Submitted Award
Growing up in Batavia as one of seven siblings, Lydia Bruce learned to be part of a team early on, she says.
“I came from a big family, and I always embraced the role. We’re very close, we always grew up doing everything together. We were always raised to push each other and support each other,” Bruce said during an interview Wednesday. “I embrace each day as a new opportunity to just be better and do better. That’s my philosophy and what I push for. And to be in a positive work environment.”
It’s that positive work environment — and her role as general manager — that earned Bruce recognition as a top-performing manager at the East Main Street McDonald’s and recipient of a Ray Kroc Award.
Established in 1999, the award goes to managers who embody the corporation founder’s “vision of excellence,” with Bruce being one of 395 managers named from 70 markets around the world.
As she was approaching graduation from Batavia High School in 2005, Bruce began to work at McDonald’s restaurant as a crew member, working in the kitchen and serving customers.
She attended Brockport State College and transferred to Buffalo State College with the intention to pursue a teaching career, all the while continuing to work at a McDonald’s to earn money while she gradually crept up the promotions ladder.
Then something unintentional happened. “My career at McDonald’s started to take off in 2008-09,” she said. She became an assistant manager.
“I could see what a great career it was, what it had to offer me, and my main thing was always teaching, you know, that was my core,” she said. “And I could see that I could still do that with my career at McDonald's. So for me, it was like a green light. And I've been doing it ever since.”
She moved back to her hometown in 2010 as she continued climbing those rungs, moving to shift manager within two years and then gradually working her way up from system manager to general manager.
“So when I moved back to Batavia, the opportunity presented itself for me to come back here and work as a general manager. And so I took it because, you know, this is my hometown, and I wanted to see where I'm at in my career and field fruition here in my hometown, where, you know, obviously, I am a local, so I know how much we can help in the community,” she said.
"I’m a strong supporter," she added, "and just watching my crews succeed, and my managers succeed, and making sure that they have the adequate training as far as growing McDonald's as a business and growing their personal lives and their personal journey of their own, and watching them grow both personally and professionally, is the most satisfying thing to me. Just always being their coach and always being their supporter is such a daily blessing to me.”
As for receiving the award, “I was completely surprised. It was an honor,” she said, adding that she would consider more of an investment in the future.
“McDonald’s offers so many opportunities, I do aspire to grow professionally,” she said. “It is something I would be looking forward to in the future. The majority of my family is in Batavia, and my children are here.”
She also pointed to a company stat about one in eight Americans working or having worked at one of the more than 40,000 McD’s in the world, offering employment to a diverse population of folks. Her daughter, Bridgette Nordee, may be following in mom’s footsteps, working now as a crew member.
Bruce worked at five different locations during her journey since high school, helping to improve performance and ensure each location was set up for success, company officials said. She has remained close to the pulse of education by hosting multiple McTeacher’s Nights each year, which raise money for PTAs, and as an advocate for the Archways to Opportunity program, an educational strategy that gives McDonald’s employees an opportunity to grow and learn by providing them assistance with improving English skills, earning a high school diploma, working towards a college degree, or helping to make an education and career plan with advisors.
Bruce’s award includes a cash prize, a trophy and a trip to McDonald’s Worldwide Convention in Barcelona, Spain.
“I’m extremely appreciative to be receiving the Ray Kroc Award this year. I’m consistently looking for ways to grow both personally and professionally and am so honored to be presented with this recognition,” Bruce said. “McDonald’s has provided me with so many wonderful opportunities to grow in my career and serve my local community. I love watching my crew succeed and support one another to reach our goals.
“I’m always taking the high road, just pushing positivity and having a welcoming environment, pushing a positive mindset,” she said. “I just go into each day trying to be better than I was yesterday."
McDonald's independent franchisees and regional management nominate restaurant managers for the Ray Kroc Awards to recognize their hard work, dedication, and commitment to McDonald's and its customers. Restaurant managers play a critical role in delivering an outstanding customer experience and ensuring that McDonald’s is a great place to work, officials said.
“We are extremely proud of Lydia and her dedication to our team, customers and the Batavia community,” local McDonald’s Owner/Operator Harry Schatmeyer said. “She is a true testament to the people-first culture we promote here at McDonald’s and is well deserving of this recognition.”
Submitted photo.
Submitted Photos.
