09/12/2026
When Connie Poole started working at Chick-fil-A five years ago, she figured it would be a stopgap. Instead, she rose through the ranks and is now a Chief Talent Officer based out of Chick-fil-A’s Walnut Avenue location in New Braunfels. A key part of her role is assembling a robust team that upholds Chick-fil-A’s initiative to become “the world’s most caring company.”
The Walnut Avenue team currently includes two employees with disabilities. “We have Miss Andy, who’s been with the company for 26 years,” Poole said. “She’s been here almost as long as our operator, so she’s part of our story. And then one of our training directors came across Zane, who’s been with us for three years.”
Having grown up with a brother with a disability, Poole has a strong understanding of specialized support and accommodations. In June, she reinforced that understanding by attending an Employ 210 neurodiversity workshop.
“My two leaders learned a lot because they’d never been exposed to anything like that,” she said. “And it was eye-opening in my book because when you think of neurodivergent people, you don’t think about the ones who may have a hidden disability.”
Poole’s experience at the workshop was so positive that she asked Employ 210 to customize a training for Chick-fil-A in Universal City. The combined experiences encouraged her to ensure Zane is in the right spot at Chick-fil-A.
“It made me think outside the box,” she said. “So I moved him [from nights] to days to see how well he takes instruction. He said he loved it. He was helping our morning hostess Miss Gigi and she guided him throughout the day. That’s how I want to look at his position. I want to make sure we look at what he can do well, but still challenge him. That’s kind of what we look at here: what are we going to do for you? You’re doing stuff for us, but what can we do for you? That’s why I stay here.”
Reflecting on her experience with Employ 210, Poole concluded, “I think any company could definitely use that kind of training. I think it just makes a more caring workplace. To be honest with you, I think everybody should go through it.”
Funded by U.S. Department of Education, Grant Number H421F240046
