Sandra Brown: General Manager, Plank Road

After graduating from college, I was hired at McDonald’s of Baton Rouge as a crew person at the Prescott location. I was put on the register the first day. This was before computer registers when you had to add everything up in your head. The manager, Jack, told me that I would be okay and that he trusted me. He gave me a pen that said, "I can handle it" and I did! Marie Cobb was one of the managers when I got hired and we bonded. She trained me and encouraged me to move into management. I worked as a crew member for about one and a half years. I learned how to work better with people. I taught procedures and trained people the correct way. I was then promoted to swing manager. After learning the basics, I decided that I wanted more. Once promoted to salary, I enjoyed taking courses that helped develop me more (BOC, IOC, AEC, BSM, ASM, ISM). Still learning and advancing myself, I was promoted to second assistant. At that time, I was transferred to the LSU store on State Street. Nothing compared to huge game nights. We were being shopped by supervisors at this point and coming out of game day, you knew the store would be trashed. It never failed, I got shopped! I never made excuses. I just accepted the grades and the shop.

Some people think that transfers are not good, but they do have advantages. They create the opportunity to work with new people and to have new experiences. Training has been my way at McDonald’s…making things happen. Around 1985, I was promoted to store manager and went back to Prescott. Somewhere in the 90’s, I went to Hamburger University in Oakbrook, IL. It probably was the most extensive 2 weeks of training I received but I enjoyed it. Over the years I worked at State Street, Essen Lane, Rebel, Plank, Zachary, and Prescott as a store manager. Years later, John felt I was ready to be a supervisor. I supervised four stores for a period of two years. Over the course of my leadership role with McDonald’s, I have trained and helped with the promotion of many crew into management.

WHY NOT YOU???

My greatest accomplishment is that some of the people I have worked with have sent their children to work with me and then their children sent their children. I thank God for the opportunities He gave me to help enhance the lives that I have touched. I pride myself on teaching what I know to all who are below me and this includes my crew. I believe once you have been given the opportunity to be a leader, you hold firm to that. All I have learned must be shared. Knowledge is no good if you keep it to yourself. I also believe that there are many avenues to advance in this company. You must take pride in yourself, as well as the company. Leadership is a broad spectrum of knowledge, procedures, standards, challenges, results, successes and just leading. A leader leads by example. That is my motto. This has been the only job I have ever had. I truly enjoy what I do. To me that's God. Sincerely, since MacLaff took over, we now have an ownership role. It is your business. All you have to do is put the systems in place, encourage and coach crew and managers to push the standards. You really need to mold as many as possible. Someone to run the business when you are not there. Sincerely, someone that cares about the business.