Values driven leader, business owner, communicator and investor

Jay leads a dynamic and growing business as a multi-restaurant owner of Chick-fil-A Waynesboro and Chick-fil-A Staunton. His business and team influence over 1,000,000 people a year, garnering a Small Business of the Year award in 2013. After becoming one of the youngest owner-operators in Chick-fil-A history, Jay now serves as a Chick-fil-A owner-operator coach for Chick-fil-A Inc and thought leader on performance management, culture creation, and leadership development.

As a seasoned investor in real estate, self storage, and middle market business, Jay has enjoyed creating “win together” opportunities for investors, business owners, and communities throughout the country.

As an author, in Jay’s first book “The Pando Principle”, he has crafted a discerning and imaginative tale about connecting a person’s unique value to the work he or she performs every day. Inspired by his success as a speaker, entrepreneur, and small business owner, Jay’s deep and profound stories take his readers on a thoughtful journey they’ll never forget. Jay has had the privilege of sharing this message on stages and workshops around the world.

Jay is an emerging speaker and thought leader on personal growth, leadership, and business. He has had the honor of communicating with thousands of leaders on four continents. He is a John Maxwell Certified Business Coach and Speaker. Jay is a native of Greenville, S.C. and a graduate of Clemson University, where he served in leadership with Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the largest university FCA in the nation at that time.

As a committed man of faith and family, Jay is the humble husband of his beautiful wife, Katherine, a continually learning father to his children, Caroline, James, Luke, and Jack, and an advocate of lifelong learning and leadership development. As a family the Hawkins’ love to serve and share new experiences together through travel and building new relationships.

Jay’s personal hobbies include almost anything outdoors. Hiking, skiing, and kayaking are among some of his favorites. He is also an avid college football fan and enjoys the consistent challenge of improving his golf game.

Jay constantly strives to live out his vision, “to create opportunities by partnering with leaders that impact and influence the places they serve.” As a developer of leaders, Jay is committed to modeling his core values in the pursuit of his vision.

Jay’s Core Values: – Belief in greatness in myself and those I lead – Passionately “Do my job” – Commitment to my personal best daily – Live with a no excuses attitude – Model and Celebrate “Winning Together” – Communicate an “Attitude of Gratitude”