To the editor:

Thank you, Lawrence Business/Education Partnership and McDonald’s of Lawrence, for the opportunity to participate in the summer internship program. It was an experience I will never forget! Shadowing Marketing Manager Patrick Manning, I got a good look at what really makes McDonald’s so successful. It all begins with the integrity of Tom and Marilyn Dobski, owner/operators of 13 McDonald’s restaurants, and how they value their employees and customers.

While visiting McDonald’s “stores” from Lawrence to Atchison, I observed and interviewed employees whose jobs included bookkeeping, bill paying, keeping track of the everyday operations of each McDonald’s restaurant, training new staff, assembling sandwiches, fixing drinks, cleaning the restaurant, etc. Everyone worked very hard and they all seemed to value what they did and with whom and for whom they worked.

This experience simply reinforces values that teachers try to instill in their students. What breeds success is working cooperatively and respecting each other for who they are and what they can contribute to the team. With my experience through this internship, I can share first-hand knowledge of how this principle works in a very familiar “real-world” situation. My only regret is that most people don’t know what McDonald’s is really all about. It’s about family. It’s about supporting and encouraging one another. It’s about doing your best to benefit others. We are indeed fortunate to have this quality organization in Lawrence.

Kitsy Gray,

Lawrence