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Head: Chick-fil-A owner striving to make a difference

By Judd Workman

The Logan Chick-fil-A recently celebrated its sixth year of being in business, and the owner has high hopes for the road ahead.

Cory Goettsche, the owner and operator of the local Chick-fil-A, began working for Chick-fil-A at the age of 14 in Denver, Colorado.

“I always wanted to own my own business,” Goettsche said. “I knew at a young age that the Chick-fil-A business model was something I was excited about. I love the brand and what it stands for.”

After receiving a business degree from the University of Louisville, Goettsche moved back to Denver to continue working for Chick-fil-A as he determined his career path.

“I had to ask myself ‘what do I want my lifestyle to be like’ and ‘how flexible do I want my schedule to be,’” Goettsche said. “First of all I wanted to be able to serve in my church callings, I wanted to be able to spend time with my family and I wanted to make a lot of money. Providing for my family and giving back to the community is important to me.”

Goettsche was later given the position as a general manager in the Chick-fil-A corporate office. As his ultimate goal was not to work in the corporate office for the rest of his life, Goettsche said he was waiting for the right opportunity to present itself— the opportunity to become a franchise owner.

“I determined I wanted to be in business for myself but not by myself,” Goettsche said. “Chick-fil-A was able to provide that for me and the lifestyle I always wanted came along with it.”

As Goettsche moved his family to Cache Valley to become a store owner, it wasn’t without some unexpected difficulty.

Goettsche said the turnover rate that comes with hiring college students can sometimes take its toll.

“Just this last month we hired 12 new people and we’re focusing on getting them trained. Then when those people move on we’re back to training a whole new group,” Goettsche said. “But it’s part of the job. I don’t want people to be here their wholes lives. It’s just the reality of what we can and can’t pay our employees. I want them to get some experience, have fun here and hopefully that will catapult them into their careers.”

Next year Goettsche has a goal of winning the Symbol of Success award, the highest award that Chick-fil-A offers. This is achieved by increasing sales from the previous year by 18 percent.

“Also a long-term goal of mine is to be able to pay an employee $100,000 a year,” Goettsche said. “Our sales would have to justify it and I don’t know when it will happen, but it’s a hope of mine.” 

Maria Funtes, a team member at Chick-fil-A, has enjoyed working with Goettsche during her two months of employment.

“He takes care of us,” Funtes said. “Whenever he sees me he asks how I’m doing and how I feel about the job.”

“He really gets to know us,” said Megan Wilson, another team member at Chick-fil-A. “He asks us about our lives and is genuinely interested in his employees.”

“Chick-fil-A is very open about the fact that they are a business based on Christian principles, and it’s all to protect the brand,” Goettsche said. “The corporate purpose of Chick-fil-A is to create a positive impact on everyone who comes in contact with its stores.”