Roosevelt Board, Chick-fil-A, Staten Island Mall
By Dominic Provenzano, Staten Island Chamber of Commerce
Roosevelt Board, Owner of Staten Island Mall’s Chick-fil-A, is a pillar of the Staten Island business community.
Board has been surrounded by business his entire life. “My mother opened a clothing boutique, and my aunt went to Cornell for business. When my grandfather came here from Jamaica, he opened a Brooklyn tailor shop that is still open to this day,” reminisces Board. “Being in business has always just been something that I’ve known I wanted to do.”
Initially, Board thought that a career in advertising would scratch his entrepreneurial itch, but he felt that he was missing key guidance and a surrounding community. “I always wanted a mentor,” says Board. “My friends would be like, ‘My mentor said this, my mentor said that.’ I never truly had someone that was my mentor, so I had to figure stuff out on my own.”
Following several advertising internships with high-profile companies, including Southwest Airlines and NASCAR, Board was feeling unfulfilled. “My life didn’t go as planned. I didn’t want to have to move back in with mom, so I looked elsewhere,” recalls Board. “I had two offers on the table, one of them being Chick-fil-A.”
It wasn’t the food, the milkshakes, or even their signature sauce that drew Board in, however. “I immediately felt like it was the right place for me,” emphasizes Board. “It wasn’t just about selling a product; it was more about people, and mentoring – a true passion of mine.”
Board began as a Front of House Director at a Myrtle Beach location. 13 years later, Board is now the Franchise Owner and Operator of Staten Island’s only Chick-fil-A restaurant. Opened in 2018, the mall-based location is now well-rooted; and Board’s responsibilities have shifted from creating solid foundations to casting a vision toward the future. Board handles every one of the team’s final interviews and envisions himself as a catalyst for growth within his ever growing and transforming team.
“My mission statement is to develop a team of people that dream, achieve, and succeed, while being a pillar of support for a community that relies in our existence as much as we rely upon them,” says Board. “Of course, I’m shuffling fries every once-in-a-while. But where I’m able to make a true difference is when I can develop people.”
Upon opening,, Board immediately joined the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce. Shortly after, Roosevelt became actively involved in the Chamber’s Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!), a program that helps high school students develop their own business plans. Board has become one of the programs fiercest advocates and strongest supporters, acting as a mentor, guest speaker, and even a field trip host.
“I think that as I’ve grown as a business owner and had my own experiences, I’m now helping these kids avoid some of the potholes that I avoided or that I went through as a business owner,” says Board.
Board also uses the Chick-fil-A platform to benefit local causes that are near to his heart. In the years since the restaurant opened, Board has overseen events, donations, and outreach efforts on causes including homelessness and food insecurity and has benefited charities and nonprofits like the American Cancer Society, The Theodore Atlas Foundation, and IlluminArt Productions.
“Chick-fil-A allows me to accomplish so much more than just what ‘little Roosevelt Board’ would be able to do on my own,” emphasizes Board. “Through the restaurant, we can help so many causes I care about. It’s only right to find opportunities to give back and to utilize profit to make a difference in people’s lives. I’ve been very blessed – I’m proud to use this platform to be able to bless others.”