The Kingsway Regional High School welcomed Wawa executive and former CEO Howard B. Stoeckel, who visited students in the school’s Business Leadership Academy (BLA) on the morning of Tuesday, Dec. 17. Stoeckel made several presentations, signed a few books and interacted with students, faculty and administration.
During several presentations to curious and eager students, Stoeckel stressed the importance of company culture and shared how culture drives up the customer relationship ladder. Stoeckel said, “We aim to win the hearts of our customers.”
Afterward, senior BLA students joined Stoeckel for lunch, presented their own strategic plan and ideas for Wawa, and engaged in a deeper discussion about products, services and competition.
Stoeckel, a 1967 graduate of Rider College (Now Rider University), joined Wawa, Inc. in 1987 as Vice President of Human Resources and was promoted to positions of increasing responsibility, including Senior Vice President of Marketing and Executive Vice President and Chief Retail Officer. For eight years, Stoeckel served as Wawa’s President and CEO, and is currently serving as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors for Wawa, Inc. Stoeckel also contributes to the Rider community as a member of the Board of Trustees and a first CDLS Fellow.
The (BLA) is a four-year program for motivated incoming ninth-graders that is designed to afford students with the business and financial skills necessary for success in any professional career. The overarching goal of the BLA is to provide students with a comprehensive curriculum relevant to the underpinnings of the business world using a collaborative student-centered approach to learning.
