“The odds say I never make it to this opportunity”

How an unexpected connection through college basketball led to life-altering change for Chick-fil-A Owner-Operator Najee Davis

When Najee Davis took his first bite of Chick-fil-A in college, he’d never heard of the restaurant. He grew up in Brooklyn, New York, and Newport News, Virginia. Ten days after graduating high school, he moved to Alabama to play basketball at Wallace State Community College.

Image above courtesy of Wallace State Community College.

While at school, Najee met the Poseys, a family he became connected with through a local church who he describes as his family away from family. The Poseys welcomed Najee as a part of their family and their bond is still strong today.

After he graduated from the University of Alabama Birmingham, he took a role as an executive assistant to a pastor at a local church. Najee described him as a young, highly energetic leader who consistently coached him on an Old African Proverb that changed his perspective on leadership – “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” 

Who do you know that I should know? 

Eventually, Najee’s path crossed with Randy Earnest, Owner-Operator of Chick-fil-A Cullman, located 50 miles north of Birmingham. Randy attended the same church, and the two met during a lunch and learn about author John Maxwell’s principles. A question Maxwell recommends asking others is, “Who do you know that I should know?” 

That stuck with Najee – and led him to connect further with Randy. 

“Najee has carried that question like a badge of honor, and he is so good at that everywhere he’s been,” Randy said. 

It took Randy some time to convince Najee to come work for him. He loved Najee’s attitude, drive and that he was outspoken. After learning more, Najee had a desire to join Chick-fil-A’s Leadership Development Program (LDP), which can be a talent pipeline for local Owner-Operators. 

According to Randy there were two things in the restaurant Najee really worked on – improving business acumen and humility.

“He learned some humility that’s different in the restaurant, more in the ability to relate,” Randy said. “I don’t want to do fries every day and bread chicken, but I have the humility that I will immediately jump in because I can relate to where they’re at. You need to see me work right now – even if it’s just for this busy lunch hour.” 

Randy holds practice interviews for those working toward Chick-fil-A LDP. Najee and one other leader heading on that track interviewed on the same day. Following, Najee asked for feedback. 

“He came to me the next day and said, ‘How was it?’ Randy recalled, asking Najee if he wanted honest feedback. “’If I were in [the interviewer’s] shoes and I could pick only one of you from yesterday’s interview, it wouldn’t be you.’” 

Randy followed by saying the amount of work Najee did from then until the day he was selected for LDP was “insane.” 

“His drive, tenacity; he’s not going to be told he can’t do something,” Randy said. “He just doesn’t have that. He’s not going to give up, he has no quit in him.” 

Najee was accepted into LDP in 2022, and spent 10 months supporting restaurants in multiple states, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Georgia, California and New York. 

He was selected to become an Owner-Operator on July 26, 2023. 

“I’m going to bet on people.” 

When Chick-fil-A selects a local Owner-Operator, that person rings a bell at the company’s Support Center to celebrate the accomplishment. 

“I saw my mom. I saw the Poseys. I saw friends, family members and people from college. I saw all these people that supported someone that wasn’t that person ringing the bell,” Najee said. “It was so easy for Chick-fil-A to bet on me, for everyone that’s looking back on me. I’m going to bet on people, I’m going to bet on leadership, when everyone bet on me.”

In turn, he wants to give back to the next generation. 

When he lived in Alabama and no longer played basketball, he coached kids. Even today, he still mentors and talks with Randy’s leaders interested in Chick-fil-A LDP, especially those up and coming. 

When reflecting on those who’ve done so much for him, Najee refers to his mother, Beverly Davis, as the hero of his story.

“I watched [my mom] raise my brother and sisters by herself. I have watched my mother work and never make any excuses,” Najee said. “Trish Posey, my Alabama mom, has taught and modeled what unconditional love means and looks like lived out. I can confidently say I would not be the man I am today without them.”

Najee is now married to the love of his life, Brittaney Davis, and they have a daughter, Kensington Hope Davis. Najee could not love his family more, spreading from New York to Alabama.

“I get to do this, I don’t have to do this,” Najee said. “It’s an incredible opportunity to start. To be in this position. The odds say I never make it to this opportunity.”