Life on the River

  Some of the most powerful stories I know have begun from a place of pain and loss. With over 20 years of experience in the foodservice industry, I’ve known and even played a small role in many of these stories myself. However, occasionally, you hear a story that changes the way you look at the world. A story that inspires hope and even challenges you to make the world a better place. I’m honored to have the privilege of sharing one of these stories with you. Anyone who knows her could tell you that Mrs. Gladys is the human embodiment of joy and perseverance. She is the mother of three, grandmother of six “princesas hermosas” (beautiful princesses) and the proverbial matriarch of her clan. She built a successful business operating a family-owned restaurant in her native Colombia. Unfortunately, with her success came the attentions of opportunistic guerillas who threatened her family with violence and extortion. Most of her family were able to escape to Ecuador, but some were unabl...

  “It was the best decision I’ve ever made.  It’s so easy to grow in this community.  This is where I needed to be.” LaDasia joined the team at Chick-fil-A Bush River Road in the summer of 2021.  Shortly after the passing of our long-time operator and in the midst of the COVID19 pandemic, it was certainly a difficult season for our unit.  Encouraged to apply by her family, her aim was to simply pull down a steady paycheck.  As one of our recently promoted supervisors, she is now building a legacy of care that goes miles beyond making ends meet. In our conversation, LaDasia shared with me that her grandpa has always been a source of inspiration for her.  Unflagging support and a persistent challenge are the trademarks of his investment in her journey.  We continued to talk about investing in others and the trickle down effect of this style of leadership.  This is something she is deeply passionate about.  I love watching her seize teachab...

 "What movie did you see this week?"  This question has started so many of our conversations, and will undoubtedly start many more in the future.  The movies we're watching and the books we're reading (or listening to) seem to be a natural point of connection for us.  Connection.  Some of us have to work very hard to make meaningful connections with others.  Not Thomas.  He's been building connections and investing in others for his entire life.  And without a doubt, this gift is what makes him such a valuable part of what we do at Chick-fil-A Bush River Road.    Mr. Thomas has worn so many different hats throughout his career.  Vocationally trained in both ministry and counseling, our South Texas native has held several roles in youth ministry and behavioral health counseling (often at the same time).  While he is passionate about preaching and investing in young people, he is also a family man at heart.  He will be ...

I recently sat down to catch up with Hector, one of our bright young leaders at Chick-fil-A Bush River Road.  He is a back of house team leader with a focus on food safety, and just maybe the most likable guy in our unit.   I first met Hector when I was conducting interviews at his school.  I met a lot of students that day but I could tell there was something different about this guy.  He possessed a level of character and sincerity that can be awfully hard to find no matter what talent pool you're swimming in.  Because he was soft-spoken and a little reserved, I was concerned the high-tempo, demanding nature of the foodservice industry might be a little overwhelming for him.   Let's fast forward.  No surprises here, Hector got the job.  He beamed when he began telling me about his experience those first few weeks.  "It was my first real job and I was greeted with open arms.  They taught me everything, like how to work through ...

Sandiya is one of our unit's newly promoted leaders, but her path to leadership was not a simple process.  As a dual enrollment student with Midlands Tech's Upward Bound program, her initiative and responsibility as a high school student is what caught the eye of the Talent Acquisition team at Chick-fil-A Columbiana Mall.  Sandiya had previously spent some time working in a remote position but soon realized the company culture of her employer was not quite what was advertised.  She was hired on the spot and immediately began to thrive in her role at the mall unit.   Shortly after she had settled in to her new job, Diya faced another curve ball.  Operator Laurel Garcia had just been selected for relocation to a free standing Chick-fil-A only seven minutes away from her mall unit.  While the heart behind the business and even the service model remained the same, Sandiya had to now relearn her position, incorporating an intense double lane drive thru with...

It was time for a change.  Burned out. Underappreciated. Overworked.  This was a textbook toxic workplace scenario.   As a naturally optimistic person, questions like "Why am I here?" and "Am I making a difference?" were out of character for her.  Gathering her courage, Margarita began the search for an employer who would value her as a person and not primarily as a resource.   "I want to take care of people...to spread love in the world!"  Empathy has always come naturally to Margarita.  With her experience as a twin and as an older sister to many siblings, it simply comes with the territory.  And with a background in the healthcare industry, she knew she needed a job where she could use her passion for people.  But this time, she wanted a family that would care for her as well.   Margarita's search ended when she met Chick-fil-A operator Laurel Garcia.  "I knew this environment was different, that she cared about he...