LJ Yankosky

chick-fil-a

sr. director, innovation & new ventures

L. J. has the privilege of working within Innovation & New Ventures for Chick-fil-A, Inc., a family-owned quick-service restaurant chain with over 2,400 locations in 46 states and 2018 system-wide sales of over $10 billion.  L. J. currently oversees a team whose goal is to help Chick-fil-A be more convenient to customers through new and innovative efforts supporting emerging societal and technological trends.  Included in his team’s work are efforts around on-demand delivery, new mobile restaurant concepts such as food trucks, shipping containers restaurants & delivery focused locations, catering and meal solutions. In his previous role, L. J. led teams responsible for partnerships with the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl,  Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game, College Football Playoff, Chick-fil-A Leader Academy high school leadership program and the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame.  His team developed the brand’s mobile kitchen/food vehicle program serving people across the country at large-scale events and in support of disaster relief efforts. L. J. graduated from Georgia Tech with a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial & Systems Engineering.  He performed research under a NASA research grant for his Master’s degree at Georgia Tech also in Industrial & Systems Engineering.  He was a successful entrepreneur at age six running a profitable lemonade stand in his neighborhood with his best friend as a business partner.  He enjoys spending time with his wife, Leslie, 7-year-old son, Brooks, and 4-year-old son, Chase.  He loves coaching his sons’ soccer, baseball and basketball teams, is an avid tennis enthusiast and former professional baseball player.