Chasing Excellence: How DBU Alumni Tyler and Katee Haile Lead with Faith at Chick-fil-A

The motto of "chasing excellence" has had a meaningful impact on Tyler Haile's life. From his college years to the start of his career, this idea has shaped his faith and trust in the Lord through every opportunity. As Dallas Baptist University alumni, Tyler '08, '10, and his wife, Katee '11, now use their finance and business degrees, as well as this foundational motto, to operate two Chick-fil-A restaurants in Texas.

Born and raised in Abilene, Texas, Tyler grew up in a loving Christian family where he learned the values of faith, character, and hard work at an early age. Influenced by his parents' example at church and in the community, Tyler accepted Christ at a young age and continued to grow in his faith through youth groups and service opportunities throughout Abilene.

Growing up, Tyler loved baseball, sharing how he would often sleep with his baseball and glove during baseball season. As his passion for baseball grew, Tyler began dreaming of playing competitive baseball in college.

His dream would start to become a reality as Tyler attended his first baseball camp at DBU in 2003. Stepping onto campus for the first time, he immediately felt God's presence, especially as he and other camp attendees were being driven around campus by Dr. Jay Harley, current Vice President of Student Affairs, who was passionately talking about the University's Christ-centered atmosphere and community. Later, Tyler would meet Jonathan Teat, who now serves as Senior Vice President of DBU, while playing for a traveling baseball team in 2004. These first interactions with the University deepened Tyler's passion to attend DBU and play baseball.

Tyler joined the DBU Baseball Team during his freshman year under Coaches Dan Heefner and Nate Frieling. "They consistently challenged me to become the best version of myself through hard work, discipline, and accountability," he says. Through their influence, Tyler would be introduced to the idea of "chasing excellence" and what it looked like, not just in baseball or athletics, but in every aspect of life.

During his junior and senior years, Tyler stepped away from the baseball team to focus solely on his career path. At this time, he began serving as a student worker in DBU's Financial Aid Office under Don Zackary, who was the director at the time. In this new role, the idea of "chasing excellence" was reinforced. He would be encouraged by Don and other colleagues to live this motto out with discipline and integrity, while standing firm in his personal convictions and defending truth with clarity and wisdom.

After earning his bachelor's degree in finance in 2008, Tyler became the Assistant Director of Financial Aid at DBU while pursuing his master's degree. Over his years in the Financial Aid Office, Tyler would be introduced by Don to a fellow patriot, Katee, who would eventually become his wife.

Katee grew up in a Christian home in Houston and accepted Christ at a young age. Encouraged to visit Dallas Baptist University by a friend, she sensed the Lord's guidance during her campus tour and chose to attend despite uncertainty about the future. That decision ultimately led her not only to DBU, but to meeting Tyler for the first time.

Tyler graduated with his master's degree in finance from DBU in 2010 and went on to manage financial aid offices for 26 different campuses across both Texas and Arizona. Although he enjoyed the opportunities he was given, Tyler missed the faith-centered community and atmosphere he had experienced at DBU.

As Tyler and Katee spent time in prayer and seeking discernment, they felt the Lord calling them to pursue a career in business management, with the goal of becoming operators of their own Chick-fil-A location in the future. Following Katee's graduation in 2011, where she earned her bachelor's degree in business management, the couple married and moved to Laredo, Texas, to pursue this calling.

Working 50-60 hours per week managing their own restaurant, Katee shares how it often felt like they were "high-fiving at lunch," with Katee working opening shifts and Tyler closing. Though the hours were long and they often questioned what they were doing in the moment, they knew that this was exactly where God wanted them. "It is where we found our passion and our calling," Tyler says.

In 2014, they opened their first Chick-fil-A in Schertz, and in 2023, they would open their second location in Cibolo. With over 200 employees, Tyler shares how blessed they are with this opportunity to serve those they work with by helping them understand that God has a plan and purpose for their lives.

For both Tyler and Katee, the opportunity to have their own restaurants has been a never-ending blessing. Though the couple shares that their biggest accomplishment has been welcoming their two sons, Reese and Myles, into their lives.

Today, the family attends Community Bible Church in San Antonio. Tyler serves as the Board President for New Braunfels Christian Academy while also overseeing their restaurant locations, and Katee cares for their two sons at home and remains actively involved in the businesses.

As the two continue to follow the Lord's guidance, Tyler recognizes all God has taught him through the idea of "chasing excellence," which was instilled in him during his time at DBU. "It reinforced the belief that God calls us to pursue excellence and to give our very best in everything we do—not for recognition, but as an act of faith and stewardship," Tyler shares. Every leader he has encountered did not just talk about excellence, but lived it out in their daily lives, continually influencing Tyler in how he leads and measures success to this day.

While challenges may come, Tyler encourages current and future students to build their foundation in God's truth. "If you're centered in God, you'll stand strong," he says. Keep learning, growing, and letting your faith guide you as you chase excellence in every step, decision, and opportunity, and God will lead you exactly where He wants you to be.