Jim Bitticks spent years watching his boss give generously to the people around him. He says that habit is a big part of how Dave’s Hot Chicken grew.
Jim Bitticks had a crisp $10 bill ready for the valet. Then Bill Phelps handed the man $100.
The parking lot was only about 30 feet away. Retrieving the car had taken less than a minute. Bitticks looked at his own tip and told Phelps he could have at least let him go first.
In January 2026, Bitticks became CEO of Dave’s Hot Chicken, moving up from president and chief operating officer. He succeeded Phelps, who became executive chairman.
Asked what he learned from his predecessor, Bitticks talks about taking care of employees beyond their salaries and benefits.
Phelps once upgraded a private jet to make room for an hourly graphic artist named Eddie. Earlier, while Bitticks was working at Blaze Pizza, where he rose to chief restaurant officer, a manager called about $200 Phelps had left in a tip jar. She worried he had meant to leave $2.
Bitticks sees a connection between those gestures and the company Dave’s Hot Chicken has become.
“I think a lot of the Dave’s success story is connected to sort of that willingness to be generous to others,” he says.
That includes sharing experiences and giving people opportunities to learn. When asked about building the team behind the company’s growth, Bitticks starts with believing people can develop the skills they need if someone gives them training and a chance.
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