They Came for the Chicken, But Stayed for the Insight. Riviera Beach Prep Students Explore Dave’s Hot Chicken.

April 14th, 2026

What happens when a group of high school students trade the classroom for a real-world conversation with a restaurant leader? You get honest questions, a few laughs, and a deeper look at what it actually takes to build something from the ground up.

Students from Riviera Beach Prep recently sat down with Chelsea Norris, multi-unit manager for Dave’s Hot Chicken in West Palm Beach. What unfolded wasn’t just an interview. It was a window into leadership, opportunity, and the kind of workplace culture that resonates with a younger generation stepping into their first jobs.

Chelsea didn’t take the traditional slow climb into management. She entered Dave’s Hot Chicken as a general manager, helping open three locations, and within just a year, earned two promotions. By December 2025, she stepped into her current role overseeing multiple units.

That kind of trajectory doesn’t happen by accident.

“I’ve been in management for about 25 years,” Norris explained. Starting at just 19 years old, she found her footing in leadership early and never really looked back. Before Dave’s, she built a strong foundation with Raising Cane’s, working her way up to director-level positions. Now, her sights are set even higher, with ambitions of becoming a partner within Dave’s Hot Chicken.

For students hearing that, the message was clear. Growth is real if you stay consistent.

But this wasn’t just about titles and promotions.

When asked about her very first day, Norris didn’t talk about stress or pressure. She talked about fun. The team filmed a video to a Drake track, a nod to one of the brand’s high-profile investors. It set the tone for what Dave’s aims to be.

“It’s not just a workplace. It’s a fun zone,” she said.

That balance between structure and energy came up again and again throughout the conversation. Most employees fall between the ages of 16 and 21, and Norris emphasized creating an environment where work doesn’t feel like a grind. It’s about building relationships, learning responsibility, and still enjoying the process.

That idea hit home for the students, many of whom are just beginning to think about part-time jobs and career paths.

The conversation naturally shifted to the food, and like any good interview with teenagers, it got real, fast.

Trying to describe the flavor of Dave’s Hot Chicken proved harder than expected. Chelsea broke it down simply. The concept is rooted in Nashville hot chicken, known for its bold dry rub seasoning, but with a unique twist.

Everything is 100 percent halal.

That detail sparked curiosity in the room. The preparation process, the cultural significance, and the attention to quality all added a layer most students hadn’t considered before. It also opened up a broader conversation about diversity, as Chelsea shared how working with halal products introduced her to new cultures and perspectives.

It’s not something you typically expect to learn during a lunch interview, but that’s what made it stick.

And then there was the spice.

When asked if working at Dave’s increased her tolerance, she didn’t sugarcoat it. Trying the infamous Reaper level didn’t go well.

“I threw up. I went crazy,” she admitted, laughing.

Even now, she keeps it light, occasionally attempting medium but still steering clear of the higher heat levels. It was a reminder that even the person in charge doesn’t have to love everything on the menu to love the job.

Not everything at Dave’s is about heat anyway.

One of Norris’ personal favorites isn’t even chicken. The cauliflower-based “not chicken” stood out as a go-to, freshly prepared and seasoned in-house. For students who may not eat meat, it showed there’s still a place for them on the menu.

More importantly, there’s a place for them in the company.

That’s where the conversation really shifted from food to future.

Chelsea shared the story of a young employee named Allie, who started at 17 with no experience. Shy and unsure at first, she found her footing in the supportive environment. Within a year, she became a crew trainer and shift manager, with plans to continue climbing.

At just 18 years old, she’s already mapping out her next move.

That example landed.

For students sitting there, it wasn’t hypothetical anymore. It was someone their age doing it right now.

She made it clear that Dave’s Hot Chicken isn’t looking for perfection when hiring. In fact, it’s often the opposite.

“We love to hire people that have no experience,” she said. “We want to give them that first chance.”

What matters more is personality. Energy. Willingness to learn. The ability to take direction while still bringing something of your own to the table.

It’s about growth, not just employment.

Some employees stay and build careers within the company. Others take what they’ve learned and move on, heading into fields like the military or other professions. Either way, the foundation starts here.

For Riviera Beach Prep students, the experience went beyond asking questions. It gave them a clearer picture of what that first step into the workforce can look like.

Not intimidating. Not rigid. Not something to dread.

Something real.

Something fun.

And maybe, for a few of them, something that starts at Dave’s Hot Chicken and leads somewhere even bigger.