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Wayne Beasley ’81, believes that he has been blessed with being at the right place, at the right time—eventually leading him to become co-founder of WayToBe Designs, a national promotional products and uniforms company.

“When my business partner and I started WayToBe back in 1991, we worked out of a garage in San Francisco, and sold t-shirts from the trunks of our VW Jetta’s,” said Beasley. “We didn’t have much cash, but we had big dreams and a solid work ethic that got us off on the right track. Today, after more than 20 years of slow and steady growth, WayToBe is a full-service agency offering creative custom and branded merchandise and uniforms to companies with high volume needs.”

Beasley earned a degree in Accounting, and credits his high school accounting teacher, a Saint Mary’s alumni, for telling him about the College and how he could also play football. “I didn't know anything about Saint Mary's, but I knew I wanted to go to college and maybe play football,” shared Beasley. “My teacher was adamant for me to visit Saint Mary’s, and he talked enthusiastically about the College. I visited the campus, met with the football coaches, and admired the beauty of the surroundings. I also liked that it wasn’t too far away from my parent’s home in San Francisco.” Beasley boasted that after visiting the College, he only applied to Saint Mary’s. He was also awarded a four-year scholarship from Wells Fargo Bank, which sealed the deal. “I believe that I was blessed to be at the right place, at the right time; and it became even more apparent that Saint Mary’s was where I was supposed to be. After graduating with my degree in Accounting, I felt unstoppable.”

Beasley spent a few years working in the banking industry, and then as an accountant for a clothing manufacturer where he learned a lot about that business sector. “These experiences fueled me, and then I landed an accounting position with MacDonald’s Corporate,” said Beasley. “One day, I went to a nearby MacDonald’s to order lunch, and there was a guy behind the counter who looked like a big shot. We struck up a conversation and I learned that he was the owner [a franchisee], in addition to being a dermatologist.” Beasley was so inspired by the MacDonald’s owner that he took a leap of faith and started his own business—creating a niche of supplying uniforms to companies in the service industry. And now, more than 20 years later, WayToBe Designs has national clients, a large warehouse, and more than 30 employees. “We now sell inventory nationwide, with MacDonald’s being our largest client,” said Beasley. “I continue to be blessed with being at the right place, at the right time; and I attribute the beginning of this path to the four amazing years I spent as a student at Saint Mary’s.”