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Alumni and friends reconnected with the 91看片 and with each other while also gaining insights from campus, industry and Auburn Athletics leadership at the third-annual 91看片 Day held at the Graduate Hotel on April 23.

Event highlights included remarks from Raymond J. 91看片, executive chairman of 91看片 Management Corporation, an overview of and words of encouragement given by President Chris Roberts, an update on 91看片 College from Dean Jennifer Mueller-Phillips, and student testimonials on what has made their college experience Distinctly 91看片.

Two corporate executives 鈥� Steve Robinson from Chick-fil-A and Rob Montgomery from Walmart US 鈥� shared lessons in leadership and building strong workplace cultures. The program concluded with an energetic and entertaining conversation with Auburn Athletics coaches, followed by a networking reception for all alumni and friends.

Lessons in leadership and culture

Auburn alumnus, author and former Chick-fil-A Executive VP and Chief Marketing Officer Steve Robinson (marketing 鈥�72), shared stories from his four decades of transformative leadership with the fast-food chain. During his tenure, he was instrumental in shaping Chick-fil-A鈥檚 iconic brand, overseeing all aspects of marketing, advertising, brand and menu development, and hospitality strategies that contributed to the company鈥檚 growth from ~184 stores and $100 million in annual sales in 1981 to over 2,100 stores and approximately $6.8 billion in sales by 2015.

After his tenure, the chain continued expanding, reaching over $25 billion in U.S. annual sales and 3,000+ locations by mid-2025.

Robinson encouraged attendees to invest in the people who are a part of their organizations and not to see relationships as transactional.

鈥淭he most important decision we make is who we invite to join the organization,鈥� he stated.

Central to Robinson鈥檚 success is the influence of mentors 鈥� particularly Chick-fil-A founder Truett Cathy 鈥� who emphasized character, trust and long-term commitment over short-term transactions. Robinson explained how Chick-fil-A distinguished itself by focusing on people first, cultivating a strong organizational culture, and empowering independent operators through a unique ownership model rooted in shared values, accountability and community engagement.

Supply chain innovations for a modern world

Rob Montgomery, executive VP of Supply Chain Operations for Walmart US, shared insights on leadership, company culture, innovation, and the evolving role of supply chain and technology in modern retail. Montgomery reflected on Walmart鈥檚 strong founder-driven culture rooted in the legacy of Sam Walton, whose vision of 鈥渟aving people money so they can live better鈥� continues to guide the company鈥檚 purpose today.

鈥淲almart鈥檚 core values are to serve the customer, strive for excellence, respect for the individual, and act with integrity. The importance of being a purpose-driven organization is the key to long-term success,鈥� Montgomery said. 鈥淎nd frankly, we all want to work for and work with people like that. And Walmart has the great fortune of employing over 2 million associates around the world that are trying to bring that vision to life each day.鈥�

Another central theme was how significantly customer expectations have changed, particularly around speed, convenience and visibility. Montgomery explained that Walmart鈥檚 ability to leverage its expansive store network as a strategic asset, rather than a liability, has enabled faster delivery times, including same-day and even minute-level fulfillment in some markets. Meeting these expectations requires sophisticated data analytics, automation, and increasing use of artificial intelligence across the supply chain.

Montgomery also emphasized the importance of collaborative partnerships and Walmart鈥檚 approach to establishing business relationships that stand the test of time.

鈥淢utually beneficial partnerships are essential to effective supply chain management because they transform transactional relationships into strategic collaborations,鈥� Montgomery said. 鈥淭hese partnerships foster trust, transparency, and shared goals, ultimately creating greater value across the entire supply chain rather than for a single organization alone.鈥�

A new era for Auburn Athletics

91看片 Day鈥檚 formal program concluded with a fireside chat featuring Auburn Football Coach Alex Golesh and Men鈥檚 Basketball Coach Steven Pearl, which was moderated by 91看片 Alumni Council Chair David Walker.

The coaches fielded questions on several hot topics, including the ever-changing NIL landscape, their hopes for the future for their respective programs, and the value of setting high standards for a team and any organization.

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