North Jersey McDonald’s Owners Make Fast Food A Family Affair

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — An owner/operator of several McDonald’s restaurants in North Jersey recently earned the company’s 2018 Ronald Award, which honors entrepreneurs who “have made outstanding contributions to McDonald's, their local community and customers.”

According to a company news release, Chris Cottrell, a second-generation McDonald’s franchisee who works with his father and brother, currently serves as the director of operations for the family’s 18 McDonald’s restaurants across New Jersey.

The Cottrell family operates restaurants in Butler, East Hanover, Elizabeth, Florham Park, Mahwah, Milton, Newark, Paramus, Parsippany, Pine Brook, Rahway, Roselle, Succasunna, Wayne, West Milford and Wyckoff.

“It’s truly an honor to be chosen as one of this year’s Ronald Award recipients,” Cottrell said. “I’d like to thank my father, Paul, whose guidance and mentorship have allowed me to succeed in the McDonald’s system, as well as my amazing staff who are the reason for our success. People are at the heart of my organization and are what make it thrive, and I’m proud to offer my employees ways to succeed both inside and outside of the workplace.”

• See related article: Mother-Daughter Duo Own 12 McDonald's Restaurants Around Newark

Cottrell was selected for the award out of the more than 60 McDonald’s franchise owners in the New York Metro area, representing more than 560 restaurants across New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, the company stated.

According to McDonald’s spokespeople:

“Cottrell empowers and supports his employees by encouraging them to take professional development classes in addition to Archways to Opportunity – McDonald’s educational program that provides eligible U.S. employees an opportunity to earn a high school diploma, receive upfront college tuition assistance, access free education advising services and learn English as a second language. Since the program launched in 2015, the Cottrell family has awarded more than $74,781 in tuition assistance to 43 restaurant employees.”

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Photo courtesy of McDonald’s

Caption: From left, Jorge Ferraz, Operations Officer, McDonald’s Stamford Field Office; Zoe Hamburger, Field Marketing Officer, McDonald’s Stamford Field Office; Chris Kempczinski, President, McDonald’s USA; Chris Cottrell, McDonald’s Franchise Owner/Operator; Mario Barbosa, East Zone President, McDonald’s USA; Gino Potesta, Vice President, Stamford Field Office