McDonald’s Owner Thom Brown Shares Human Resources Wisdom

Having spent two decades working in human resources management within the food industry, the time came for Thom Brown to retire and embark on a new career. He knew that McDonald’s provided the best franchise opportunity.

“I applied to McDonald’s to become a registered applicant and by December 1990, I got my first store,” shares the president and chairman of the Black McDonald’s Operators Association (BMOA) of Chicago and Northwest Indiana’s public relations committee, and board member of the national BMOA. 

It’s been 20 years since he opened his first store, and Brown feels compelled to assist others along their career paths to ownership. With his wealth of experience in talent management and training, he’s an authority on how to attract, motivate and retain the most qualified team members.

“People are the key to getting things done and done well. Selecting the right people, giving them the correct orientation and providing appropriate training to carry out the responsibilities are what my previous employment prepared me for,” he explains, adding that his proven ability to nurture and engage talent led to his stores being selected to train registered applicants to become operators.

“To date, there are four people who are still operators, who came through my organization,” he says.

Brown currently owns two McDonald’s restaurants in the Chicago area: one in Hanover Park on 7455 Barrington Road and the other in Elk Grove on 633 Meacham Road. He’s a proud community supporter and contributes to the community through Write to Achieve, Food for the Body and Spirit and Be Well Health. He actively participates in organizations such as UNCF and Ronald McDonald House Charities. –yvette caslin