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(WNY News Now) – Westfield – Jenny Sobczak, the general manager for McDonald’s in Westfield, was recently the recipient of the Outstanding GM award in recognition of her outstanding service.

WNY News Now recently sat down for an interview with Dave Singelyn and Jenny Sobczak, the owner-operator and general manager, respectively, of the McDonald’s located at 102 Main Street in Westfield, New York. Sobczak was recently honored with the Outstanding GM award, an achievement only reached by the top 10% of general managers across the nation. She detailed how she found out that she had won, telling us that her coworkers had set up a surprise party while she was doing a walk-through at a different location, revealing the good news to her when she returned.

Sobczak, who began working for McDonald’s in September 2002, spent 5 years climbing the ladder to become a general manager at the age of 21. What’s even more impressive is that she managed to attend JCC and raise her 3 children while working at McDonald’s.

Sobczak noted how the staff at McDonald’s have become her second family, a sentiment that Singelyn echoed, noting that it is one of the core values that the company strives toward.

Singelyn himself has a wealth of experience with McDonald’s, having started working for the franchise at 14, eventually becoming a second-generation operator as he joined his father, who became a franchisee in 1980, as a partner in their New Jersey location.

Sobczak expressed her belief that McDonald’s is a fantastic employer, detailing the various benefits offered to its workers, such as the flexible schedule for employees who might need certain times off (e.g. single mothers), their Arches Opportunities program that helps employees further their education, and their programs that teach english to spanish-speaking employees and spanish to english-speaking employees.

Singelyn talked about McDonald’s tuition assistance program, noting how recipients can receive up to $3,000 annually for employees enrolled in an accredited university. Last year alone, the Singelyn franchise gave out $85,000 in tuition assistance. According to Singelyn, whether McDonald’s is a ladder to climb or a stepping stone to cross, the experiences and skills that it offers can be invaluable to those looking to further their career.

Singelyn capped things off by talking about his desire for the franchise to be seen not as a faceless corporation, but as a fellow member of the community. To help achieve this, he discussed some of the ways that the franchise has given back to the community. One notable example was when the Village of Westfield was experiencing blackouts while the village’s utilities were being upgraded last year. Sobczak spearheaded what was called the “Big Mac Blackout”. They purchased a generator that allowed the restaurant to stay open and serve the community while the village had no power.

Singelyn and Sobczak both serve as a shining example toward both their community and corporate culture as a whole.