Grove City College alums shared “nuggets of wisdom” about their experience with a beloved and highly successful fast food business at November’s edition of the Richard G. Staley '62 Visionary Entrepreneur Speaker Series.
Students heard from six owner/operators of area Chick-fil-A restaurants about working with the chain and the ups and downs of management and ownership of a national franchise. Each panelist brought a unique perspective to the discussion and following Q&A session.
The panelists were:
- Karen (Dutka) Bolumen ’96, a Marketing Management major and Chick-fil-A owner/operator in Columbus, Ohio.
- Shawn Filby ’89, an Applied Physics major, Air Force veteran, and Chick-fil-A owner/operator in Reading, Pa. His son Graham ’20 is a current senior.
- Kory Kaye ’09, a Marketing Management major and Chick-fil-A owner/operator in Washington, Pa., who is transitioning to a new restaurant and home in Chandler, Ariz.
- Married couple Ryan ’07 and Sarah (Gehman) Rutt ’07, Accounting and Finance majors, respectively, and owner/operators of Chick-fil-A Meadowbrook Mall in Bridgeport, WV.
- Jay Yanak ’08, a Business Management major with a masters in Divinity from Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary and Chick-fil-A owner/operator in The Mall at Robinson in Pittsburgh, Pa.
The panel discussion was followed by a reception where Chick-fil-A nuggets and other refreshments were served.
Chick-fil-A is one of the nation’s best-known and best-loved franchises, drawing fans for its tasty chicken and its corporate culture, which stresses traditional values. Stores are closed on Sundays to give employees time off with their families. In addition to the six panelists, a notable number of Grove City College alumni are part of the Chick-fil-A organization, which is a prominent presence at the College’s annual career fair.
Watch the video of the “Nuggets of Wisdom” Richard G. Staley '62 Visionary Entrepreneur Speaker Series at www.gccentrepreneurship.com/staley-speaker-series.
The Center for Entrepreneurship + Innovation’s Richard G. Staley ’62 Visionary Entrepreneur Speaker Series brings experienced entrepreneurs to campus to share their insights and wisdom. Each semester, the Center hosts successful business men and women whose compelling stories of success and failure can inspire and enlighten audiences and provoke thought and stimulating conversation.
This series was endowed in 2013 by Richard G. Staley ’62 to enable the Center for Entrepreneurship + Innovation to bring guest speakers to campus to explore topics related to entrepreneurship and innovation. Staley founded Flavor House, Inc., a leading developer and manufacturer of unique flavors used by many well-recognized brands. He received the Jack Kennedy Memorial Alumni Achievement Award in 2019, an award presented annually since 1964 to alumni who have had distinctive success in their fields.
For more about Entrepreneurship at Grove City College, visit www.gccentrepreneurship.com.