Esky McDonalds'

Assistant Store Manager, Training Coordinator, Shift Manager, and today Crew Person. Joyce F. makes # 9 on our countdown of managers. As you know the managers also work as crew when necessary. Today Joyce worked Drive-Thru and Grill. All of the managers are trained at all stations before they take on the responsibility of telling others where to work and what is expected of them. By the way the Boss was in the Grill all day.

I was told today that when the Asian Salad comes on line the Cobb Salad will leave. The Cobb Salad is delicious but I guess not enough people around the U.S. think so. I will give you more information on the Asian Salad as we receive it. Until then we will all just use our imaginations and see who gets the closest.

Tune in tomorrow evening for big, late breaking news.

'Til then, Big Mac

In answer to one of our interested viewers. Yes, the Spicy Chicken can be substituted anywhere there are premium chicken portions. On the salads, or the other chicken sandwiches such as the BLT or the Club.
We are happy to answer questions if I know or can find the answer. Thanks for your interest in the new premium chicken, Spicy.
Big Mac

On the left is Kim. Usually you will find her afternoon or evening. I rarely get to work with her since I usually do the mornning to early afternoon thing. Kim has been with us for 3 years. On the right is Misha. Misha has 5 years. She is another anytime any day manager. She opened on Saturday (oh, that was today) and will be switchover on Sunday. Makes for interesting problems and solutions. You really get to know the store and the crew that way.
P.S. Do you see those smiles?

Cathy on the left is the newest kid on the block. She has been a manager since October 2005. We have some that work any day and anytime. Cathy is one of them and so is Carol on the right. Carol has been with us for 27 years. You might find her at 5 in the morning or 5 in the evening. Many people are amazed we have so many employees that have 5 or more years with us. I have 18 years.

If you'll notice they all have a great SMILE. Pop in anytime and find out that the SMILES are not just for the camera.

Tammy on the right is another any day anytime plus crew scheduler. I probably shouldn't harrass her like I do. You know, not enough hours, too many hours, wrong time of day, wrong day, but she hasn't buried me yet. Always good natured about it. Tammy has been here 11 years.

On the left of on the right is Jenni with trainer/employee of the year sister, Jade. Jenni usually works the morning switchover shift a couple of days a week. Jenni has been with us for 6 years. For those that don't know what a swithchover manager does, they take us from breakfast to lunch. They have to get ready for lunch in about 20 minutes while breakfast is still being cooked and served. Most of our managers know and do this job very well. We generally have a crew change about the same time. Some work right on through which helps.

Debbie is found weekdays early in the day. Deb always has a big smile and a big laugh that lets the customers know someone is glad to be taking care of business. Most of the customers like seeing a crew that likes to be there. She has been here for 12 years. Deb opens the store for breakfast. That's at 5am. The Drive is open 24 hours a day but the lobby opens at 5 when breakfast starts. Lunch starts again at 10:30am.

Jade is the winner!!!

Highway sign and all. I add my congratulations to Jade as well. It had to be a tough decision but I agree Jade is always there, great attitude, and can work all stations including the books.

That rounds out the year of 2005. All of these guys as well as the others that have been 'EotM' have made a tough job for Shift Managers sometimes a little easier by coming in on days off or just sucking it up a little more and doing the job of at least one and a half if not two. Thanks to all and congratulations to all. Wish all could be 'Employee of the Year' but only one can be chosen of this fine group of twelve. We will find out Tuesday, January 24.

See ya tomorrow, Big Mac.

This is the young lady I like to call Boss. Sara F. started at the Esky McDonalds' while she was ending her career as a high school student. I met her 18 years ago after she started at Bay College. Sara became a Swing Manager and then left us for the Marquette store. Sara went on to open the new store in Ishpeming, then I found her at Marquette Wal-Mart and the Marquette store again as it was being torn down and rebuilt. I for one was delighted to welcome her back home when Larry and Cheryl moved to Lower Michigan. Now happily married and settled in for the long haul we will continue to wish her success.

I wanted to get us up to date with the people selected as 'Employee of the Month' before the announcement Friday, January 27th, of the 'Employee of the Year 2005'. We have January, September, November, and December of 2005. February was Sarah D. who has gone off to school in Lower Michigan as of January 13. March was Greg W. He left us last year to a job for which he had gone to college. Before becoming a Shift Manager, Cathy B. was the August 'EotM'. She is pictured below in 'Smile'. Coty B. was our May 'EotM'. Coty works in the Grill area. I found he can talk, get his picture taken(numerous times as the camera person isn't that great), and build sandwiches perfectly all at the same time. Seems to me to be a real asset no wonder he was chosen one of the 'EotM'.

The ones we have here are. On the left is Jenna D. W. for September, 2005 and on the right is Jade A. for January, 2005.

Jenna has been with us for 6 years and Jade has been with us for 5 years. Jade has been the weekend bookkeeper but normally works Drive during the week. Jenna works Grill and Drive.

He also fixed a dish called 'Colorful Cabbage' that I will share with you another day. I felt I owed you a look at how it is 'outside the box'.

See you next time..........Big Mac

"I'll take a no-salt, please. Thank you". Really is nice to be able to order how you want it. It makes for happier customers. Just take a look at the clean, beautiful fry station. Isn't she a beauty. It looks like this every morning when the overnighters get through with it. New Years Resolutions are apt to bring some strange requests for how the customers want their food fixed. Keep a smile and be glad they didn't give us up for 2006. Keep good thoughts and have fun.