Claire Barnes Begins Marketing Career At Chick-fil-A
High Point University > Career & Professional Development > Events
Apr 23rd, 2026

Claire Barnes Begins Marketing Career At Chick-fil-A

Career & Professional Development
Extraordinary Education
Success Stories

Claire Barnes, International Business graduate at High Point University, Class of 2026

Here’s a quick glimpse at one of many impressive outcomes HPU graduates achieve.

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Name: Claire Barnes, Class of 2026Hometown: Belton, South Carolina

Major: International Business; minors in Spanish and Political Science

Post-graduation plans: Claire will be working full-time as a Marketing Director for Chick-fil-A in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Her role will consist of planning restaurant events, managing social media profiles, complying with market and brand standards, as well as engaging with the Winston-Salem community in impactful ways.

How HPU helped you get there: “HPU prepared me with life skills that are invaluable to my professional career! The Phillips School of Business exposed me to many facets of the business world, not just marketing, which has prepared me well for this transition.”Most impactful mentor at HPU: “Bridget Holcombe, Director of Career Education and Professor of the Practice of Career and Business Communications, is my most impactful mentor at HPU. The skills I learned in her Business Communications class helped set an invaluable foundation for four years of exponential growth in communication and life skills. I am grateful for how she refined and perfected my cover letter and resume until there were no errors. She’s the best!”

Most impactful moment at HPU: “My most impactful moment at HPU was being selected to work at the Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia, in 2024. That week working at the Masters taught me the epitome of customer service and hospitality. I have been able to carry those skills and concepts with me for many years.”

How has HPU’s inspiring environment contributed to your success? “Being encouraged by Innovators in Residence has been a way that I have been challenged and called higher to be better each day. I have learned I am the bigger barrier to future success and that sometimes growth takes risk and failure to grow.”

What are the life skills HPU helped you develop that prepared you for long-term success? “The most helpful life skill HPU has equipped me with is adaptability. It is vital to have as someone who is balancing finishing school, graduating and starting to work for Chick-fil-A. In marketing, feedback is a crucial part of excellence, so being able to adapt to changing schedules, promotions and obligations is key.”

What are the values and virtues HPU’s campus helped you develop that you’ll take with you after graduation? “The value of reaching for excellence is something both HPU and Chick-fil-A embody. I appreciate there never being a plateau to reach, but rather raising the bar and always striving for more.”

Advice for underclassmen: “Apply for all the jobs, and network as much as you can! It really is about who you know and how you make connections.”

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