Andrew Neal, 34, serves as the Vice President of Operations at Scanco, a software company based in Nokomis, Sarasota County. His leadership journey began during his college years, where he advanced to the role of general manager at Chick-fil-A. After graduating from Florida Gulf Coast University in 2013, Neal joined Windward Design Group, a pool furniture manufacturing company in Sarasota, to develop and implement a new software system. Approximately four years later, he transitioned to Scanco, starting in sales and progressively advancing to his current executive position.
Neal attributes his strong work ethic and leadership qualities to his mother, Donna Evans, who taught him the value of hard work. Recognizing his aptitude for teaching over direct sales, Neal advocated for a shift in his role at Scanco. After two years of presenting data and strategic plans, he successfully convinced company leadership to allow him to focus on training others to sell their products. This initiative led to his promotion to Director of Partners and Alliances, eventually culminating in his current role as Vice President of Operations.
Neal's leadership philosophy is influenced by experiences such as meeting the late Truett Cathy, founder of Chick-fil-A, who maintained an open-door policy regardless of corporate stature. Neal believes in always making time for his team, embodying a leadership style that values accessibility and team support.