“It’s More Than Just Chicken”: Palm Beach Atlantic University Alumni Build Fulfilling Careers at Chick-fil-A

Three alumni were roommates in their senior year. Now they're in top leadership positions at Chick-fil-A.

Jess Hine ('13) says her best friend, Bobbi Stewart ('13), convinced her to get a job at Chick-fil-A during her freshman year at Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBA). Stewart heard about the opportunity in a business class when another freshman, Priscilla Nicholson ('13), encouraged her to apply.

College life looked a little different for three students working full-time while earning their degrees. Their shared experiences on campus and as employees at Chick-fil-A set them up for strong franchising careers and lifelong friendships.

First Day Friendship

Hine was already homesick when she arrived at PBA. Her childhood home in New Jersey sold shortly after her high school graduation, both of her grandmothers passed away, and the newness of college was a lot to take in. Finding community during orientation gave her the anchor she needed to stay.

All PBA alumni remember Welcome Week, an introduction to campus life, and their "fish group," a cohort of incoming freshmen who experience orientation together. Hine and Stewart met on the first day of Welcome Week in 2009 and have been close friends ever since.

Stewart hails from Rhode Island and chose to earn her education at PBA after noticing the joyful atmosphere during a campus tour with her sister. She then met Nicholson, a Palm Beach County local, a few days later in a humanities class.

The following semester, Nicholson connected with Hine through a Bible study, closing the loop for the three friends. As they encouraged one another in their faith and studies, they began influencing their career choices, too.

Not Just a College Job

Nicholson intended to pursue nursing, but changed to a business major once she started working at a new Chick-fil-A location in West Palm Beach. Rob Morris, who still owns and operates the business-and serves as a licensee on PBA's campus-provided invaluable mentorship for Nicholson. She thrived and started recommending the position to her friends.

"I loved the idea of meeting people at a point of need and getting to have flexibility for my family to still be a major priority in my life," Nicholson said. "When I got to know Chick-fil-A, I started to realize, oh, that can happen-this is a corporation that wants to glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that's entrusted to us and wanted to have a positive influence on all who came in contact with Chick-fil-A."

Stewart also heard about career opportunities at Chick-fil-A through speakers in a business class. She had a strong interest in hospitality, but transitioned to franchising after seeing the streamlined process for leaders at Chick-fil-A.

When she started working, though, she was surprised to discover that if she wanted a promotion, she had to ask for it.

"At Chick-fil-A, the attitude is different-they want you to demonstrate humility and servant leadership," Stewart said. "And finally, [a team leader] said, 'When are you going to ask the director if you can apply to be a team leader?'

Meanwhile, Hine was looking for an income more stable than weekend babysitting. By the time she applied at Chick-fil-A during her sophomore year, Nicholson was already a director and hired Hine on the spot.

Roommates, Motivators

The three friends grew closer and rented an apartment together during their senior year at PBA.

"It was one of my favorite years to date, just a house full of people that I love to be around and knew I could be encouraged by," Stewart reflected. "I am so grateful that 17-year-old Bobbi got to meet these incredible women so early on to help make my college experience and beyond have such a positive trajectory."

Principles from classes and work snuck into their home and created a common mindset for "house rules."

"Because we all worked at Chick-fil-A and were very business-minded, there were certain items like trash bags and milk and coffee that we would split the cost on," Nicholson recalled. "That was such a fun little thing that exemplified things we were learning at Chick-fil-A about working together, sharing costs, and playing to everyone's strengths."

Trading the Graduation Cap for a Career

After turning the tassel at commencement in 2013, the three friends stepped into the next phases of their careers.

Having learned the ins and outs of the restaurant business under Morris's mentorship and multiple leadership positions, Nicholson grew in additional roles across the country, including field operations and providing strategic support for a company executive. She is now the director of field engagement, leading the corporate marketing department at Chick-fil-A. In her role, she supports franchisees across the country and world, ensuring their branding aligns with Chick-fil-A while considering each restaurant's unique community.

Stewart also advanced, taking on a two-year rotational program that challenged her to try multiple leadership roles within Chick-fil-A before applying to the company's internal leadership development program. She is now the owner/operator of a franchise location in Newington, Connecticut.

Stewart says the best part was the relationships she built along the way, with her roommates, her cohort in the Chick-fil-A director group, and her husband, whom she met at PBA.

"I don't think I realized how lonely this job could be if I didn't prioritize good relationships prior to this role," Stewart shared. "The season of college can be so shaping, for better or for worse, but it can be such an incredible foundation to set for your career."

Hine left Chick-fil-A to pursue a job in psychology, but returned after two years-finding a home at the Chick-fil-A West Palm Beach locations. She currently serves as the executive director of organizational leadership, helping ambitious employees embark on career paths similar to hers.

"It's so much more than just chicken," Hine said. "I get to develop the team. I get to have an opportunity to be a part of people's futures."

Hine is also a leader in connecting Chick-fil-A with the community, and vice-versa, through volunteer opportunities with local organizations and maintaining relationships with institutions like PBA. Hine's work directly impacts PBA's current and incoming students, opening opportunities for them to pursue a career at Chick-fil-A.

"It's so much more than chicken," Hine reiterated. "I can lean into the doors that Chick-fil-A opens, because [the opportunities and outcomes] are insane."

To learn more about professional development opportunities for PBA students, visit https://www.pba.edu/academics/schools/rinker-business/industry-connections/.