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2/5/2016 - College Commencement Keynote Speaker

Cumberland County College
N E W S R E L E A S E
Communications & Marketing
Contact: Keith Wasserman, Executive Director
kwasserman@cccnj.edu

Wawa CEO to Deliver College’s Commencement Keynote

VINELAND – Chris Gheysens, President and CEO of Wawa, one the nation’s most successful convenience store chains, will be the keynote speaker at the 2016 Cumberland County College commencement on May 19th, 2016.

CEO since 2013, Vineland native Gheysens presides over 645 stores across New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Central Florida. Forbes ranks Wawa as the 34th largest privately owned company in the U.S.

“We’re thrilled that Mr. Gheysens has accepted our invitation to speak,” said Dr. Shelly Schneider, the college’s interim president. “His appearance has special significance this commencement as we kick-off of the college’s 50th anniversary celebration.” Wawa’s founders, the Wood family, donated the land where the college now sits.
The company itself was founded in Millville in 1803 as an iron foundry. The Wood family eventually went into dairy farming and then evolved into the successful food market chain and gas stations so popular in our region.

Gheysens grew up in Vineland, attending St. Augustine Preparatory School before earning a B.S. degree in accounting from Villanova University and an M.B.A. from Saint Joseph’s University. He worked as an auditor for Deloitte LLP in Philadelphia prior to being hired by Wawa in 1997. In 2007, he became Wawa’s chief financial officer and chief administrative officer. He was named President in 2012 and CEO in 2013.

“We’re really looking forward to his address,” said Schneider. “Mr. Gheysens and Wawa are two great Cumberland County success stories, a great inspiration for our new graduates and the community that will gather on May 19th.

 

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