McDonald’s celebrates local owner/operator Susan Mann

In honor of Women’s History Month, local McDonald’s restaurants is celebrating Owner/Operator Susan Mann.

Mann owns and operates a total of eight restaurants across the area including those in Jasper, Ferdinand, Newburgh, and several in Evansville. 

Women’s History Month highlights the contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society. Today in the U.S., McDonald’s has 700 independently owned and operated women franchisees. Mann is one of them, and she says she is honored to serve the Dubois County and surrounding communities.

Mann started her career with McDonald’s as a crew member when she was just 16 years old and trained under her father as he was going through the process to become an owner/operator.

“I fell in love with McDonald’s in Russel Springs, Ky., and after that, I always knew I wanted to make it a career,” said Mann. “I wrote a paper my senior year of high school in 1992 and set a goal for myself to own my own restaurant by the time I was 26.”

In just eight short years from her first shift as a crew member, Mann had quickly worked her way through the rigorous process to become an owner/operator herself. At the age of 24, she was able to accomplish her goal early and she, along with her husband and fellow owner/operator Rick Mann, had three children under the age of three when they got their first restaurant in Corbin, Ky. in 1997.

The two quickly acquired a total of five restaurants in southeast Kentucky, and as their family grew, they saw an opportunity to expand in the Southern Indiana market. Now, as active members of the Dubois County and Evansville communities, Mann says giving back is one of her favorite parts about being in the McDonald’s business.

“The community has embraced us, both personally and professionally,” she said. “From the friends we’ve made as Jasper Football parents and members of our church, to the people we employ and are able to serve through our restaurants—it’s truly a blessing.”

Mann has served in many leadership roles throughout her career, including president, vice president, and public relations lead for McDonald’s co-ops. She also actively supports the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Ohio Valley, and enjoys planning local events for the charity.

Mann is the mother of four, and the youngest of four siblings, with three sisters who are each professionals she admires. She says she has always been surrounded by strong and determined women who inspired her to follow her dreams.

“I’m honored when people tell me I’m a lot like my grandmother,” she said. “She raised eight children and then, at the age of 54, went back to school to become a registered nurse and retired in her seventies. She is the epitome of perseverance and determination!”

Mann also credits her work ethic to her mother and grandmothers, who taught her love for community, family, and others. She lives by the motto “nothing is too small!” and learned from her family that any gesture or act of good will is worth the effort.

“I’m lucky to be surrounded by strong women in the McDonald’s industry, too,” Mann said. “From our local leadership team within our organization, to the national Women’s Operator Network, McDonald’s provides the perfect environment for women to empower, encourage, and learn from one another.”