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President of Chick-fil-A to present keynote address
MILLIGAN COLLEGE, TN (April 5, 2004) — Dan Cathy, president of one of the largest privately owned restaurant chains in the nation , Chick-fil-A, will present the keynote address next Tuesday, April 13 , at Milligan’s annual “Leaders in Christian Service” program in Seeger Memorial Chapel. The 11 a.m. service is open to the community and is hosted by the college’s Institute for Servant Leadership.
Twelve individuals from the Tri-Cities will be presented at the service as examples of those who exemplify Christian character and witness in their vocation, community and church.
“ The purpose is to recognize those individuals who are doing an outstanding job of integrating their faith with their profession,” said Milligan President Donald R. Jeanes. “ This is not an award but a way to provide examples for our community and especially to our students of what servant leadership is all about, and what it can look like on a daily basis in a variety of professions.”
Those being presented April 13 include:
Robbie Anderson – curriculum director, Johnson City Public Schools; Grandview Christian Church, Johnson City
Jeanette Blazier – mayor, Kingsport ; First Baptist Church , Kingsport
Paul and Betty Brown – Paul: internal medicine specialist with Johnson City Internal Medicine; Betty: author, educator, consultant; Munsey Memorial United Methodist, Johnson City
Bill Derby – publisher, News & Neighbor ; Wesley Memorial United Methodist, Johnson City
Teri Ferguson – coordinator, Parish Nursing Program, Mountain States Health Alliance; St. Mary’s Church, Johnson City
Sam and Sally Greer – Sam: retired plant manager of Mayfield Dairy Farms, now active community volunteer; Sally: active community volunteer; First Christian Church, Johnson City
Tom Hornsby – consultant, VisionWorks, LLC; First Christian Church, Johnson City
George Karnes – dentist, TMJ Treatment Clinic; Central Baptist Church , Johnson City
Carlyle Walton – president/CEO, Takoma Adventist Hospital ; Greeneville Seventh Day Adventist, Greeneville
Clem Wilkes – financial advisor/stockbroker, Raymond James Citizens Investments; St. John’s Episcopal Church, Johnson City
Dan Cathy , president and chief operating officer of Chick-fil-A, will present the keynote address at the April 13 service. Cathy represents the next generation of leadership for the Atlanta-based company founded by his father, S. Truett Cathy.
From modest beginnings in a tiny Georgia eatery almost 60 years ago, Chick-fil-A has grown into one of the largest privately owned restaurant chains in the nation. Yet from the beginning, the first priority for Cathy and Chick-fil-A has never been just to serve chicken. It’s to serve a higher calling.
The company’s official statement of corporate purpose says that Chick-fil-A exists “to glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us and to have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A.” The company invests in scholarships, character-building programs for kids, foster homes and other community services.
Dan Cathy’s steady rise through the ranks of director of operations, vice president of operations, executive vice president, and most recently, president, is a testament to his dedication to the Chick-fil-A brand and its long-held principles and traditions.
Cathy, who holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Georgia Southern University, also gives generously of his time and efforts in the community. He serves on the boards of Berry College , the Carter Center , Foundation of Gordon College, Eagle Ranch, FamilyNet and Junior Achievement of Georgia. He is an active member of New Hope Baptist Church , where he is a trumpet player in the church band. He is the 2002 recipient of the Buckhead Rotary Humanitarian Award.
In his spare time, Cathy has completed owner/management courses at Harvard Business School , earned his pilot’s license and has run in and completed the Los Angeles and Boston marathons. A native of Jonesboro , Georgia , he and his wife have been married for 29 years and have two sons.
The community is invited to attend Milligan’s April 13 Leaders in Christian Service program in Seeger Chapel at 11 a.m.
“Our call is both to lead and to serve. It is a call that is rooted in the Great Commission. It is also rooted in our charge to be salt and light, wherever we are and whatever our vocation is,” said Jeanes.
For more information, please call the Institute for Servant Leadership at Milligan College at 423.461.8316.