Staffing

How a first-time or part-time job can develop into a career path

Kristi Comstock began her career at Lee's as a cashier. She's now a regional franchise director. Provided.

September 16, 2022 by Dana Berry — PR Lead, Stone Ward for Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken

Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken, known for its delicious fresh, never frozen fried chicken and homestyle sides, has been a staple at many dinner tables for more than five decades. With 131 franchised and corporate locations across the U.S. and Canada, Lee's has successfully defined career paths for many by creating a culture where employees from entry-level positions have full agency to rise to the highest possible levels within the company. Since first opening its doors more than 50 years ago, the company has held the core value of hiring and developing talented employees, helping them attain key training and education.

David Adkins and Kristi Comstock are two Lee's employees who both began their careers at entry level positions within the franchise; but through hard work, perseverance and lots of training, both Adkins and Comstock now work for Lee's at the corporate level. What is even more interesting about each of these stories is how Adkins and Comstock were able to follow their own unique interests and talents – Adkins by rising and excelling through his hands-on experience, and Comstock by following a slightly different track and achieving numerous certifications, her bachelor's degree and soon a Master of Business Administration.

Adkins and Comstock both began their career paths with Lee's years ago and neither expected it would turn into a lifelong career.

"I was just 15 years old in 1985 when I started working for Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken in Xenia, Ohio," Adkins explained. "I was a cook and I worked in the kitchen for seven years. After that, I became an assistant manager, later the store manager, then training manager and a supervisor. For a while, I had some other projects, but I always stayed part-time with Lee's." When Adkins' former boss, Bill Sparks, came back to the company, Sparks convinced Adkins to come back full-time, and he started working for the Lee's corporate office in 2014.

David Adkins began working at Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken at the age of 15. He's now a regional franchise director. Provided.

For Comstock, her career with Lee's started in 2009. "I took a part-time job as a cashier in my hometown of Piqua, Ohio," Comstock said. Before taking the cashier's position, Comstock had been a stay-at-home mom. For three years she worked hard and in 2012, Comstock was asked to move to another nearby location and become the assistant manager.

"When the store's general manager decided to leave, I started running that store," she said. "After that, I took on a few different management roles, but then the position in Lee's corporate office opened up and I started in 2019. I had just finished my bachelor's degree, so it was perfect."

While working for Lee's and taking on additional leadership roles, Comstock decided to go back to school.

"While working, I first received my Certificate of Business Management, then my Associates of Applied Business, my bachelor's degree and soon I will graduate with my MBA from the University of Northwestern Ohio," Comstock said.

Today, both Adkins and Comstock work as regional franchise directors. They collaborate to train owners and employees for optimal success at the various Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken locations. They each have a wide territory, encompassing around 70 stores.

"We do inspections, help with various trainings, and we help to get the new stores ready," Adkins said. "As the liaison between corporate and the stores, we understand where the owners are coming from because we have been there ourselves."

With such a large platform inside the Lee's brand, Adkins and Comstock genuinely enjoy their ability to encourage and connect with other Lee's employees. They both work to develop their trainees achieve their fullest potential.

"There is a culture of development when you start with Lee's," Adkins added. "Across the franchise, stores have a great reputation for developing their employees and promoting their own people," Comstock adds. "Lee's has an excellent team member training program. You can progress as far as you want. You just have to be willing to work hard and learn."