Success Stories

When I was retiring from the New Orleans Police Department, I knew I could finally work toward my childhood dream of owning a business. After carefully considering several options, my wife and I selected McDonald’s.

As a franchise owner, I have a platform to make an impact in the community and support organizations near and dear to me, including the Boys and Girls Club and several Law Enforcement agencies. We help our people learn and grow through the benefits McDonald’s affords, be it additional education or life-skill development, and continuously look for ways to make it fun to work in our restaurants.

I was given opportunities by people who believed in me. Their belief built my confidence, and that is why I am where I am today.

I know that others need that same support and encouragement. The ability to instill confidence in others to achieve their goals is what drives me. My family and I are now positive influencers in our community and are brand ambassadors everywhere we go.

“I started as part of the crew at age 16 and progressed over the years to a Director of Operations. During my time working in the restaurant, I was blessed to work for a franchisee who allowed me to develop leadership skills and implement people practices, which are instrumental to the organization today. After 30 years with McDonald’s, I decided I wanted to run my own organization and to pass along the knowledge I had obtained.

I believe a successful leader has a duty to give back, to train, and to share the results to help make our communities stronger.

By investing in my team, we have had the opportunity to transform a number of restaurants. We have had visitors from around the world come to see what we do and how we’ve done it. That’s personally satisfying, but I’m most excited by what I see in my team.

I love to help people rise up above what they thought they were capable of and become strong leaders.

When Nicole was in high school, her parents became McDonald’s franchisees, and they put her to work. She learned how a local business could serve food and help sustain the needs of a community in many other ways.

“I earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree, and for 10 years I was a social worker. But I always knew I would come back to McDonald’s. And I did, working for my mom at night, and doing my social services job during the day until I took the plunge in 2003.

In 2005, I joined the Next Generation Program—an opportunity for current, eligible franchisees to support their children to become approved franchise owners. I became an approved franchisee in 2006 and got my first two restaurants at the Los Angeles Airport in 2007.

I like to help people and make a difference, and there are many ways to do that because our business is about people—the people who work with us in our restaurants and our customers.”

“My social services training serves me very well. I’m mentoring people, engaging with people. Those skills—being empathic and listening—come into play every day. Working in the community is one of the most important things we do as McDonald’s franchisees. And community means a lot of different things. It’s the people who come into the restaurant. It’s the local churches, the schools that we support, the people we employ.”

“McDonald’s has provided me the opportunity to connect with a much broader part of society as well as the skills to influence others in a positive way.

After leaving my profession in the construction industry, I knew I wanted to be in a position where my employees could count on me. I was initially drawn to McDonald’s because of the opportunity to work with and serve a cross section of America and to be a part of a brand where the employees are passionate about their work every day. I am now surrounded by a team of motivated individuals who are a positive force for change in the community and organization.”

“I worked for a McDonald’s franchisee all through high school and college. Post-college I was fortunate to be given the opportunity to enter the Franchisee Training Program and became a McDonald’s franchisee in Orlando in 1989. I have been very fortunate in my life and career with McDonald’s in many ways. I have been able to help many people achieve their goals and improve their families’ futures.

Today my family owns a total of 19 restaurants, between me, my spouse, and my son. I am very grateful that McDonald’s encourages the Next Generation Program as this is key for me and others as we transition and sell our businesses over time to our children.

Although we are part of a large, multinational corporation and system, we are a small family business.”