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‘high expectations’ lead to 11+ Operator Selections
May 30, 2024
Continues to lead with love, encouraging others after ALS diagnosis
When Chick-fil-A Cicero Owner-Operator Jimmer Szatkowski was diagnosed with ALS three years ago, he thought his life was over.
“But God had different plans,” Jimmer said.
‘I want to be part of Chick-fil-A’
Jimmer grew up about two hours west of Syracuse and had his first bite of Chick-fil-A at 37 in Raleigh, N.C. while at a neighborhood party.
“There was a tray of nuggets and I ate one. And I thought, I don’t know what they put in this chicken, but I want to be part of Chick-fil-A.”
Serendipitously, a friend he’d worked with at IBM had started a job at the Chick-fil-A Support Center and would tell Jimmer how much he loved it. Eight years ago, Jimmer traveled to Atlanta for a meet and greet.
“I left that day at the Support Center very moved. I’d never been somewhere where people believed deeply in the purpose,” he said. “Then my friend asked me, ‘Have you ever thought about being a Chick-fil-A Operator?’”
The friend said he saw qualities in Jimmer like current Chick-fil-A Owner-Operators. So, he applied.
As a supply chain executive who’d spent 20 years with IBM, Jimmer wasn’t familiar with the restaurant business. One year passed between expressing interest and his Operator selection, then, another eight months until his restaurant opened in Upstate New York – the first Chick-fil-A in the area. His family was coming home.
A passion for leading and developing
Jimmer described his first six months as a local Owner-Operator “like a rock concert” trying to introduce the community to the Chick-fil-A brand. From the beginning, his focus was to hire remarkable people, show them love and find ways to develop them.
“I think people fundamentally want to be loved and believed in, so all my leadership development starts there. That takes time,” Jimmer said. “People need to trust you before they are willing to follow you. Once they trust you, you can hold them very accountable too.”
Peter Schultz, a school principal in the area, knows that well. After three decades in the education system, he considered a different career path and reached out to Jimmer. The two met and set a goal for Peter to become the restaurant’s director of training. In his first months with Chick-fil-A Cicero, Peter quickly learned about Jimmer’s expectations, desire to care for others and generosity.
“He’s very clear of his high expectations and how important it is that we maintain the high expectations Chick-fil-A has. He specifically sets people up for success, but he also puts them together with people that work well together,” Peter said.
“It helps guide them because he knows it's also about the personal experience, personal relationship, the trust of each other and so forth. Jimmer from the get-go is focused on making sure we treat every single guest with the highest level of dignity, compassion, and care, and that's it.”
Peter’s son, Aiden, is a manager at Chick-fil-A Cicero while attending college. He was recently awarded a Chick-fil-A scholarship, along with 28 fellow Team Members. Jimmer and his wife, Betty, hosted an event at their home for the scholars and their loved ones, in part to thank them for the contributions they make in the restaurant.
“He just invites people to his home. He’s done that for years so that was a normal thing – being welcomed and included in that family atmosphere at his house,” Peter said.
“The event is my favorite thing we do every year because it gives me an opportunity to thank their parents and loved ones that come as well. I am able to speak to the scholarship winners and tell them how much we appreciate them,” Jimmer said. “I tell them they have been blessed with so many gifts. The only question is, ‘what are you going to do with them?’ That’s special. I feel so privileged to have that many people working in my restaurant.”
With a passion for developing others, at least 11 Chick-fil-A Owner-Operators from Upstate New York spent time in Jimmer’s restaurant prior to being selected for their own Chick-fil-A restaurants.
Personal experiences lead to focus on helping others
While he never met Chick-fil-A Founder S. Truett Cathy, Jimmer said he relates to elements of Truett’s story, like coming from poverty. An unexpected diagnosis a few years ago has led him to his most important focus – loving others.
“Three years ago, when I was diagnosed with ALS, I thought my life was over. But God had different plans. I’m still able to be the best Operator I can be, but it looks a little different,” Jimmer said. “This challenge has made me a better husband, father, friend, and Operator. I’m not able to waste my time on things that aren’t important. I just focus on loving people and making sure everybody knows the standard.”
When he was diagnosed, Jimmer decided his focus would continue to be helping others.
“I quickly learned that ALS is a curable disease, but they lack funding. So, I committed to raising $1 million for Tackle ALS.”
He chose the organization because funding goes directly to research and helping people get access to new treatments and early access programs. So far, he’s raised $400,000. This October, he’s going to run his fourth marathon with help and use that as a fundraising opportunity.
“Plus, I can’t wait to cross the finish line,” he said with a twinkle in his eye.
This May, Jimmer and Betty will celebrate 25 years of marriage. The couple are Buffalo Bills season ticket holders and don’t miss a game. They make the two-hour trek to Buffalo for every home game in a van that’s hard to miss – wrapped with scenes from a game that he and his children spent months designing. It leads to many honks and waves when driving down the road.
“I think the most important part of my story is that God has used me through so many difficult circumstances. He is still giving me the opportunity to love and grow people,” Jimmer said.
“We live in a world where people are so discouraged. Everyone who has ever worked in this restaurant has needed encouragement more than anything else. It’s amazing what happens when you look at someone in the eye and tell them, ‘I love you and I believe in you.’”
Continues to lead with love, encouraging others after ALS diagnosis
When Chick-fil-A Cicero Owner-Operator Jimmer Szatkowski was diagnosed with ALS three years ago, he thought his life was over.
“But God had different plans,” Jimmer said.
‘I want to be part of Chick-fil-A’
Jimmer grew up about two hours west of Syracuse and had his first bite of Chick-fil-A at 37 in Raleigh, N.C. while at a neighborhood party.
“There was a tray of nuggets and I ate one. And I thought, I don’t know what they put in this chicken, but I want to be part of Chick-fil-A.”
Serendipitously, a friend he’d worked with at IBM had started a job at the Chick-fil-A Support Center and would tell Jimmer how much he loved it. Eight years ago, Jimmer traveled to Atlanta for a meet and greet.
“I left that day at the Support Center very moved. I’d never been somewhere where people believed deeply in the purpose,” he said. “Then my friend asked me, ‘Have you ever thought about being a Chick-fil-A Operator?’”
The friend said he saw qualities in Jimmer like current Chick-fil-A Owner-Operators. So, he applied.
As a supply chain executive who’d spent 20 years with IBM, Jimmer wasn’t familiar with the restaurant business. One year passed between expressing interest and his Operator selection, then, another eight months until his restaurant opened in Upstate New York – the first Chick-fil-A in the area. His family was coming home.
A passion for leading and developing
Jimmer described his first six months as a local Owner-Operator “like a rock concert” trying to introduce the community to the Chick-fil-A brand. From the beginning, his focus was to hire remarkable people, show them love and find ways to develop them.
“I think people fundamentally want to be loved and believed in, so all my leadership development starts there. That takes time,” Jimmer said. “People need to trust you before they are willing to follow you. Once they trust you, you can hold them very accountable too.”
Peter Schultz, a school principal in the area, knows that well. After three decades in the education system, he considered a different career path and reached out to Jimmer. The two met and set a goal for Peter to become the restaurant’s director of training. In his first months with Chick-fil-A Cicero, Peter quickly learned about Jimmer’s expectations, desire to care for others and generosity.
“He’s very clear of his high expectations and how important it is that we maintain the high expectations Chick-fil-A has. He specifically sets people up for success, but he also puts them together with people that work well together,” Peter said.
“It helps guide them because he knows it's also about the personal experience, personal relationship, the trust of each other and so forth. Jimmer from the get-go is focused on making sure we treat every single guest with the highest level of dignity, compassion, and care, and that's it.”
Peter’s son, Aiden, is a manager at Chick-fil-A Cicero while attending college. He was recently awarded a Chick-fil-A scholarship, along with 28 fellow Team Members. Jimmer and his wife, Betty, hosted an event at their home for the scholars and their loved ones, in part to thank them for the contributions they make in the restaurant.
“He just invites people to his home. He’s done that for years so that was a normal thing – being welcomed and included in that family atmosphere at his house,” Peter said.
“The event is my favorite thing we do every year because it gives me an opportunity to thank their parents and loved ones that come as well. I am able to speak to the scholarship winners and tell them how much we appreciate them,” Jimmer said. “I tell them they have been blessed with so many gifts. The only question is, ‘what are you going to do with them?’ That’s special. I feel so privileged to have that many people working in my restaurant.”
With a passion for developing others, at least 11 Chick-fil-A Owner-Operators from Upstate New York spent time in Jimmer’s restaurant prior to being selected for their own Chick-fil-A restaurants.
Personal experiences lead to focus on helping others
While he never met Chick-fil-A Founder S. Truett Cathy, Jimmer said he relates to elements of Truett’s story, like coming from poverty. An unexpected diagnosis a few years ago has led him to his most important focus – loving others.
“Three years ago, when I was diagnosed with ALS, I thought my life was over. But God had different plans. I’m still able to be the best Operator I can be, but it looks a little different,” Jimmer said. “This challenge has made me a better husband, father, friend, and Operator. I’m not able to waste my time on things that aren’t important. I just focus on loving people and making sure everybody knows the standard.”
When he was diagnosed, Jimmer decided his focus would continue to be helping others.
“I quickly learned that ALS is a curable disease, but they lack funding. So, I committed to raising $1 million for Tackle ALS.”
He chose the organization because funding goes directly to research and helping people get access to new treatments and early access programs. So far, he’s raised $400,000. This October, he’s going to run his fourth marathon with help and use that as a fundraising opportunity.
“Plus, I can’t wait to cross the finish line,” he said with a twinkle in his eye.
This May, Jimmer and Betty will celebrate 25 years of marriage. The couple are Buffalo Bills season ticket holders and don’t miss a game. They make the two-hour trek to Buffalo for every home game in a van that’s hard to miss – wrapped with scenes from a game that he and his children spent months designing. It leads to many honks and waves when driving down the road.
“I think the most important part of my story is that God has used me through so many difficult circumstances. He is still giving me the opportunity to love and grow people,” Jimmer said.
“We live in a world where people are so discouraged. Everyone who has ever worked in this restaurant has needed encouragement more than anything else. It’s amazing what happens when you look at someone in the eye and tell them, ‘I love you and I believe in you.’”
