Franchise Owner

Starting as a part-time crew member cleaning toilets at a McDonalds, little did anyone other than herself envision eventual ownership of not only that franchise location but possibly more. 

CHILDHOOD

Tanya Hill (TH) was born and raised in Maryland. Within her neighborhood, she observed both hard working adults and lazy adults. She was determined to be one of the hard workers to eventually own a business to support herself in a comfortable lifestyle. 

EDUCATION

Always a good student, TH was intent on proceeding from high school through college graduation, which she assumed would open more doors of opportunity than having only a high school diploma. 

She chose to enroll at Morgan State University, focusing her courses on business-related subjects. Located in Baltimore, Maryland, Morgan State University is a public, historically Black research university, the largest of Maryland’s HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities). It is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and authorized to award doctorate degrees due to its high research standards. 

As of 2024, there were 9,808 students enrolled, comprised of 8,300 undergraduates and 1,508 graduate students. 45% were non-Maryland residents, including international students from Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia. Several hundred Hispanic/Latinx students were enrolled.

FIRST ADULT JOBS ARE NEVER A CAREER COMMITMENT

While attending college, TH was looking for part-time work to help support herself financially. Seeing a want-ad for entry-level work at a McDonald’s restaurant, TH applied and was hired to be part of the fast-food restaurant crew. Her job responsibilities included cleaning up after customers – quite literally – while scrubbing toilets. 

TH had no problem with efficiently and effectively completing every assigned task, quickly learning to anticipate what was needed to be done next, as she visualized a future with McDonalds beyond entry-level work. 

CHALLENGE – ENTRY LEVEL TASKS ASSIGNED

“I always enjoyed what I was doing, as difficult as it was to be told, ‘You got to clean a table, you got to clean the toilets, you got to scrub the baseboards. You got to do…(whatever)’ but I did it,” recalled a determined TH, looking back at her successful career. 

CHALLENGE – DIFFICULT AND BIASED CO-WORKERS

During her 44 years with McDonalds, TH has worked 13 types of jobs, including Vice President. In some positions, she was told “I wasn’t supposed to be here. I was called every name but my name.” 

(Editor: So, who had the last laugh or at least an inward smile? TH, of course.)

DEDICATION OVERCOMES CHALLENGES

When TH was offered the opportunity to purchase a McDonalds’ franchise, she self-assessed her ability to arrange affordable financing within a reasonable balance of business income and personal living expenses. One successful franchise operation led – carefully – to reinvesting its profits to another and another. Eventually, TH became the owner of 12 McDonalds’ franchise locations within Philadelphia’s western suburbs, an area known as the ‘Main Line’ (for its location surrounding a commuter railroad line from Philadelphia to western destinations). TH thus oversees more than 600 employees. 

TH’s focus on business operations, combined with her entrepreneurship (determination to be a business owner, not just an employee), has kept TH on the track of success that she now shares with her crew and others to whom she is an inspiration. 

CAREER SATISFACTION

While handling day-to-day franchise management operations, TH gives back to the community through volunteering her time and business expertise with the National Black McDonald’s Operators Association, serving as Chair and CEO of 168 entities. She hopes that her experiences within her climb to the top helps to inspire young people working that first job. 

In the words of TH, “Stay motivated, stay encouraged, stay prayed up. I stay prayed up all the time.”

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This career story is based on multiple sources, including articles written by Natalie Jason and Chris Richburg, published during February and March, 2024 online by, among others, eurweb.