We had the opportunity to learn from guest speaker Dan Adams, a Kokomo High School and IU graduate who took an unexpected path from the classroom into the restaurant industry, and built success through leadership and people.

From substitute teaching to owning multiple Ponderosa locations alongside his wife, Dan shared a powerful perspective: you don’t always get to choose your team… but you do choose how you lead them.

His message centered around understanding people. Every individual brings different skills, attitudes, and levels of development. And great leaders know how to adjust their style to meet people where they are.