Chris Tomasso didn’t start his journey at a prestigious college or follow the conventional path to the C-suite. Instead, he began closer to home at Manatee Community College, making a choice driven by practicality rather than prestige. Today, he is the CEO of First Watch Restaurants, Inc., the $1 billion breakfast-and-lunch chain, and a leader who proves that success is shaped as much by strategy, grit, and resourcefulness as by degrees and titles. While leaving home for a four-year university is often seen as a rite of passage, for Tomasso it was financially unrealistic. Starting at community college allowed him to save money while staying academically on track. After two years, he transferred to the University of Central Florida, where he completed his bachelor’s degree. As Tomasso

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