Where Are They Now: From Serving Guests to Entertaining Millions with the Savannah Bananas

Tucker Brooks, Director of People and Culture for the Savannah Bananas, credits his time as a 15-year-old Chick-fil-A Team Member for providing the “training ground” for his life and career

What does a Chick-fil-A^® restaurant in Charlotte, North Carolina, have in common with a world-famous baseball team from Savannah, Georgia? For Tucker Brooks, the answer is an unwavering commitment to a “people-first” culture. 

Today, Tucker serves as the Director of People and Culture Development for Fans First Entertainment, the creative force behind the world-famous Savannah Bananas. While he now helps develop leaders and scales culture across a fast-growing organization of entertainers, athletes, and front office professionals, his journey began as a 15-year-old Team Member at Chick-fil-A Blakeney. 

The Spark of Impact
“I have one really, really vivid memory,” Tucker recalls. “Two nights before the grand opening, we were all invited into a banquet hall. What vividly stuck out to me was this charge from our leaders—this reframing that this is more than just a job. This is an opportunity to grow, develop, and leave an impact.” 

Barry McAllister, Owner-Operator of Chick-fil-A Blakeney, reflects on his experience working with Tucker. “Tucker was thirsty for knowledge. He wanted to develop himself, grow within the company and he did what was required. He was just a great team member and a great team leader. People looked up to him and followed his lead.”

That early lesson in servant leadership – the idea that an effective leader serves the people they work with – became the cornerstone of Tucker’s professional philosophy. 

From “My Pleasure” to “Fans First”
That foundational lesson in service and culture guided him to the Savannah Bananas, an organization whose mission is to be “Fans First and Entertain Always.”  

In Tucker’s current role, he is tasked with scaling culture, ensuring that every new employee, from players to seasonal staff, understands the “Fans First” way. It’s a challenge he feels uniquely prepared for, thanks to his first job. 

“Looking back, my first job at Chick-fil-A was really a training ground for my life – both as a professional and a person,” says Tucker. “It was an opportunity to learn what genuine service looked like, and those are tools you take with you for the rest of your life.”

“Looking back, my first job at Chick-fil-A was really a training ground for my life – both as a professional and a person.”

Tucker Brooks, Director of People and Culture Development, Savannah Bananas

The parallels between the two organizations were immediately clear to him: Just as Chick-fil-A empowers its Team Members, the Bananas organization is built on principles that empower its staff to create the best possible fan experience. 

From including all-you-can-eat food with a ticket to creating a senior citizen cheerleading team called the “Banana Nanas,” the organization constantly asks, “Whatever’s normal, do the exact opposite.”  

This philosophy, combined with a deep-seated commitment to its people, has led to explosive growth, from 15 full-time employees when Tucker joined in 2021 to 180 year-round teammates in the front office alone, with ticket sales growing from 80,000 to a projected 3.4 million. 

“I remember that at Chick-fil-A, they didn’t just say, ‘This is the language we use.’ They explained the power of positive language,” says Tucker. “Sometimes there’s just this intangible feeling people have when they leave, where they feel like they were cared about.” 

Advice for the Next Generation
As the Bananas project a reach of 3.4 million fans in 2026, Tucker looks back at his first job as the ultimate preparation. 

“My advice to anyone considering a job at Chick-fil-A is to understand it really can be more than just a job,” Tucker shares. “It can be an experience to acquire tools you take with you for the rest of your life.”