STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. The Roosevelt Board, who owns and runs Chick-fil-A Staten Island Mall, is a shining example of Staten Island’s entrepreneurial energy and civic leadership.
Board was born in South Carolina into a U.S. Army family and moved around the country a lot as a child, living in New York, Colorado, South Carolina, and Georgia. After a while, Board went back to South Carolina to study marketing at Coastal Carolina University, where he also looked into a number of advertising internships with well-known organizations including NASCAR and Southwest Airlines.
Board started working at Chick-fil-A as the general manager of the Murrells Inlet location on the South Carolina coast after graduating from Coastal Carolina University.
Board became a Grand Opening Supervisor at Chick-fil-A after overseeing the Murrells Inlet restaurant for a number of years. In his capacity as Grand Opening Supervisor, Board helped operators realize their ideas, hired and trained new employees, and made sure every store adhered to Chick-fil-A standards in order to get new locations ready to open. For three years, Board oversaw the grand opening of numerous Chick-fil-A locations around the nation.
Board had acquired over six years of experience as an operator and manager when he was given the chance to operate his own Chick-fil-A in New York City. Board seized the opportunity to relocate his family to the coast, thrilled at the idea of establishing roots. Board built the first and only Chick-fil-A on Staten Island in the Staten Island Mall when he was just 27 years old. The Staten Island population, which had previously gone to New Jersey simply to sample Chick-fil-A sauce, was instantly drawn to the recently remodeled dining area where Chick-fil-A was located.
Board has always been surrounded by business, even before he spent his twenties working his way up the Chick-fil-A ranks. According to Board, my aunt attended Cornell for business, and my mother started a clothes store. My grandfather established a tailor shop in Brooklyn that remains open today after coming here from Jamaica. I have an entrepreneurial family.
I always wanted to be in the restaurant industry growing up because I was inspired by my mom, my aunt, and my grandma, who were the best cooks that I ve ever known, says Board. Food was how I experienced their love, and I hoped to one day be able to do the same for others. This dream began when I was seven years old.
The mall location is now well-rooted, and Board s responsibilities have shifted from creating solid foundations to casting a vision toward the future. Board handles every one of the staff s final interviews and envisions himself as a catalyst for growth within his ever-growing and transforming team, which he credits with constantly fulfilling Chick-fil-A s mission.
My mission statement is to develop a team of people that dream, achieve, and succeed while being a pillar of support for a community that relies in our existence as much as we rely upon them, says Board. Of course, I m shuffling fries every once-in-a-while, but where I m able to make a true difference is when I can develop people. My team feels comfortable coming to me to help them build out their dreams, and that brings me so much joy.
Upon opening on Staten Island, Board immediately joined the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce. Shortly after, he became actively involved in the Chamber s Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!), an innovative after-school program that helps high school students launch their own businesses. Board has become one of the program s fiercest advocates and strongest contributors, acting as a mentor, guest speaker, sponsor, and even a field trip host.
Board s passion lies in his ability to create leaders, motivate change, and make a meaningful impact on his community. In addition to empowering his staff members, Board also participates in the Chick-fil-A Leader Academy, a national high school leadership program that focuses on impact through action. Chick-fil-A Staten Island currently partners with Gateway Academy and Pathways to Graduation.
For his accomplishments, Roosevelt Board is being honored with a Louis R. Miller Business Leadership Award, which he will receive in the Established Businessperson category. The awards, which are presented by the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce and the Staten Island Advance, honor the memory of Louis R. Miller, a businessman and West Brighton resident who was also a community leader.
Although often known as The Chicken Guy, Board is so much more than the franchise that he built his business on. Board also uses the Chick-fil-A platform to benefit local causes that are near to his heart. In the years since the restaurant opened, Board has overseen events, donations, and outreach efforts for causes including homelessness and food insecurity, and he has supported charities and nonprofits like the American Cancer Society, The Theodore Atlas Foundation, and IlluminArt Productions.
Board, and his team at Chick-fil-A, do their best to embrace the concept of leading with real change. In addition to donating countless sandwiches since the restaurant s inception, Board also participates in community activations throughout Staten Island, including partnerships with organizations like City Harvest. Board is also dedicated to visiting schools across Staten Island to share his story with aspiring entrepreneurs, forming lasting connections with students throughout the borough.
Chick-fil-A allows me to accomplish so much more than just what little Roosevelt Board would be able to do on my own, emphasizes Board. Through the restaurant, we can help so many causes I care about. It s only right to find opportunities to give back and to utilize profit to make a difference in people s lives. I ve been very blessed I m proud to use this platform to be able to bless others.
As he is enjoying his breakfast, Board will greet every guest who enters the dining area with a smile and a good morning. As he is sitting down to complete annual reviews, he will take over the counter and serve chicken while his team handles a large order. Before you can say thank you, he will offer to re-fill your iced tea. Board has created an environment in which his team not only works for Chick-fil-A, but also thrives with Chick-fil-A, using the national platform in a way that motivates and inspires younger generations for years to come.
Being a community leader allows me the opportunity to give people hope that there are people who care about you and there are people who want to see you be successful, stresses Board. That s the part of the job that I get the most pride out of; being a Chick-fil-A owner and operator allows me to make an impact on this community. There are so many other people on Staten Island doing the exact same thing, and I m thankful for the synergy that we have with those organizations that are lacking the resources that we can provide. Influence and Impact is how I ll measure success when it s all said and done.
Questionnaire:
Current occupation and title:Quick-service Restaurant Franchise Owner
Hometown:Army Kid, but lived in Myrtle Beach, SC the most
Past occupations and titles:(please also attach resume or CV): Grand Opening Supervisor/Interim Manager for Chick-fil-A Inc.
Community involvement:The Atlas Theodore Foundation, Staten Island Chamber of Commerce
SNY: Grant Presentation, Pathway to Graduation; Harlem Globetrotters, Grant Presentation, NCFCA Speech and Debate; MyBrothersKeeper, International Christian Center, Boy Scouts of America, Port Richmond High School, Beautiful Heartbeats Inc., Gateway Academy, Urban Hope Non Profit, STEM Educational Institute, Illumniart, City Harvest, Concord High School, CP Unlimited
Some of my life goals include:
Go to all Tennis Grand Slams
Live in Japan for 3-6months
The best part of my job:Engaging with and supporting my team and my community
The most difficult part of my job:Firing people
My life philosophy:Stay hungry and stay humble
I am most proud of:Being a dad
Something that no one knows about me:My love for music and art
The quality I like best about myself:Loyalty and committed to causes I believe in
Personal interests and hobbies:Playing tennis, listening to new music, attending
concerts, Japanese samurais, and learning random knowledge
I laugh at:Seinfeld and dark humor
I am really good at:Developing leaders and assessing business opportunities
I admire:People who are disciplined
Some important things I would like you to know about me:I love people and having genuine, authentic relationships
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