DON FOX
CEO, FIREHOUSE OF AMERICA, JACKSONVILLE
The Firehouse Subs brand consists of about 1,200 restaurants operating in 46 states, Puerto Rico and Canada. The first restaurant opened in 1994 in Jacksonville, and today, Florida is the chain’s largest state, with 169 locations. Fox started in the industry 47 years ago as a dishwasher. He joined Firehouse in 2003 when there were 65 locations and has served as CEO since 2009. He has become a strong advocate for the restaurant industry and its role in providing so many with their first employment.
| EDUCATION | Howell High School (NJ) |
| CIVIC EFFORT | Our greatest impact on the communities we serve comes by way of the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, which benefits fire responders by fulfilling grants for live-saving equipment and recently surpassed $55 million in grant fulfillment. |
| SOMETHING SURPRISING | I am the author of two books on WWII (unit histories of the United States Army Fourth Armored Division): Patton’s Vanguard (2003) and Final Battles of Patton’s Vanguard (2020). |
| ADMIRES | NASA for the decades of innovation and economic vitality it has brought to our state. |