Charles Brinkmann

I enjoyed studying towards my degrees. I was always interested in advancing my education.

Coming to GMercyU

Charles Brinkmann graduated from Archbishop Wood High School and heard about GMercyU by living in the area and from his aunts who were members of the Sisters of Mercy community. Both of his father's siblings, Sister Marie Virginia Brinkmann, RSM and Sister Mary Helen Brinkmann, RSM were Mercy nuns and have been laid to rest at the Sisters of Mercy Mother House in Merion, Pa.

In fact, the Brinkmann family is considered the "First family" of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. On his father's side of the family, his father's three brothers and son are Ordained Redemptorist Priests: Very Rev. Herman Brinkmann, C.Ss.R., Rev. Charles Brinkmann, C.Ss.R., Rev. Gerard Brinkmann, C.Ss.R. and Very Rev. Frederick Brinkmann, C.Ss.R., Charles's brother. His father's cousin, Monseigneur Francis X. Schmidt, is an archdiocesan priest for Philadelphia.

Charles went to grade school at Nativity of Our Lord Parish in Warminster where he was an altar boy and where his family were lifelong members. He belonged to Saint Catherine of Sienna Parish in Horsham, Pa. for five years. Charles and his wife Mary Lee bought a single home in Saint Joseph Parish where they have been members for thirty years. Charles served Saint Joseph Parish as a member of the respect life committee. He was a Eucharistic Minister for three years, and a Man of Malvern for more 18 years, renewing his faith annually and continually learnings new things about his faith and the Catholic religion. He has received many thank you letters from his Pastor, Father Grant, thanking him for the generous contributions he and his wife have made over the years. He’s kept every single one of these letters of gratitude.

Charles graduated with two bachelor's degrees from Gwynedd Mercy University. He earned his first degree in Supervision and Management in 1980 after transferring from Bucks County Community College, where he earned an Associate Degree in Business Administration. He earned his second bachelor's degree in Accounting in 1996.

I enjoyed my time at Gwynedd.

While at GMercyU, Charles was a member of the Voices of Gwynedd, where he was one of eight male singers, the first time males were incorporated into the group. He was also a member of Phi Beta Lambda, an organization for future business leaders that attended conferences and seminars on various topics. Additionally, Charles completed volunteer work by collecting food for those less fortunate during Thanksgiving and bringing donations to the parish GMercyU was supporting.

Post-Graduation

Charles worked in international banking for the first ten years of his career. He attended semi-annual courses at Mellon Bank in Philadelphia where he earned a certificate in Letters of Credit and Bankers Acceptances and International Banking & Payment Procedures.

He worked at R&B Automotive, now ABB Corp. in Warminster. All letters of credit and bankers- acceptances for imports and exports had to go across his desk for review & approval. He also was the International collection's correspondent for Fischer and Porter's 12 Subsidiaries in Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Europe. He has also held an accounting position in every phase of accounting with various firms: EMICO, Division of Sheller Globe Corp; General Accounting; Financial Statements & Financial Reporting; Auditing; Annual reviews and Audits; Cost Accountant; Process costing; Job costing; Inventory Management; Accounts Payable; and Accounts Receivable.

Charles worked in the field of Accounting for 27 years and was fortunate enough to semi-retire at the age of 50, at which point he changed career paths.

In 2008, Charles became a school bus driver for Central Bucks School District (CBSD) in Doylestown., Pa. After CBSD changed transportation companies, Charles began driving for Hatboro-Horsham School District, just five minutes from his home. He drove for Hatboro-Horsham School District for 12.5 years.

“To become a school bus driver, you must be a perfect citizen of the United States with a perfect driving record, have a Pennsylvania CDL Class B License with Passenger & Air Brake Endorsements, current Physical, Medical & Drug Test, PA DMV Clearance, Local Criminal Clearance, FBI Clearance and Child Abuse History Clearances along with CPR & Standard First Aid Training for Special Needs Adult & Child,” Charles said.

"If you have the slightest infraction on your record, for example, not wearing a seat belt and received a traffic ticket, you will not become a school bus driver,” Charles said. "I really enjoyed being around all of the kids, and the challenging driving of an 89 passenger, 43-foot-long vehicle. I was considered a very good driver. My bus did not have a single dent on either side.”

On June 20, 2022, Charles received his retirement certificate and officially retired at the age of 65, and is using his newfound freedom to enjoy life and work on home repairs and improvements. While he is not selling, houses in his development are going for seven hundred thousand dollars that he hopes to cash in some day.