April 14, 2025
Skylar Feldman’s Approach to Leadership at Lassus is an example of c-store management life – calm, cool, and collected. When you grow up watching someone lead by example, that bar is set early and high. For Skylar, now the store manager at the Lassus location in Leesburg, that person was his mom. She spent over 21 years with the company, and while they never worked directly together, they worked in different stores long enough for her lessons to stick.
Leading through the Customer Surge of Summer
Skylar’s transition into managing a high-volume, lake-adjacent store required quick learning and constant adaptability. Summer brings in heavy lake traffic, weekend fishing runs, and customers walk in with high expectations. “Summer is the busiest time in the company. You have to be prepared, or it can get out of hand fast” Skylar explained.
This seasonal shift means ordering habits change drastically. “We order more fuel, cigarettes, and make sure the pumps and nozzles are working. Even something like stocking chips becomes more strategic – with no big back room, you’ve got to find that sweet spot.”
In addition to ordering, staffing needs vary. Sometimes, Skylar brings in support from other stores or adjusts hours to meet the wave of demand. The key, he notes, is readiness. Not just in systems, but in mindset.
Staying Calm in Chaos
Skylar’s leadership philosophy is built on being “Calm, Cool, and collective. Criticism comes with the job. What matters is how you take it” he said. “You’ve got to step back, take emotion out of it, and try to see it from the other person’s perspective.”
He emphasizes self-awareness and emotional control – qualities he encourages in his team. For new leaders, his advice is simple but powerful: “Be mentally set. Be willing to do the hard things. This job isn’t for everybody and that’s okay. But if you’re in, be ready to get your hands dirty.”
Rather than over formalizing communication, Skylar keeps it natural. For example, sharing responsibilities with the manager of the co-located Pizza shop-Elmo’s. We have to split duties such as the bathroom cleaning. “We keep it simple. Our laptops are side by side. If something comes up, we talk about it right there. It’s just part of building a relationship.”
Focusing on People – One Smile at a Time
Skylar believes strongly in prioritizing people – customers and employees alike. “As soon as I hit the time clock, I focus on work. And that starts with the people.” When asked what advice he gives his assistant managers, he didn’t hesitate: “Be better than me. Take what I’ve done and build on it. Make it better.”
That attitude extends to customer service as well. “Thirty seconds with a customer can change everything. You can put a smile on their face and send them out better than they came in. That’s what matters.”. The calm, cool, and collected approach to c-store management is grounded in his focus on his family. The job and his family stay in balance. Skyler has a solid approach to life: “My job is important to me and my family. I love spending time with my family. The work at Lassus supports a strong family focus.”
Advice for Future C-Store Leaders
When asked what guidance he’d give to someone considering store management, Skylar kept it grounded:
- Stay clam under pressure.
- Don’t be afraid of the hard work.
- Focus on people.
- Take constructive criticism and grow from it.
Skylar leans on his ability to stay focused, lead with empathy, and prepare his store and team for anything. Strong store management isn’t about doing everything perfectly. It’s about showing up with the right mindset and being ready for anything, rain or shine.
Read Related Articles about C-Store Leaders
Discipline, Kindness and Direct Communication for C-Store Operations