David Groves

David is a Panera veteran of 6 years. His career with Panera started in 2015 at the grand opening of a central Ohio cafe. Since then, he’s moved up the ranks from Associate to Assistant General Manager. He takes meticulous care in everyday cafe interactions, always willing to go the extra mile to ensure satisfaction is met on both sides. His biggest goal is to be a role model for the Cafe Associates he leads. David demonstrates what it means to work hard to surpass even one’s own expectations.

David has a visual disability that he has mastered working around. He has worked incredibly hard to never let that stop him from achieving both the expectations of himself and the company.

In 2019, David received the Assistant Manager of the Year award from his Director, Rob Fout. Because of his reliability and sheer determination to provide the absolute best service possible, his director awarded him this honor. David spends his free time searching for ways to better equip his team with the most up-to-date techniques to provide the best customer success. This is perfectly exemplified in his personal blog that documents his professional journey both in life and with Panera.

“I’ve done this while also being legally blind,” said David. “However, I do not want others to see someone who has struggled. When you look at me, I want you to see someone who, despite the obstacle, found a way beyond it and has had a direct impact on the cafes I’ve been a part of. When other Panera employees see this, I want them to look at themselves and see the impact they have on the cafes they are involved. Regardless of how small we sometimes feel, we are often much more significant than we give ourselves credit.”