Chris Schellman graduated with both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in accounting from the UT Haslam College of Business. He embarked on a career with the global accounting firm Arthur Andersen in 1998. Following the firm’s dissolution in 2002, Schellman seized the opportunity to establish Schellman & Company, LLC—a “first of its kind” CPA firm specializing exclusively in information security and compliance services.
Under Schellman’s leadership, the firm’s growth surpassed $100 million in annual revenue within two decades. Ranked among the top 50 out of nearly 50,000 CPA firms in the United States, Schellman & Company and its success reflects Schellman’s innovative business acumen and Schellman’s ability to reimagine industry standards and norms.
In 2021, Schellman orchestrated the record-setting sale of his firm to private equity. This pivotal moment allowed him to transition into retirement at the age of 46 and to dedicate more time to his cherished family, including his wife, Lauren, and their four children, Michael, Isabella, Maximilian, and Alexander.
Beyond his professional achievements, Schellman has served in various leadership roles, including president of the Catholic Foundation of the Diocese of Tampa/St. Petersburg for several years. In addition, Chris and Lauren recently contributed over $25 million to establish the Schellman Family Foundation, underscoring their commitment to supporting education, alleviating poverty, and advancing cancer research—all causes that are deeply meaningful to the Schellman family. Additionally, in 2019 his family established the Schellman Scholars program with a direct goal to attract high-performing students to UT.
