The document summarizes Dan Cathy's speech at the grand opening of a new Chick-fil-A restaurant on the campus of Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey. Cathy discusses how Chick-fil-A shares the values of education and environmental stewardship with Rowan University. He highlights Chick-fil-A's philanthropic education programs and efforts to build eco-friendly restaurants, including making the new Rowan location the first LEED-certified Chick-fil-A on the East Coast. Cathy expresses excitement about Chick-fil-A joining the Rowan and Glassboro communities and becoming "family."

1. Rachel Mauro
6.24.13
Dan Cathy Executive Speech
Intro Via Bridget Comber (Jennifer Smith):
Good afternoon everyone. Who is excited to be at the grand opening of Chick-fil-A on Rowan
University’s campus? I know I am. My name is Jennifer Smith, manager of this new Chick-fil-A restaurant.
I am very happy that the restaurant is finally opening. It has been a long process but it looks like it was
definitely worth it. I have had the opportunity to go inside of the building already, and I cannot believe how
amazing it turned out. It looks spectacular and smells like the delicious chicken already.
What I am also happy about is that Chick-fil-A’s chief operating officer Dan Cathy is here with us.
Mr. Cathy has been C-O-O of Chick-fil-A since 2001, but he has been with the company a lot longer than
that. He has been with Chick-fil-A since birth. Chick-fil-A is a family business. Cathy’s father started the
company in 1946. The Cathy family prides themselves on being family owned and credits much of their
success to this.
At first Chick-fil-A was only in shopping malls. But it has come a long way. There are still
shopping mall locations but now there are also stand-alone restaurants, like the one opening here at Rowan
University.
Dan Cathy, all of Chick-fil-A, and Rowan University are ecstatic that this restaurant is the first
Chick-fil-A opening on a college campus in New Jersey. It is a good business venture for everyone. We
hope it brings business to Chick-fil-A, Rowan University, and the community of Glassboro.
Now I’d like to introduce to you Chick-fil-A’s chief operating officer Dan Cathy.

2. Dan Cathy:
I would like to take the time to thank each and every one of you for being here today before I start.
Chick-fil-A, Jennifer Smith and the rest of us wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for Glassboro’sMayor
Leo McCabe and Rowan President Dr. Ali Houshmand. [Gesture towards both] Now, let’s give them a
round of applause for accepting Chick-fil-A to join the neighborhood!
It’s an honor and a blessing that I am able to be here with you today. Thank you for celebrating the
opening of the first Chick-fil-a on a college campus in the state of New Jersey. I will not take too long
because I know it’s hot outside and we can already smell the chicken cooking.
Eat MorChikin! [Laugh] I remember my father telling me when I was a little boy that I would
someday grow up and take over the family business. My whole childhood my father reminded me of what a
true “steward of all that is entrusted” is responsible for. I am here today because of my father. It is my duty,
as it once was my father’s, to provide you with exceptional food and customer service while staying the
course of Chick-fil-A’s values.
Show by a raise of hands how many of you know that Chick-fil-A and Rowan share some similar
values. Wonderful! For those who don’t know [pause] I’d like to tell you about these values.
Let me start with stating the obvious one first. Education is important to Rowan. But did you know
that education is very important to Chick-fil-A?
Chick-fil-A donates millions of dollars to programs that help children gain useful skills for life in
the real world. We recently just partnered with Junior Achievements Chick-fil-A Foundation Discovery
Center. This center is located outside of Atlanta and has proven extremely beneficial to the thirty thousand
middle school students enrolled. The foundation is a literary program that offers students the opportunity to
learn more than just the required school curriculum. Chick-fil-A is dedicated to helping children of all ages.

3. Chick-fil-A also offers a one-thousand dollar S. Truett Cathy Scholar Award to twenty five
outstanding employees ANNUALLY! The winning employees must be nominated for displaying
outstanding leadership qualities and great work ethic. The best part about the scholarship is that you get to
CHOOSE what school you want to use the money towards.
I cannot stress enough the importance of education. As a college community [Pause] I hope you
know and understand what I mean. The world has so much more to offer to those who receive an education
and Chick-fil-A understands that.
I love gardening. And gardening is like education. The more you learn about any subject, the more
you find out just how much you don’t know.
Which brings me to a second value shared between Rowan University and Chick-fil-A. The
environment.
Only 38 restaurants in the United States are Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
certified. Chick-fil-A is one of those L-E-E-D certified restaurants. Chick-fil-A is dedicated to
demonstrating our commitment to the environment and the communities that we operate in.
Your Chick-fil-A has many eco-friendly features similar to our Chick-fil-A in Texas!
That is why our restaurant in the Montgomery Plaza of Forth Worth, Texas was built. You have to
research and experiment before you can move forward. Our eco-friendly restaurant has proven immensely
beneficial to our research on how to reduce our carbon footprint. A few features that are also implemented
here helped us achieve sustainability were:
Water Usage - The restaurant utilizes low-flow fixtures in both the restrooms and the kitchen. An
underground cistern (the size of a swimming pool) collects rainwater for landscape irrigation. As a
result, the restaurant uses 40 percent less water when compared to a typical Chick-fil-A Restaurant.

4. Energy Efficiency - The restaurant features skylights in the dining area and windows in the kitchen,
as well as the installation of energy efficient appliances. As a result, the Chick-fil-A uses 14 percent
less energy than industry standards.
Air Quality - Materials used in construction at Montgomery Plaza were specially selected because
they do not emit harmful gasses. As a result, this restaurant has 30 percent more fresh air than a
typical building.
Diverting Waste - 20 percent of the building material budget for Chick-fil-A at Montgomery Plaza
was spent on products with recycled content. In addition, more than 50 percent of construction
waste was diverted from the landfill. All cardboard and foam cups used in the everyday operations
of the restaurant are being recycled.
We have made outstanding progress with our research and it does make a difference. Our new Chick-
fil-A serves a great purpose. We decided we would only build eco-friendly Chick-fil-A’s ever since our L-
E-E-D certified Chick-fil-A showed outstanding results.
Rowan University is the first for many different things involving Chick-fil-A today. As is
Glassboro.Rowan University is more than just the first campus with a Chick-fil-A in New Jersey. Rowan
University and Glassboro are home to the first eco-friendly Chick-fil-A on the East Coast. Hopefully
within the next year this Chick-fil-A will be the first L-E-E-D certified Chick-fil-A on the East Coast.
How many of you recycle?
How many of you want to keep your planet green?
How many of you love chicken?
Now we have three more things in common! [Laugh]

5. I love this. The nice weather. Looking at all of your young faces. Most of all [Pause] I lovethe
opportunity I have had to personally let you know that Chick-fil-A is here to serve you, your community
and the environment.
Education and love for the environment are only two things that Chick-fil-A has in common with
Rowan University. We share more than that now. Now [pause] we are a family. [3 second pause]
Once again I would like to thank everyone for coming out to celebrate the grand opening of our first
Chick-fil-A on a New Jersey college campus. Thank you. [Smile]