As president of Wawa, Inc., Brian Schaller, ‘97, MBA, is utilizing the education and values he gained at La Salle to see the company reach its greatest potential.

For Brian Schaller, ‘97, MBA, La Salle 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, ‘55, helped Schaller choose the latter.

“How it came to be with La Salle was purely getting the opportunity to play baseball and receive a scholarship,” Schaller said. “I’m indebted to Coach McDonnell.”

The ability to stay close to his family and study within the respected School of Business and Honors Program were the final selling points.

“I’m very glad. It was the best fit, and I didn’t know it, and it was through baseball that I could land there,” 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.

“There were a lot of people that cared about me,” he said. “I felt that care, and I think La Salle has that to give to all its student-athletes and students.”

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 Salle, Schaller felt pulled in by Wawa’s core values and mission.

“The values here are based on humility, helping the greater good, listening first, and service,” he said. “Obviously, the service value ties in very tightly to La Salle. 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.”

Schaller said Wawa saw his capabilities beyond the accounting department which has allowed him to grow his career in a variety of different ways.

“They’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,” he added. “My dream was to use the accounting education that La Salle 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.”

Now at the helm of the organization, Schaller is seeing the company grow. At the end of 2023, Wawa had stores in six states—by the end of 2025—it 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.

“It’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,” 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 Salle baseball during the 2025-26 academic year.

“There’s huge pride because I played there, and there’s huge optimism because it will provide opportunity for more student-athletes in the future,” he said.

However, he’s most looking forward to August 2024 when he gets to move his daughter Katie into La Salle’s residence halls alongside his wife Beth, ’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.

“When you have another generation going through La Salle 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,” he said.

-Meg Ryan, M.A. ʼ24