While most millennials are watching their paychecks disappear faster than Kanye’s credibility, one 26-year-old became the youngest Chick-fil-A franchise owner in history.
Ashley Lamothe began working at an Atlanta Chick-fil-A restaurant at age 15. Although it started as a side gig, she eventually got promoted to be a director on the leadership team while she attended Spelman College, reported The Chicken Wire.
“At the time, I thought it was just a great job to have while pursuing my degree in theater,” Lamothe told The Chicken Wire.
One day at the job, an operator pulled her Lamothe to have a conversation about long-term ambitions. During the talk, the operator recommendedLamothe pursue a career in leadership.
“I’d never considered it. Sometimes you just need someone to help you see your potential,” Lamothe said.
This inspired Lamothe to change her major to economics and begin the pursuit of owning her own Chick-fil-A restaurant.
Five years after graduating college, Lamothe transferred to California and opened her first Chick-fil-A restaurant across the street from the University of Southern California. Now, she’s preparing to open a second location in Los Angeles.
“I want to help them get to where they want to go, whether it’s a career with Chick-fil-A, or studying law or medicine, or anything. I want to help them make that next step, just like so many have done for me,” Lamothe said.
Recently, Lamothe was awarded the company’s Symbol of Success, an honor reserved for Chick-fil-A Operators whose businesses experience particularly high sales growth.
“It’s humbling to be honored. But I feel like I’m just getting started,” says Lamothe.
