MC grad’s journey leads to a career in fast-food industryJuly 06, 2021

“You hear the saying it’s never too late to go back to school,” Justin McConnell said.  “As cheesy as that sounds, it’s true.  When you get the chance, don’t miss the opportunity—whether it’s changing a job, traveling, going to see grandparents or going back to school after eight years, like I did.  It’s important to define those moments and make the most of them.”

McConnell has certainly taken his own advice.  After a roller coaster career of six-years in the oilfield industry, a two-year experience volunteering at an inner-city mission in Arlington, TX and a divorce, McConnell said he decided to “re-roll the dice” during a solo camping trip in Big Bend National Park in February 2017.

“After ending my marriage, I felt that I was back at ‘Square 1,’” McConnell explained.  “On that camping trip, I had time to get to know myself a little better.  During one of my hikes, I decided to choose a direction for my life.  On the hike back to my campsite, I left all the weights and worries of life behind me on the trail.  When I got back to my tent, it was the signal to a fresh start.”  

McConnell is an operations director for the Chick-fil-A on Midland Drive and Loop 250 in Midland.  He began working at Chick-fil-A in December 2017, only ten months after his fateful camping trip.  However, his journey to this point in his life began long before this monumental change.

“I graduated from Lee High School in 2006, and that fall I started taking classes at Midland College,” McConnell said.  “I had decided that I wanted to learn a skill, so I took welding classes.  I was hired as a welder by a mudlogging company, and I continued to take classes and work full time.  I graduated with an Associate of Applied Science degree in 2009.  During a ‘bust’ in the energy industry, I was laid off, so I decided to drag my feet until I was able to come back. Two years later my heart was softened, and that’s when I went into mission work.”

McConnell said as a child, he was very active in his church.  Volunteering and serving others were always important to him. Committing to the decision to leave his welding job, he decided to devote his time to mission work and moved to Arlington, TX.   He volunteered for almost two years for Mission Arlington, a faith-based organization providing services such as emergency housing, furniture, housewares, clothing, food, healthcare and children and youth programming.

“It was really one of the coolest things I ever did!” McConnell exclaimed.  “Mission Arlington specializes in taking care of people.  It’s one thing to tell somebody that you are praying for them; prayer is always good, but I felt like I was truly helping humankind when I was able to discover specific needs and assist people with those needs.  I am so blessed and thankful for the opportunity to have had this experience.  It really taught me grace and humility.”

McConnell moved back to Midland and worked for about six months at Goodwill, where he could put to use some of the training he had received at Mission Arlington.  Then, the former mudlogging company where he had worked as a welder offered him the job as shop foreman.  

“That’s when the rollercoaster ride of oil and gas booms and busts, hiring and layoffs, started all over for me,” McConnell said.  “I got laid off again and decided that an oilfield career just wasn’t working for me.”

McConnell then accepted a job at Tea2Go, which later became Cabin Creek Coffee and Tea.  After 11 months, he was promoted to manager.  It was during this time that McConnell realized he had a knack for business.  He also enjoyed talking to people and found that he excelled at the customer service aspect of managing a business. 

“I knew that if I was going to make business my career, I needed a business degree, so I enrolled again at Midland College in fall 2016,” he said.  “That October, Chick-fil-A recruiters visited Midland College, and I stopped by their table during a class break.  It just so happened that Andy Slatken, the franchise operator of the Midland Drive and Loop 250 location, was there at the same time.  To my surprise, he knew me.  He said he had been to the tea shop a few times, and he knew I was someone worth watching.  I guess I made a good impression because Andy hired me as a Chick-fil-A team member.  I started working there in December 2017.”

McConnell said that working at an internationally recognized fast food chain was a new venture for him.  

“Even though I had about 10 years of management and leadership experience, Andy insisted that I start as a team member, just like the teenagers,” McConnell explained.  “I’m glad I did.  It helped me experience the full aspect of being a member of the Chick-fil-A team.  Now that I’m supervising team members, I understand their role better because I was once in their shoes.  I was promoted to the evening operations director a little over a year ago, and Andy has mentored me in developing my own leadership style.  I enjoy helping the young team members explore their strengths.  For many of them, it’s their first foray into the workforce.  It’s my job to help them develop a work ethic and social skills.  It’s a privilege to be the facilitator and shepherd of a new generation by helping my team members grow.”

In 2019, McConnell graduated from MC with his second associate degree and transferred to the University of Texas Permian Basin where he is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Business Marketing.  He said that he will finish his degree in May 2022.  

In his spare time, he enjoys camping and spending time with his dog, a lab/pit-bull mix named Luna.  He is also close to his family.  His parents live in Midland—his father is a retired U.S. Army recruiter who now is a manager at Staples and his mother is a pre-kindergarten teacher at Crestview Baptist Church Preschool.  His sister is married and lives in Kansas.

“Three years ago, I never would have dreamed that I would be an operations director for a fast food retail chain,” McConnell said.  “I wholeheartedly strive to embrace Chick-fil-A’s corporate purpose:  ‘To glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us. To have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A.’ I try to live by that vision every day and in every aspect of my life.

“The last couple of years have been an awesome journey!  I set goals for myself and then live my life one day at a time.  Being a Disney fan, my favorite quote is from the Disney World Carousel of Progress ride:  ‘There’s always a great big beautiful tomorrow shining at the end of every day.’”