More than 55 years after it became the world’s first restaurant company global training center, Hamburger University holds true to McDonald’s founder Ray Kroc’s belief in putting support behind employees. The week-long programs provide an opportunity for crew members to learn new skills and to advance their careers. In fact, more than 40 percent of McDonald’s senior leadership are graduates of the prestigious training program, and many more former pupils have gone on to success in other areas of the restaurant industry. Helping employees better themselves is a cornerstone of McDonald’s philosophy. Their success is the company’s success.

Few have been as successful as Richard Tutor, the General Manager at the Harvey restaurant here in Marquette. Rich recently attended Hamburger University, where he earned the program’s highest academic honors, the Fred Turner Award. The Fred Turner Award is given to the individual who scores the highest in all courses. Out of 120 students, that was Rich. “I’m honored to be placed in a category with Fred Turner,” Rich stated of his accomplishment. The award’s namesake was McDonald’s first grill man, who later went on to become CEO for 20 years. Turner was known for being “obsessed” with operational excellence in the restaurants, which he passed on to future generations by founding Hamburger U in 1961. Rich also has his eyes on the future. “I look forward to using those principles to drive the business forward in a larger capacity in the future.”

The benefits don’t end at improving restaurant management, however. As Rich explained, “I learned more about myself than I did about McDonald’s.” The 16 full-time professors push students to think outside the box and truly challenge themselves to look at situations from multiple perspectives to create the best possible solutions. This type of leadership development helps HU students “not only professionally, but personally.” The leadership, problem solving and communication skills learned throughout the program enhance graduates’ ability to manage relationships with everyone from their children to friends and professional connections.

The Hamburger University experience also enhances students’ relationship with McDonald’s itself. “I fell in love with the McDonald’s brand,” Tutor said of his time at the training facility in Oak Brook, Illinois. Even McDonald’s veterans feel their attachment to the brand reestablished by a trip to the 80-acre campus. Being at the very heart of McDonald’s reminds the students/employees that they are part of something larger than themselves. The halls of the facility are adorned with emblems of the company’s storied history, reminding those who traverse them of the grand shoulders on which they stand. More so than anything else, visitors are reminded that all of the grandeur surrounding them was built by the everyman, and that notion continues to be the foundation of McDonald’s culture. “It shook me in the right way. There are so many friendly, hardworking people in this company.”Fortunately for our local restaurants, Rich is one of the very best of those friendly, hardworking people. “My experience was warming, and it made me so proud to work here.” McDonald’s and franchise-owner Jim Wilson are equally proud to have a manager like Rich.

Hamburger University Fred L. Turner Training Center is shown in this photo.

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