Surf Cat

“She treats everybody like family,” said Cindy Bundy, one of about a dozen or so who meet for coffee every morning, said. “She goes out of her way to make you feel welcome. You just want to be around her.”

So much so that when Kordus transferred to a different McDonald’s location, they followed her.

“She energetic,” Junior Kiekhoefer said. “She’s nice to talk to, and she puts up with us.”

Kordus was also greeted by franchise owner operator Jeff Steren, who surprised her with the news that she is one of 365 managers from 37,000 restaurants worldwide to receive the Global Ray Kroc Award.

“Oh my God, this is huge,” Kordus said as tears filled her eyes. “I never thought I would get this award.”

Reaching this level of excellence has landed her in the top 1 percent of all McDonald’s managers, Steren said. She is one of 150 winners from the United States.

“You earned it,” he told Kordus.

Kordus will receive a plaque, a trophy and a cash award at a Gala Awards Event at the McDonald’s Worldwide Convention next spring in Orlando, Fla., from McDonald’s CEO Steve Easterbrook.

She was quick to give her team credit for helping her make the Kenosha McDonald’s tops in sales out of the Steren Management McDonald’s Franchise, which has 16 locations in Kenosha, Racine and Milwaukee.

“The team I built here is why I got this,” Kordus said. “They really strive to be the best. It’s not just me; it’s everybody.”

Kordus, of Twin Lakes, began working for the McDonald’s corporation 19 years ago. Steren said she excels in operations, training and development and marketing.

“She is always developing new managers,” Steren said.

Named after McDonald’s founder Ray Kroc, this award was established in 1999 in the United States and expanded globally shortly afterward to honor hardworking restaurant managers — those who embody Ray Kroc’s vision of excellence. Award candidates are nominated by McDonald’s owner-operators and regional staff.

“I haven’t had a winner in 13 years,” Steren said.

A selection committee of representatives from operations, training and human resources teams selects the winners, who need to demonstrate excellence in quality, service and cleanliness as well as show superior results in restaurant operations, people management and building the business.