Life Lessons from a CEO
marvin “Skip” Schoenhals
Imagine taking on the responsibility as CEO of a failing business – not just any business but a corporation that was inches from being closed forever. In this conversation, Pastor Chuck L. Betters talks with Skip Schoenhals, the man who led WSFS Financial Corporation from the brink of failure to being the leading independent bank serving the greater Philadelphia and Delaware region with a local presence and national subsidiaries. Skip readily admits his faith in Jesus guided every aspect of this daunting journey and gave him help and hope at his lowest points. Skip freely shares how his challenging personal journey helped prepare him for the battle to save a corporation that is now 190 years old.
Skip chronicles his journey in his book, From Failing to Phenomenal, and in this conversation with Chuck, discusses behind the scenes events in his nail-biting battle but also biblical principles of business that will help equip listeners to lead their own companies in a way that glorifies God.
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Marvin “Skip” Schoenhals served as Chief Executive Officer of WSFS from 1990 to 2005 and Chairman/Executive Chairman from 1992 to 2017. From 1990 to 2007, he also served as President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Schoenhals was a director of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh from 1997 to 2007, serving as their Chairman from 2005 to 2007. He was a member of the Brandywine Mutual Fund’s Board of Directors from 1995 to 2006. He served on the Board of Burris Logistics, a privately owned distributor of frozen and dry foods, from 1998 to 2016, including chairman from 2005 to 2015.
Mr. Schoenhals is a former trustee and former Chairman of the Delaware Public Policy Institute. He is a former Chairman of the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce and former Chairman of the Sunday Breakfast Mission. Until 2013, Mr. Schoenhals was Chairman of Vision 2015, a Delaware coalition that created a plan to improve Delaware public education. Mr. Schoenhals received the Josiah Marvel Cup Award from the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce, presented annually to honor a Delawarean who has made an outstanding contribution to the state, community, and society. In 2004, he was inducted into the Delaware Business Leaders Hall of Fame.
Skip has served as an Elder at Covenant Church of Naples for the past decade.