William T. Schauer’s career at Schauer Group started with shredding paper.
As a teenager, Bill would come in with his father, Thomas A. Schauer, on Saturdays to help around the agency. When he graduated from Bowling Green State University with a degree in insurance, he took only three days off before beginning his full-time job with Schauer Group.
This year, Bill is celebrating his 40th anniversary with the company. Today, he serves as Vice Chairman, but his career has spanned a variety of leadership positions across all areas of the agency, including spearheading the creation of Schauer Group’s employee benefits division.
For him, the work always has been about the people.
“Over the years, I have met so many talented people that have moved our agency – and me – forward and encouraged me to push harder, learn more and deliver excellence to our clients,” Bill said. “What a privilege it is to work with associates that truly are committed to our clients, our community and each other.”
Bill’s first assignment at Schauer Group was in the personal insurance department. He then transitioned into commercial insurance work before eventually beginning what would become Schauer Group’s employee benefits division.
At the time, a health insurance company had contracted with Schauer Group to handle their marketing in 15 counties. To execute the contract, the agency created a separate entity – Carnegie Medical Benefits – which Bill was responsible for running. Under his guidance, Carnegie Medical Benefits evolved into what is today Schauer Group’s employee benefits department.
Bill said his favorite part about his work with employee benefits has been, simply, doing the right thing for clients – or “helping employers maintain a competitively placed employee benefits program and providing their associates and their families with quality care at a reasonable price.”
In 1989, Bill and his brother David Schauer officially became the third-generation owners of Schauer Group. They led the firm for three decades before passing day-to-day leadership responsibilities to the fourth generation.
“Bill has been an integral part of our culture and success as he lives and breathes our core values,” said Schauer Group President and CEO Joseph D. Schauer. “He leads and advises with expertise, care, honesty, and integrity in all that he does.”
Outside of Schauer Group, Bill has been committed to using his leadership to support the Stark County community. He spent many years volunteering with the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival – including serving as general chairman. He has chaired the boards of both Aultman College and Brookside Country Club, is a past president of the Arthritis Foundation of Canton and served on the Canton Palace Theatre Association board.
Bill also has worked closely with Buckeye Council, Scouting America, serving on the board of directors for many years. In 2017, he won the council’s National Eagle Scout Association Outstanding Eagle Scout Award, and in 2022, he received the Buckeye Council Good Scout Award.
When Bill reflects on his career with Schauer Group, he credits the company’s continued growth to the fact that the focus always has been on doing what’s best for the client.
“Success shows up if you do everything else right,” he said.
