b'Alumni & Recent Alumni AwardsThe Trulaske College of Businessbestows the1979, a JD cum laude from Georgetown University in Recent Alumni Achievement Award, Alumni Citation of Merit,Steven P. RaschePhilip B. Wright 1982 and an LLM from New York University in 1985. He Special Citation of Merit, and Alumni of the Year award asBS Acc 82BS BA 79has served as an adjunct professor in the School of the highest honors for alumni and friends of the college.Executive Vice President and ChiefPartner, Bryan Cave LeightonAccountancy masters degree program at Trulaske, We are proud to note that many of the recipients from 2023Financial OfficerPaisner LLP teaching partnership taxation and mergers and were nominated because of their connections to the SchoolSPIRE, Inc. Philip B. Wright is a partner in theacquisitions taxation. He has also served as an adjunct of Accountancy. Their profiles and accomplishments areSteve Rasche joined Spire in 2009law firm of Bryan Cave Leightonprofessor in the Masters Tax Program at Washington detailed below.and is responsible for directing allPaisner LLP and member of the TaxUniversity School of Law. He frequently writes and accounting and tax, financial reporting and analysis,Advice and Controversy Client Practice Group. Hisspeaks on tax issues involved in cross border mergers and treasury, investor relations and supply chain, as well aspractice is concentrated primarily on advising clients withacquisitions.John Passanisioversight ofthe Spire Marketing subsidiary. He has beenrespect to the domestic and international tax aspects ofWrights prior professional experience includes practice BS Acc 93, University of Missouriinstrumental in the nearly seven-fold growth of theinbound and outbound investment, including acquisitionas a tax specialist and CPA with a Big Four accounting firm. Senior Partner, Technology Practice company over the last ten years, including acquisitionsstructuring and related financing in all industries. HeHe is a member of the Tax Section of the American Bar Asso-Ernst & Young totaling nearly $3 billion.Before joiningregularly advises clients regarding the federal income taxciation and New York State Bar Association. He has served John Passanisi graduated from MU withSpire, Rasche gained nearly 30 years of financialaspects of the formation and operation of businessas a member of Bloomberg BNAs Corporate Taxation Advi-a degree in accounting in 1993. As amanagement and executive leadership experience at TLCentities. In addition, he advises clients in controversysory Board, is a fellow of the American College of Tax Counsel student, he was a varsity letterman,Vision Corporation, a diversified eye care servicesmatters with the Internal Revenue Service, principallyand is listed in The Best Lawyers In America. He is admitted captain of the swim team, member of Beta Theta Pi and Betacompany, where he held the position of chief financialregarding issues involved in corporate acquisitions andto practice in Missouri, New York and the District of Alpha Psi, and an inductee into Mortar Board.officer. Prior to TLC Vision, he was a senior vicedivestitures.Columbia. Passanisi is a CPA in Missouri and Kansas and has 29 yearspresident and chief financial officer of Public SafetyWright received his bachelors degree in accounting of experience with Ernst & Young, where he is a senior partnerEquipment, Inc., a global manufacturer and marketer ofmagna cum laude from the University of Missouri in in the technology practice. He has spent a majority of hiswarning, speed detection and in-car video systems. career in the Kansas City office and has extensive experienceA CPA, Rasche received his masters in finance and with complex revenue recognition matters, including applyingmarketing from the Kellogg School of Management at the revenue recognition standard to ad-tech, software andNorthwestern University and his bachelors in SaaS companies, and is a member of the firms Income State- accountancy from the University of Missouri. He was ment Expert Network. Passanisi has extensive experiencenamed CFO of the Year by the St. Louis Business Journal helping private equity backed and other entrepreneurialin 2014.clients navigate the complexities of initial public offerings,Rasche is actively involved in the St. Louis community, including compliance with the SECs financial reportingincluding leadership roles in several not-for-profit and requirements and registration statement process.professional organizations, such as Boy Scouts of Greater Passanisi is actively involved in civic and professional orga- St. Louis, Fairnizations and currently serves on the School of AccountancySt. Louis, Gateway Region YMCA, the colleges Crosby Advisory Board and as chairman of the board of the YMCAMBA Advisory Board, Westminster Christian Academy, of Greater Kansas City.St. Louis Equity Fund. He and his wife, Tammy, who is Passanisi is married to fellow Mizzou Tiger Dr. Carriealso a Mizzou alum, raised three children, including one Grounds and has four children. In his free time, he is an avidTiger, and remain active supporters of all things Mizzou, fan at his childrens track meets; soccer, basketball and base- including helping lead the Phi Kappa Theta fraternity ball games; and tennis matches. He is also a baseball coachscholarship fund. Go Tigers! and triathlete. 44 School of Accountancy2023 Newsmagazine 45'