in accounting and master’s degree in business administration. In addition to involvement in the four year BSMBA program, Claire was also a member of the Women’s Lacrosse Team during her time at La Salle.