I have been with McDonald’s for 19 years. I started in 1997 when I was 16 for Mike Salem in Aberdeen, SD. I was there for two years until I decided that it wasn’t for me. I pursued another opportunity for a while and even though I was happy, there was always something missing. I just didn’t know it was McDonald’s. In 2003 we moved to Sioux Falls and I decided try to go back to McDonald's. I was 6 months pregnant at the time with my first child and there wasn’t a lot of work options for me. I thought it would only be temporary, but it turned in to much more.
I was able to start as crew and worked my way up quickly. I became a Shift Manager when I returned from maternity leave and was in that spot for 1 year and moved up to an Assistant Manager. I was only in this role for a few months when I was asked to become General Manager. I was so excited! By this time I had just my second child and of course had my hands full. I came to the 26th St store with all kinds of ideas and excitement. I knew I had to prioritize and put a great plan together if I was going to see any improvement. After one year things had already begun to turn around. I built a great team, focused on training, and created my second family. Within five years our sales had doubled, I won my first Outstanding Manager Award, and had a third child. Everything was going great so I decided to take on more roles. I became a technology lead and training lead. I taught classes for not just my managers, but for all 9 or our locations. This gave me an opportunity to get to know so many people and help others while still running excellent operations at my own store. After 10 years at 26th St I was offered a Supervisor position which I accepted. I was in charge of 3 stores and more determined than ever to succeed. Unfortunately life had other plans. I had to step down after 2 years and ended up becoming a fixer of sorts. I would go in, get people and operations back on track and then move on. I started at the Brandon location, then 10th St, Louise Ave, N Cliff, and finally back to 26th St. I came back to 26th St in 2019 and couldn’t be happier to be home. I have been able to do so many things and now I also get to share my experiences with my children as they work with me. Someone has always believed in me and been therefor me. It is my goal to give as many people as possible that same experience. There has been so much that has happened, but I wouldn’t change any of it.
My hobbies include drawing, cooking, racing, enjoying as many concerts as possible. I also enjoy spending time with all 8 of my children as much as possible. We are always very busy and are involved in many activities. It usually involves softball, a band/orchestra concert, track, and of course racing. I have 2 children that just got their license and recently added our fourth grandchild. As you can see we stay very busy and I enjoy every moment.
My favorite part of working at McDonald’s is that every day surprises you. It’s not the same thing from day to day. I also love to surprise people. That first day when a new employee starts is the best day. It is something that I always make sure I am around for. I want to be there to show them that McDonald’s is not just a job and that we don’t just flip burgers. I make sure they know we have fun, we care, and what they do matters. I want them to know how far they can go and what they can accomplish if they are willing to put in the work. So many people think that working at McDonald’s is easy and is just a job. Every person that I can help to change that mindset means that I have made a difference for someone. In the end, all people want is for someone to support them, show they care, and believe in them. That is my goal everyday. My best days are when my employees come to me and thank you for believing in them. That’s when I know I’ve done my job.
Even though I am new to the Hart2Hart family, I will always be grateful for everyone in McDonald’s that has supported me and my dreams. I’m excited to see where I can go from here as we continue to grow. Thank you to all the people that made me who I am today and continue to support me on my journey.
