{"id":9356,"count":1,"description":"As president of one of the nation's largest family owned businesses, Chick-fil-A's Dan T. Cathy represents the next generation of leadership for the Atlanta-based quick-service chicken restaurant chain founded by his father, S. Truett Cathy. Since 2001, Dan has served as the president and chief operating officer of the 1,800-plus unit chain, but he also has personally challenged himself with upholding Chick-fil-A\u2019s efforts to provide genuine, heartfelt hospitality, and ensuring that customers chain wide have an exceptional dining experience when visiting a Chick-fil-A restaurant. In his quest to provide customers with \u201csecond-mile\u201d service (exceeding even the highest expectations of a typical fast-food restaurant), Dan has defined a special role for himself \u2013 humbly saying, \u201cI work in customer service.\u201d\n\nRather than leading from his corporate office in Atlanta, Dan chooses to spend the majority of his time traveling to the chain\u2019s growing family of restaurants and interacting with Chick-fil-A\u2019s committed team of restaurant Operators and team members. His actions stem from a belief that working in the field provides a clearer understanding of the ever-evolving wants and needs of Chick-fil-A customers, and leading from the front line also enables him to personally convey his servant spirit to the chain\u2019s 70,000-plus employees.\n\nDan's nearly lifelong career at Chick-fil-A began at age 9 as he sang songs for customers and did radio commercials for the chain's original \"Dwarf House\" restaurant in Hapeville, Ga.\n\nAfter receiving his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Georgia Southern University, Dan returned to Chick-fil-A where he served as director of operations \u2013 opening more than 50 new Chick-fil-A restaurants throughout the country.\n\nAs Chick-fil-A continued to grow, so did Dan's responsibilities with the company. He has served as senior director of operations, vice president of operations and executive vice president prior to being named president and chief operating officer.\n\nAnd in his \"spare\" time, Dan earned his Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) license and has completed numerous marathons in Atlanta, Orlando, Los Angeles, Boston and New York. Additionally, Dan is a passionate trumpet player, gardener and an avid motorcyclist.\n\nA native of Jonesboro, Ga., Dan has been married to the former Rhonda Palmer (whom he met while in the 1st grade at age 6) for more than 40 years. He has two sons, Andrew, Vice President of People at Chick-fil-A and Ross, Owner\/Operator of the Midland, Ga., Chick-fil-A restaurant, as well as two grandchildren.\n\nHis personal passion is to see the fulfillment of the Chick-fil-A Corporate Purpose: \"To glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us. To have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A.\"","link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/profiles\/dan-cathy\/","name":"Dan Cathy","slug":"dan-cathy","taxonomy":"cwp_profile","parent":0,"meta":[],"acf":[],"meta_box":{"title":"","color":"","thumbnail":[],"icon":"","links":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cwp_profile\/9356","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cwp_profile"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/taxonomies\/cwp_profile"}],"wp:post_type":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts?cwp_profile=9356"},{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages?cwp_profile=9356"},{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?cwp_profile=9356"},{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/art-of-marriage?cwp_profile=9356"},{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/art-of-marriage-blog?cwp_profile=9356"},{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/familylife-equip?cwp_profile=9356"},{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/small-group-study?cwp_profile=9356"},{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wtr-reviews?cwp_profile=9356"},{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wtr-speaker?cwp_profile=9356"},{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wtr-post?cwp_profile=9356"},{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/podcast?cwp_profile=9356"},{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/familylife-global?cwp_profile=9356"},{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/aop?cwp_profile=9356"},{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/familylifeblended?cwp_profile=9356"},{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/content_offer?cwp_profile=9356"},{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ofertas_de_contendio?cwp_profile=9356"},{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/devotionals?cwp_profile=9356"},{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ide?cwp_profile=9356"},{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/made4missions?cwp_profile=9356"},{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/missions?cwp_profile=9356"},{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/partners?cwp_profile=9356"},{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/real-parent-life?cwp_profile=9356"},{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/sexual-wholeness?cwp_profile=9356"},{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/stepping-up?cwp_profile=9356"},{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/us-latinos?cwp_profile=9356"},{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/weekend-to-remember?cwp_profile=9356"},{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/local-expansion?cwp_profile=9356"},{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/video-gallery-block?cwp_profile=9356"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}