Some Dreams Never Die
I am a Chick-fil-A LDP participant currently serving a Grand Opening assignment in Albany, New York. Over the past year I have completed two full assignment cycles, promoted five leaders to director-level roles, and been described by my Transition Lead Walt Anderson as performing ahead of expectations with transformational relational leadership. I applied to this program three times. The first two rejections taught me what I needed to learn. The third acceptance taught me that God-sized dreams come on God's timeline.
My childhood was shaped by transitions. Toronto to Newport News, Virginia at 11, where I experienced for the first time what it felt like to be a minority and learned to love people who did not look like me. Newport News to Cumberland, Maryland at 13, a small Appalachian city of 18,000 where I found faith, belonging, and lifelong friendships through my church youth group. I graduated with honors from Calvary Christian Academy, competed in national Fine Arts competitions, and earned a Bachelor of Science from Liberty University Cum Laude while working full-time. Every chapter stripped away comfort and replaced it with conviction.
At 18, I fell in love with hospitality as a valet attendant at Rocky Gap Casino and Resort. Over six years I rose through five roles to Hotel Operations Supervisor and Marketing Manager, building systems and developing leaders the entire way. Josh James, Angelina Bloom, Jacob Santameyer, and Brandon Stotler all grew under my mentorship. I did not just work at Rocky Gap for six years. I built people there. But something was missing. When my brother Levi, a former Chick-fil-A Training Director, introduced me to the brand, I found the alignment I had been searching for. I applied externally for LDP and was told no. I left my career, restarted as a kitchen team member at Chick-fil-A Ridgeside Drive, and went all-in.
Ridgeside Drive in Mount Airy, Maryland became my home for over three years. I built our Drive-Thru Playbook from the ground up, helped take the location to the top of Maryland drive-thru rankings, and broke throughput records. More importantly, I developed leaders who carry that operation forward today — Danny Caporotti, Harry Horyat, and Izzy Reyes all grew into director roles under my mentorship, and Danny was just accepted into LDP himself. To play any part in someone else's journey to this program, knowing what it means in my own life, is something I do not take lightly. While I was building at Ridgeside I applied to LDP again, made it to the third round, and was told no a second time. I applied a third time and was finally accepted in March 2025. Some dreams never die. They just take longer than you planned.
LDP has been the hardest and most rewarding chapter of my life. Mall of Louisiana tested whether I could turn numbers in a challenging environment. Altamesa and McCart in Fort Worth tested whether I could hold a team together through chaos — power outages, sewage backups, a leaking ceiling, and a confidential operator transition all in five months. In both assignments I promoted directors, moved the metrics, and was told I was performing ahead of expectations. The full numbers live further down the page. What I want you to take from the story is this: I am now serving as a Grand Opening Supervisor in Albany, learning what it takes to launch a restaurant from day one, and every assignment has prepared me for the calling I have been pursuing my entire life — to become a Chick-fil-A Owner-Operator and stir dreams in the people I lead.
"Performing ahead of expectations. His relational leadership is transformational."
Walt Anderson, LDP Transition Lead
The Roots
My father's parents, the late Henry Christostone Demers and Pauline Rita Demers, created a business that made every client feel heard and seen. My grandmother was a nurse. My grandfather, a Korean War veteran with a heart for entrepreneurship. On the other side, my maternal grandfather David Niel Hawkbaker was a stonemason who worked his entire life with his hands. My grandmother Nancy kept a home where you were family the moment you walked through the door, no matter your history, upbringing, race, or religion. My parents met at Faith School of Theology in Charleston, Maine. My mother grew up in Clear Spring, Maryland. My father grew up in Manchester and Bedford, New Hampshire. They fell in love, moved to Toronto, and built a life around serving others.
Toronto
My brother Levi and I were raised near downtown Toronto in one of the most diverse cities in the world. My father was an addictions counselor with the Salvation Army. Our dinner table welcomed people from every walk of life. He saw beyond the addictions, past the mistakes, and saw people for who they truly were. For who they wanted to become. Every Sunday we loaded vans of equipment and food, drove to a community center, and served hot lunches. Every Christmas we collected donations through the Christmas Kettle program. While other kids followed Lego instructions, I threw them away and built hotels and businesses. My parents enrolled me in a Discover Ability program where I uncovered my passion for art and creativity, passions I have leaned into ever since.
Newport News & Cumberland
At 11, my family moved to Newport News, Virginia for my father's chaplaincy program. I can vividly remember lying in our empty 12th-story apartment the night before we left, realizing I was leaving everything behind. We moved into a small apartment in Monarch Crossing. We did not have a car. Walking 2.5 miles to Walmart became routine. Our church was an all-African-American congregation where my family was the only Caucasian family. There were moments I sat alone at youth group. It taught me what it feels like to be unseen, and it made me determined to never let anyone I lead feel that way. Two years later we moved to Cumberland for my father's chaplaincy at a maximum-security prison. It was there I found Central Assembly of God, a church where I felt genuine belonging for the first time. My faith became personal. I attended Calvary Christian Academy, played basketball, competed in Fine Arts through photography and videography, won the Voice of Democracy writing competition, and graduated with honors.
Rocky Gap & the Pivot
At 18 I started as a valet attendant at Rocky Gap Casino and Resort and spent six years rising through five roles. I developed Josh James, who became Hotel Operations Supervisor and led through a complex COVID reopening. Angelina Bloom became my strongest supervisor. Jacob Santameyer and Brandon Stotler grew into supervisors under my leadership. I did not just work at Rocky Gap for six years. I built people there. But a disconnect with the company's values led me to Chick-fil-A. Each LDP rejection taught me something I needed to learn. The first taught me humility. The second taught me patience. The acceptance taught me that God-sized dreams come on God's timeline, not mine.
Who I Am Today
I am a strong D on DiSC and an Enneagram 1. I love photography, 35mm film, writing, pickleball, and putting myself in unfamiliar territory. I have been solo skydiving seven times and hope to get certified after the program. My favorite movie is Interstellar. My favorite show is The Office. I love good cinematography and good comedy in equal measure. My name means joy and laughter, and I try to live up to it every day. I read books on faith, business, and leadership. I travel with a camera. I dream big. My father always told my brother and me, "Dream big, and may your dreams come true." That has become a way of life for me, and it is what I want to instill in everyone I lead.
Three-Time Applicant
Applied to LDP three times. Each rejection refined my readiness. Some dreams never die. They just take longer than you planned.
Legacy
Henry and Pauline Demers built two nursing homes from the ground up in New Hampshire. David and Nancy Hawkbaker kept a kitchen table where strangers became family. Manchester is my top market priority because the business case and the personal meaning are inseparable — I intend to build something worthy of that legacy.
People I have developed
Danny Caporotti grew into Assistant Director of BOH and was accepted into LDP. Harry Horyat led Ridgeside Drive to the number one drive-thru ranking in Maryland after I left. Hayleigh Bozant was promoted to Executive Director at Mall of Louisiana. Tonia Coulston was promoted to FOH Executive Director at Altamesa.
Personal Vision
Stirring dreams in others. Helping every person I lead discover what they are capable of and equipping them to get there.
Core Convictions
Faith. Family. Creativity. Growth. Excellence. Do hard things. Dream big. Show up as your best.
