Dan Cathy began his career at Chick-fil-A at age nine, singing to customers and making radio commercials. He took on more responsibilities over time, becoming president and COO. As COO, Cathy visits each Chick-fil-A restaurant to understand customers and ensure great service. His goals are customer satisfaction through healthy options and "second mile" service. Cathy also attends new store openings overnight with customers and employees. He graduated from Georgia Southern University with a business degree and opened over 50 new Chick-fil-A locations. Under Cathy's leadership, Chick-fil-A has received numerous awards for customer satisfaction and service.

1. Classic Team
Biography
Dan Truett Cathy
COO of Chick-fil-A
Dan Cathy began his career at Chick-fil-A at the
age of nine. It all started with singing to the customers
and making radio commercials for the original “Dwarf
House” restaurant in Hapeville, Georgia. As Dan Cathy
got older, he became more involved with the company
and gained more responsibilities than just pleasing the
customers. Dan Cathy then became the senior director
of operations then the vice president of operations and
executive vice president all before being named president and chief operating officer which is his
most current position.
Dan Cathy has taken his own style of leadership when taking charge as the president and
chief operating officer of Chick-fil-A. Instead of taking charge at the office in Atlanta, Dan
Cathy chooses to take a different approach on the company. Dan Cathy feels that it is very
important to visit each Chick-fil-A to get the true perspective of our staff. He believes that he
will be able to understand the want and needs of the Chick-fil-A customers.
Cathy’s goals in leading this way is to provide customers with great dining services, tasty
and healthy food options, and an overall satisfaction with the Chick-fil-A restaurants. Dan Cathy
calls it the “second mile” service, which means, exceeding even the highest expectations of a
typical fast-food restaurant. Dan Cathy calls his responsibilities, “I work in customer service”.

2. Dan Cathy also attends the opening of each store. He participates in staying in the
parking lots overnight with the customers and employees to wait for the legal action of opening
the doors. Most customers were awaiting the chance to win a free meal.
Dan Cathy attended Georgia Southern University. He graduated with a Bachelor degree
of Science in Business Administration. After graduating he returned to Chick-fil-A and worked
as the director of operations. He then opened more than 50 new Chick-fil-A restaurants
throughout the country.
Chick-fil-A received many marketplace awards that show the dedication and great
performance of our operators and team members. In the year of 2004, Chick-fil-A won the Fast
Company magazine’s inaugural “Customer First” award and was also rated as the highest quick-
serve chain in the South in the J.D. Power and Associate’s Customer Satisfaction survey.
In 2007, Chick-fil-A was recognized in a survey conducted together by Zagat and NBC’s
"Today Show” as first in overall customer service. In early 2008, BusinessWeek and J.D. Power
and Associates named Chick-fil-A among the top 25 “Customer Service Champs.” Chick-fil-A
ranked 22nd overall, and was one of only two restaurant concepts listed.
In 2009, Chick-fil-A received Restaurant & Institutions magazine’s "Choice in Chains"
award for the 15th time in the past sixteen years. Chick-fil-A also was awarded in the QSR
magazine’s Best Drive Thru in America survey for the sixth time in the 12-year period of the
study.
Chick-fil-A has received many awards while Dan Cathy was the chief operator. Dan
Cathy himself won awards consisting with his different board member memberships and
wrestling honors. Dan Cathy takes his job very seriously and wants the best for his customers.