From Dream to Reality: Chantay Bollinger’s Journey to Chick-fil-A Local Owner-Operator

Driven by faith and a passion to care for others

For Chantay Bollinger, becoming a local Chick-fil-A^® Owner-Operator wasn’t something she always envisioned. But looking back, the path was being paved for her long before she even realized it. 

Finding Identity and Purpose 
Growing up in Perrysburg, Ohio, Chantay always felt like she stood out. As an adopted child in a multiracial family and a community where most people looked different from her, Chantay wrestled with questions of identity and belonging. 

“There's always just been a little asterisk for me, where do I fit in?” 

In high school, guided by her faith, Chantay set out on a journey of healing and belonging. She sensed that her life would be marked by purpose and had high hopes of accomplishing great things. 

As a high school senior in DECA, an organization that prepares entrepreneurs and emerging leaders for business careers, Chantay wrote a letter with a foreshadowing sentence: 

“I am the future owner of a multi-million-dollar franchise. Unfortunately, I do not know as of yet what that business will entail, but I do know without a shadow of a doubt that I will own it.” 

College was another defining chapter. While Chantay's first taste of freedom initially led to distractions and academic struggles, a talk with her pastor and a lot of determination helped her turn things around. Juggling multiple jobs to help pay for her education, including working as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), she learned the value of hard work and caring for others. 

"As a CNA, I cared for older people. I came to know and love them when their families weren’t around, and I really connected with their feelings of being unsure about where they stood in life. I worked to give them a sense of belonging," Chantay said. 

Her desire to care for people led Chantay to pursue a degree in human development and family studies, followed by a master's degree in human resources.

An Unexpected Introduction to Chick-fil-A
When Chantay was working in human resources for a mental health organization, she became curious and driven to learn more about leaders who integrated faith and business. 

After hearing about someone doing both, she met Toledo, Oh. Owner-Operator Jonathan Winn. Their conversation led her to apply for a role at his restaurant, where she was selected to be the human resources director. 

While it was supposed to be a temporary learning experience, Jonathan saw something in her that she hadn’t yet seen in herself. “When you become an Operator…,” he would say to her repeatedly. But Chantay wasn’t convinced. 

Stepping into Leadership
Despite her initial resistance, Chantay quickly rose through the ranks, moving from human resources director to community engagement director and then to general manager.  

Through these roles, she began to see the impact local Owner-Operators have on their communities and their teams — whether through local events, mentoring Team Members, or simply serving guests with care. “I loved it. I was running the restaurant, seeing results, loving and serving the team, and developing people,” she said. 

In 2021, she took another step forward by joining the Chick-fil-A Leadership Development Program. But even then, she envisioned a future on Chick-fil-A’s Support Center Staff, not as a local
Owner-Operator. It wasn’t until late 2022 that she had a realization: everything she wanted to accomplish—developing people, leading with faith, and making a community impact—she could do as a local Owner-Operator. 

So, she took a leap. 

Ringing the Bell and Embracing the Future 
On August 28, 2024, Chantay rang the bell at the Chick-fil-A Support Center — a cherished tradition signifying one's selection as a local Owner-Operator. She describes the moment as overwhelming, comparing it to a second wedding day.  

“They told me, ‘Take it in. Don’t let the moment slip by,’” she said. 

As she stood in Chick-fil-A Founder S. Truett Cathy’s office and reflected on his mother’s caring influence on his life and business, the weight of the moment hit her. “The influence of one person can change everything,” she realized. 

Now, as she prepares to open her restaurant, Chick-fil-A Jackson in Jackson, Mich., Chantay is focused on giving back. She plans to launch initiatives that offer life skills training for aspiring business owners—especially women and minorities—and partner with organizations like Interfaith Shelter to address homelessness.

She also plans to support local schools and participate in Chick-fil-A Leader Academy™ to help develop the next generation of leaders.

“My hope is that both Guests and Team Members will feel valued, seen and supported—just like I have throughout my journey to becoming an Operator,” Chantay said.