McDonald's Canada has named the manager of one of its Windsor restaurants one of the 2023 Outstanding Manager of the Year award winners.
Elissa Stannard is the manager of the McDonald's at 4840 Wyandotte St. E. near Pillette Rd.
This prestigious accolade is awarded to only the top five per cent of managers working across the 1,400 plus Canadian restaurants and recognizes the exceptional leadership of McDonald's restaurant managers.
Stannard says she has learned from some great managers and she won't ask anybody to do something she's not willing to do herself.
"You know a big thing for me is that we're a family, that is very important to me, that everybody feels they're part of a family. A lot of times you're seeing these people more than your actual family," she says.
A statement from McDonald's says Stannard works diligently beside crew members to serve quality food, with excellent service and warm smiles to restaurant guests.
She was also recognized for her contributions to fundraising efforts for the Ronald McDonald House in Windsor and McHappy Day charities.
Elissa Stannard, manager of the McDonald's at 4840 Wyandotte St. E. near Pillette Rd., serves a customer. (Photo: McDonald's Canada)
Stannard says there's no better place for someone to work than McDonald's when someone is getting a first job.
"People that I've seen come and go, growing up and getting into their careers, having families and everything," she says. "It just makes me so proud to know I had some sort of impact there. So many people will come back years later and say 'hey, I know you probably don't realize this but I can't thank you enough for what you did.'"
Stannard says it makes her proud to have an impact on a young person.
"Sometimes you're a friend, sometimes you're a coach, sometimes you're a teacher, a role model, you wear all kinds of different hats. I just think be the best person you can be everyday and kind of spread that around, we need more of that in the world I think," she adds.
The 46-year-old Stannard started working for McDonald's 29 years ago where she started out as a front-facing employee working the front counter, working her way up to the manager position.
Every year, McDonald's franchisees and regional management nominate restaurant managers across the country for the Outstanding Manager of the Year award to recognize their hard work, dedication, and commitment to McDonald's Canada and its customers.