Jamie Griffin

Two years ago Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers operated 28 locations, many in Louisiana. Last fall the Baton Rouge chain opened its 67th store nationwide. “We could grow faster if we wanted to, but [this strategy] is the right thing to do,” says Jamie Griffin, whose job is selling Raising Cane’s franchises. “We’re very thoughtful about it because supporting the wrong franchisee takes all of our resources off the table.”

Griffin advises owner Todd Graves on who will be the best ambassadors for the Raising Cane’s brand. Oh, and he is only 26. “It’s a bunch of phone calls, really, which I don’t mind,” he says with nonchalance.

While studying management at LSU, Griffin worked part-time as an office assistant, but climbed to office manager. Graves liked Griffin’s work ethic so much he offered a deal: Stay with the company in exchange for a full-time salary plus financial aid to finish up at LSU.

Business development manager, Raising Cane’s; president, Forum 35

Hometown: Houma

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Griffin accepted, but with the caveat that his schedule be flexible enough to allow time to further develop his community involvement.

And involved he has been, pitching in with everything, from Forum 35’s (re)Inventing Red Stick series and the annual Reindeer Run, to the Autonomous School Network. This month Griffin begins his term as president of the nonprofit service organization.

“Every person in this community needs to be engaged in education,” Griffin says. “We’re never going to get it exactly right, but this idea that we’re just going to make incremental increases, I just think we need to have some leap frog things. This is why I like the Autonomous School project. It’s a chance to really make a change.”

“He’s a powerhouse. I don’t know where we’d be without Jamie. When he gets behind something, he can get out 500 e-mails and calls, and before you know it, things are happening.” —Heather Day, past president, Forum 35