Brian Anderson '98 likes to stay in touch with his customers.

As a high school student, he worked at Ashley's Ice Cream in Hamden. Now he is vice president and co-owner of the company. Under his leadership, the establishment has opened two more stores, bringing the total to five, in Hamden, New Haven, Branford, Guilford and Madison.

"People look at ice cream as an affordable luxury," Anderson said. "Most people want to treat themselves. Maybe they can't get a new fancy car, but they can afford an ice cream cone. We like places in the center of town where there is activity, but not where we'll be drowned out."

After graduating with a management degree, Anderson took a job in the financial field, but decided it wasn't for him. He reconnected with his former boss at Ashley's and the two became business partners.

Anderson says he chose Quinnipiac because of the University's reputation for its physical therapy program, but quickly realized his real passion was business. "I loved the school, I loved the people and the professors, and I knew I wanted to stay," he said.

Anderson says he liked his business courses because they were structured to make students work together as a team. "In the business world, you do everything as a team, so the business classes were good preparation."