McDonald's orders up national award

Ronda Manning (from left), winner of the 2007 Ray Kroc Award; Glossie Gardley, field service manager; Bob Jedele, Cloverdale McDonald's owner/operator; Gary Boardman, business consultant.

A Cloverdale McDonald's manager was surprised Monday, with a check and the news that she had been named in the top 1 percent of all McDonald's restaurant managers.

Manager Ronda Manning has been named as a recipient of the prestigious 2007 Ray Kroc Award, a performance based award that recognizes the top 1 percent of McDonald's restaurant managers in the country, beating out regional competitors as far away as Nashville, Tenn.

Manning, unaware that she had been nominated for the award, arrived at work to find the media, a group of well-wishers, and a giant ceremonial check for $2,500.

The award, named after McDonald's corporate founder Ray Kroc, is given to managers who deliver superior results in selected areas of performance including operational excellence, reinforcing McDonald's commitment to people, and building the business.

"The biggest thing is how well she takes care of her people," said Cloverdale McDonald's owner Bob Jedele, who nominated Manning for the award.

In his nomination letter, Jedele said this about Manning: "In the local community, Ronda has been very involved with Scouting, Cloth-A-Child, Post Prom and other activities.

"Just talking to Ronda gives folks in the community a positive image of McDonald's as an employer and partner with the town and its youth."

An emotional Manning said she was still in shock, moments after winning the award, but that didn't stop her from cooking up ways to spend her award money.

"My husband and I will probably take a week off together," said Manning, who added that working long hours often cuts into family time. When pressed on a vacation destination, she said she was headed for a beach-- hopefully Puerto Rico.