Chick-Fil-A Owner/Operator Adam Heynen
Adam, a graduate of Dort University and the University of Iowa, is the Owner/Operator of the Fort Dodge Chick-Fil-A franchise. He applied to be an Owner/Operator in 2022. He was selected after completing the 10-step process. He was a good candidate for our local franchise because he is an Iowa native and interested in living in Iowa. Others interested in becoming an Owner were not from the area, and Chick-Fil-A wants their Owners to be invested in their communities.
Adam planned to be a Physician’s Assistant, and his wife Jill planned to work in communications. Life took them in a different direction than they knew. It has been said, “We plan, God laughs.” That certainly seems to be the case with Adam, his wife Jill, and their two boys. It was important to Adam to find a vocation that gave him a sense of passion, where he could get up in the morning and look forward to going to work. He felt he could lead and could develop people, doing so through hospitality.
Chick-Fil-A is based in Atlanta, Georgia, and has over 3,000 stores. The founder of the chain is S. Truett Cathy, and current organizational leadership is now a third-generation Cathy family member (Andrew Cathy).
Chick-Fil-A generally has had stores in larger markets. In Iowa those markets included Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, and Waterloo. The company is looking to adjust the business model to create opportunities in smaller communities like Pella and Fort Dodge.
Be on the lookout for Peppermint Shakes and Tortilla Soup at Chick-Fil-A in the near future!