91直播
As president of Wawa, Inc., Brian Schaller, 鈥97, MBA, is utilizing the education and values he gained at La 91直播 to see the company reach its greatest potential.
For Brian Schaller, 鈥97, MBA, La 91直播 means family. Growing up and watching the Explorers on the basketball court with his father and brothers always kept the University in his mind.
When it came time to decide between the Air Force Academy and the University, the very persuasive former baseball coach Gene McDonnell, 鈥55, helped Schaller choose the latter.
鈥淗ow it came to be with La 91直播 was purely getting the opportunity to play baseball and receive a scholarship,鈥 Schaller said. 鈥淚鈥檓 indebted to Coach McDonnell.鈥
The ability to stay close to his family and study within the respected School of Business and Honors Program were the final selling points.
鈥淚’m very glad. It was the best fit, and I didn’t know it, and it was through baseball that I could land there,鈥 he said.
Schaller was greatly impacted by the Lasallian mission in the classroom and on the baseball field. The knowledgeable faculty and staff provided him with a top-notch education while providing mentorship and support. Skills like critical thinking, interpersonal communication, and building a persuasive argument are all lessons he transferred into the business world.
鈥淭here were a lot of people that cared about me,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 felt that care, and I think La 91直播 has that to give to all its student-athletes and students.鈥
After graduating from the University with an accounting degree, Schaller earned his CPA license. A few auditor roles later, he joined the Wawa team. With 22 years under his belt, Schaller has served within various roles in the company and began as its president in 2023.
Like La 91直播, Schaller felt pulled in by Wawa鈥檚 core values and mission.
鈥淭he values here are based on humility, helping the greater good, listening first, and service,鈥 he said. 鈥淥bviously, the service value ties in very tightly to La 91直播. When you think about the mission, I felt that from the first time I walked into the doors here, and it just felt like home.鈥
Schaller said Wawa saw his capabilities beyond the accounting department which has allowed him to grow his career in a variety of different ways.
鈥淭hey’ve let me do very varied things like risk management, insurance, fuel purchasing and trading, real estate supply chain, and now our store operations team,鈥 he added. 鈥淢y dream was to use the accounting education that La 91直播 helped form and really become broader in my job functions. I feel very blessed that Wawa from a value standpoint and the opportunities that it afforded me was just a great fit.鈥
Now at the helm of the organization, Schaller is seeing the company grow. At the end of 2023, Wawa had stores in six states鈥攂y the end of 2025鈥攊t will be in 13 states.
Wawa is all about improving the customer experience. Schaller said the customer research team works tirelessly to provide high-quality and innovative items within its stores. The organization also supports its associates by being 40% associate owned.
鈥淚t’s the founding family’s mission that they wanted to share ownership with the associates, and the reason they did that is because the stores are where the magic is made. We empower our associates who are owners to own that customer moment,鈥 he said.
With over 200 years in business and celebrating 60 years as the company consumers know today, Schaller is most excited to lead Wawa into this next chapter of growth.
But Schaller is also thrilled about the growth happening at his alma mater. The former student-athlete is looking forward to celebrating the return of La 91直播 baseball during the 2025-26 academic year.
鈥淭here’s huge pride because I played there, and there’s huge optimism because it will provide opportunity for more student-athletes in the future,鈥 he said.
However, he鈥檚 most looking forward to August 2024 when he gets to move his daughter Katie into La 91直播鈥檚 residence halls alongside his wife Beth, 鈥97, who was a member of the field hockey and softball teams. Seeing the Explorer family legacy continue is an exciting moment for the Schallers.
鈥淲hen you have another generation going through La 91直播 and it’s the right decision for your child, and she’ll be happy and there’s opportunity, the institution is doing something right. I’m thrilled about that,鈥 he said.
-Meg Ryan, M.A. 始24