How a military background shaped his commitment to serving others through mentorship, hospitality and heart
Meet Jeremy Stump, the local Owner-Operator of Chick-fil-A Poway Road & Community in Poway, California. From serving his country to serving the community, Jeremy’s time in the military inspired his approach to leading within his Restaurant and beyond.
A Family Legacy of Military Service
Jeremy grew up moving between military bases with his family. His father, Michael, a decorated U.S. Air Force pilot who served for more than 26 years, instilled strong values in him, like leading with humility, empowering others to reach their potential and prioritizing the needs of others—values that continue to guide him today.
Following in his father’s footsteps, Jeremy enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving over two decades with the Navy’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams before retiring as a Master Chief. EOD operators are a highly trained group tasked with detecting, identifying, disarming and disposing of explosive threats—ranging from bombs and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to mines and weapons of mass destruction. During his time on active duty, he grew to admire being part of a tight-knit organization with a sense of purpose: to protect and serve.
“Because my father and both grandfathers were veterans, I always knew I’d serve in the military,” Jeremy said. “My dad told me, ‘You’ll know when it’s time to retire,’ and he was right.”
Embracing a New Opportunity
Deciding to leave the military wasn’t easy, but Jeremy felt the time was right. With both of his sons entering high school, he wanted to spend more time at home during those busy and important years. While he wasn’t immediately sure where his journey would take him next, he knew that being surrounded by good people and having the opportunity to build something of his own were important to him.
During this transition, Jeremy read an eye-opening article about Chick-fil-A, Inc.’s franchising model. He didn’t have any restaurant experience, but the opportunity still resonated deeply. As he researched more about the brand, everything clicked—opening a Chick-fil-A® restaurant wasn’t just a business opportunity—it was a chance to build a legacy and create a lasting impact.
He once felt called to serve his country, and now he felt the same pull to serve his community.
A conversation with his brother’s friend, Allen Arant—local Owner-Operator of Chick-fil-A Austin Peay Highway and Chick-fil-A The Shoppes at Bartlett in Tennessee, helped reassure him that he was on the right path. Hearing firsthand about the impact he could have on his team and community gave him the confidence to make a career change.
“Talking with Allen felt like a full circle moment,” Jeremy said. “I realized that opening a Chick-fil-A restaurant was bigger than running a business—it was about shaping lives, building a strong team and making a positive difference every day.”
Serving the San Diego community
In 2018, the final year of his Navy service, Jeremy began the candidacy process to become a local Chick-fil-A Owner-Operator. In 2019, he was selected as the local Owner-Operator for Chick-fil-A Poway Road & Community, a Restaurant that has proudly served the greater San Diego area for the past five years.
Since becoming a local Owner-Operator, Jeremy has built strong relationships in the community, with a special focus on serving military families. Last year, he partnered with a local YMCA to host a Military Appreciation Night on Veterans Day, where Guests wrote letters of thanks to service members. For every letter written, a bottle of Chick-fil-A® Sauce was donated to support families in need. More than 1,000 chicken sandwiches were also donated during the event.
“I understand firsthand the sacrifices military families make,” Jeremy said. “Whether it’s welcoming service members home from deployment, providing meals to those in need or maintaining partnerships that support the military community as a whole, my team and I are committed to using my Restaurant as a place of service, connection and genuine care.”
