Yolanda Travis, Herman Petty, Ernie Adair, Don Thompson

   Cirilo McSween

   Blanton Canady

Mr. Canady has been a McDonald’s franchisee since 1981 and continues to be deeply committed to the Black McDonald’s Operators Association. Canady owns and operates six restaurants located in and around Chicago. He has a great appreciation for savvy marketing and good fiscal responsibility given his background as a graduate of the University of Illinois concentrating on Finance and earning an MBA in Finance Marketing from the University of Chicago.

He began his career with Illinois Bell Telephone Company as a marketing consultant and moved on to becoming a telecommunications manager with both the Xerox Corporation and American Hospital Supply Corporation.

Mr. Canady is dedicated to maintaining McDonald’s high standards of quality, service and cleanliness with his more than 250 employees across his six stores. He has been a very involved owner operator in the McDonald’s system having served as President of the Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana owner operators association, President of the Chicagoland BMOA and Chairman of both the public relations and advertising committee.

Outside of the McDonald’s system, he has served on several boards including the Midwest Association of Sickle Cell Anemia, Northern Trust Advisory board, South Side Planning Committee. He is also a member of the Mayor’s Committee for a Clean Chicago as well as the City of Chicago Solid Waste Management Review Committee.

   Derrick Taylor

Whatever Chicago native Derrick Taylor does, he does it big. From his years at Percy L. Julian High School, where Taylor was the running back on the national high school football championship team, to his collegiate years at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, where his team won the NCAA Division I-AA football title in 1983, he has always been driven to succeed both on and off the field. Taylor received a Bachelor’s of Science degree in automotive technology and business management from Southern Illinois, and at that same time was a free agent for the NFL’s Denver Broncos.

Prior to his college graduation, Taylor was hired by the Oldsmobile automotive company as a service engineer in Lansing, Michigan. Wanting to pursue other opportunities he soon returned home where he secured a job with the city of Chicago. He worked for the city for 14 years and then accepted a position as assistant commissioner for O’Hare International Airport.

Taylor and his wife Cheryl, are now the owners and operators of seven McDonald’s restaurants in Chicago, employing more than 250 members of the community. “I genuinely love people and wanted to do whatever I could to be a pillar of the community and provide jobs,” said Taylor, a father to three sons and a daughter.

Taylor serves as the marketing committee chair for the Black McDonald’s Operators Association and Vice President (BMOA).

“It has been my life-long dream to become a successful businessman and entrepreneur, and McDonald’s has enabled me to do just that,” said Taylor.

   Keith Allen

Keith Allen, a Chicago native, got his start with McDonald’s in September of 1976 as a member of crew at the 65th Street and Stony Island Ave. restaurant, working for $2.20/hour. While there, he worked for 11 years under the leadership and guidance of Herman Petty, the first African-American owner/operator in the McDonald’s system.

Absorbing all of the insight available from such a knowledgeable and motivational figure, Allen then began his ascent up the corporate ladder. He was promoted from crew to swing manager, followed by an appointment to assistant manager and then to store manager at the River Plaza location in Downtown Chicago. Allen’s hard work continued to pay off handsomely, as he was promoted to an area supervisor for Petty, taking on the task of overseeing four McDonald’s locations. However, his impressive climb did not end there.

In January of 1988, he put in his application to become a franchisee himself, and in May of that year became owner/operator of a Grand Rapids, Michigan McDonald’s restaurant. Now a proud member of, and training manager of the Black McDonald’s Operators Association [BMOA] of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana, Allen became a franchisee for truly unselfish reasons.

“[I became a franchisee] to enrich the lives of my family and employees,” said Allen. “Also, [I wanted] to be a role model and an example of the opportunities within the quick service restaurant industry.” An owner/operator for 18 years to date, he is now in charge of operations at four McDonald’s locations in the Chicago area, including stores at 6900 South Lafayette, 70 East Garfield at 55th Street, 207 East 35th Street and now 65th and Stony Island Ave where he started out as a crew member.

   Darrell Winbush

Darrell Winbush has done it all when it comes to work experience at McDonald’s. An owner/operator for five years now, Winbush got his start with the restaurant as a member of the crew. Shortly afterwards, he moved up to crew trainer, followed by crew captain. He would continue to climb up the corporate ladder, next becoming a manager, then a registered applicant and eventually becoming an owner/operator.

A Chicago native, Winbush now oversees operations at two Chicago locations, one at 6355 South King Drive and another on South Ashland Street. He is also the owner/operator of an Indiana restaurant, located at 1822 Indianapolis Boulevard.

A member of the Black McDonald’s Operators Association [BMOA] of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana, Winbush serves on the Profit Committee and as Treasurer of MOCNI. He cited greatness when asked about his decision to become a franchisee with McDonald’s. “I have always wanted to be associated with a great organization,” said Winbush. “McDonald’s Corporation is a great organization that helped me and others realize their entrepreneurial dreams.”
 

   Doris Boulrece

Black McDonald’s Operators Association (BMOA) of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana owner-operator Doris Boulrece has been a part of the McDonald's system for ten years, and an independent restaurant owner for seven years. Doris, who is now a widow was married for 27 years and has three children.  Ms. Boulrece is one of only three black female operator members in the Chicago-based organization, and made history as the first black McDonald's owner-operator to own a store in Northwest Indiana (Hammond, IN).

Ms. Boulrece first became interested in the franchising business after going to college and studying to become an office manager. She spent a year and a half as an undergrad at the Chicago Institute of Technology, majoring in Office Administration, before one of her daughters, also a college student, was given the homework assignment of researching the franchising business. What her daughter would share with Ms. Boulrece about what she'd learned regarding becoming a McDonald's restaurant owner piqued her mother's interest and the rest, as they say, is history.

Among the community programs that the BMOA spearheads every year is the holiday giving and meal program, "Food for the Body & Spirit," that Ms. Boulrece chairs and oversees.
 

   Derrick Lott

Aurora, Ill. native Derrick Lott, president of Lott Management Inc., is the proud owner/operator of four McDonald’s restaurants in Illinois and Indiana. A member of the McDonald’s team since the late 1970s, Lott left in the early 1990s, but knew he would be back, because as the old saying goes, “home is where the heart is.”

Lott started as a crew member at the Aurora Farnsworth location in 1978 and was subsequently promoted to store manager in 1985. His rise continued in 1990 when he was promoted to profit center trainer and then named area supervisor a year later. In 1993, Lott left McDonald’s to pursue other interests, but said he always knew he would return, which he did in 1999, working at an O’Hare International Airport location. He then moved to locations in Downtown Chicago before becoming an operator in May of 2001 with his wife and business partner, Chris, operating two Merrillville, Ind. restaurants.

Lott currently operates four locations in Illinois, two of which are located in Homewood, at 17740 South Halsted and 3132 West 183rd Street. The other two located at Country Club Hills and Chicago Heights. His fourth store is located just across the state border in Merrillville, Ind. at 6093 Broadway. The six-year owner/operator is a member of the Black McDonald’s Operators Association’s [BMOA] marketing committee.

“[I became a franchisee] to pursue my dream of becoming an independent business owner and to provide a healthy and stable environment for my family,” said Lott. Lott and his wife have been married for seven years and have two children, Drew and Breanne.
 

   Melvin Buckley

Melvin Buckley is a native Chicagoan and an alumnus of Chicago State University, where he received a full athletic scholarship to mix it up on the hardwood. Since that time, Buckley has coached several youth basketball leagues and local high school teams (angle #1). A chance encounter at the Jordan Basketball camp led him to meeting a dean at Hamburger U, and the rest is history.

Buckley consistently gives back to the community. At his McDonald’s restaurant in Richton Park, he staffs seven upper managers and more than 50 employees. He commits himself to hiring males from the African-American community as a way to rejuvenate the work ethic in this population.

Not only does Buckley provide a service to the area with his McDonald’s restaurant, but it is obvious that his main priority is giving back and helping those in need. He is a passionate restaurateur who strives to improve his business by helping his employees elevate themselves.
 

   Yolanda Travis

   Not Available

Coming Soon

   Thomas Brown

Thomas Brown is no stranger to the restaurant business. In fact, he is definitely a veteran when it comes to the food industry. An owner/operator of McDonald’s restaurants since December of 1990, Brown carries more than 15 years of experience with him, and because of his success, is now at the helm of three Illinois restaurants.

A native of Horatio, Arkansas, Brown embarked upon his current career path by working with Kraft Foods. At Kraft, he gained significant insight and knowledge of the food industry with a 20-year career in Human Resources Management.

Following this impressive run, Brown moved on and decided to pursue the restaurant business with McDonald’s, where he got his start as a registered applicant, but would soon make his way up the corporate ladder. He did so by being an active participant and voice of the McDonald’s organization, which is reflected in his current standing with the company.

He is an active member of the Black McDonald’s Operators Association [BMOA] of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana, currently serving as the organization’s president. Brown is also the chairman of McDonald’s Operators Association of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana’s public relations committee.

With many years of experience under his belt, Brown is certainly highly qualified and extensively knowledgeable as a driving force in the food industry. He became a franchisee because of his desire to become a business owner. “I wanted my own business,” said Brown. “Franchise was the best point of entry at the time and McDonald’s was the best choice of franchises.”

Brown currently oversees operations at three Illinois McDonald’s locations, including two in Elk Grove Village, one located at 1450 Busse Road and the other at 633 Meacham Road. He also owns and operates a McDonald’s restaurant in Hanover Park, which is located at 7455 Barrington Road.
 

   Ron Lofton

Mr. Lofton has a track record of firsts in his professional career. Prior to becoming a McDonald’s owner operator, Mr. Lofton worked for American Sterilizer Company in his hometown of Erie, Pennsylvania from 1978 to 1993 and during that period became the first African American System Project Manager, Assistant Regional Manager, National Sales Trainer and Division Manager Alternate Care. After achieving these firsts, he would move on to become a franchisee for three inner city franchises in Chicago, Illinois.

Growing up one of 17 children and reared by his grandparents, Mr. Lofton learned early the importance of hard work and persistence. That persistence would earn him the coveted Ronald Award in 1995, top sales awards in 1998, the Press On Award from McDonald’s in 2002, the OPNAD Service Award from 1998-2006 and countless others in the McDonald’s system.

Mr. Lofton is also widely respected in the community in which he operates on Chicago’s West side both for his employment of community residents and his commitment to youth mentoring. He has served on several boards including the Regional Economic Development Group and the North Lawndale YMCA.

In June 2008, Mr. Lofton became MOCNI Co-Op President.
 

   Keith Pryor

 Coming Soon

   Lance Jones

Lance Jones, a native of Chicago is a new addition to the McDonald’s owner operator family. He joined the McDonald’s owner operator training program in June of 2005. He purchased his first store November of 2006. Mr. Jones has always been passionate about the restaurant business. Prior to becoming a McDonald’s franchisee, he worked for Starbucks coffee for three and a half years as a regional manager. He was also vice president of operations for Dock’s Great Fish where his responsibilities included overseeing the operations of 38 stores in six districts. He was employed by Dock’s for 16 years.  

Mr. Jones likes to dedicate his free time to his community.  He’s a member of  Sheldon Heights Church of Christ where he serves as Deacon over finance.  Because of his passion for youth, he is active in the youth programs at his church and also coaches their basketball team.  He has coached youth baseball in Chicago and Matteson for 14 years and basketball for 10 years.  When Mr. Jones is not dedicating his time to his community, he loves to golf, bowl, swim and play basketball. He is a graduate of GovernorsStateUniversity

   Phil Douglas

Coming Soon

   Not Available

Coming Soon
 

   Esperanza McSween

Following in her father’s footsteps, Esperanza McSween is the owner/operator of two McDonald’s Restaurants located in Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. McSween also oversees the operations of nine additional restaurants owned by her father, Cirilo McSween.

An owner/operator since 1997, McSween is a highly active member of the Black McDonald’s Operators Association [BMOA] of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana supporting signature programs such as the Dr. King Summit and Food for the Body & Spirit.

Born in Urbana, Ill., McSween has been a resident of Chicago since childhood. Her professional career began taking shape in 1978 with Independence Bank as an Assistant Auditor. Two years later, she switched to Harris Bank where she was a Legal Service Specialist for the Auditing Team for all Legal Services. In 1983, McSween began working with Cirilo’s Inc. doing Food Cost Statistical Reporting, and two years later became the Chief Financial Officer [CFO], handling the company’s financial records and reporting. She would become a McDonald’s Restaurant manager for the first time in 1995, managing the store on 64th Street and Jackson Street. She was named supervisor of the stores in O’Hare International Airport in 1996, and became an owner/operator for the McDonald’s Corporation in 1997.

Deeply motivated by the fine example set by her father, McSween is a dedicated member of the BMOA team. “I became a franchisee to continue the legacy of my father with an entrepreneurial spirit in consideration of the McDonald’s brand as excellent and the continuance of the excellence of the management team.” Through commitment and hard work, McSween is a vital member of the BMOA, in her pursuit of excellence and strengthening the already strong McDonald’s brand.