By Dale Jones
Editor
In every community you find them. People who have found their niche in life, who work hard and who make a difference.
Be it an architect, a minister, a teacher or a road construction worker, there are individuals all across our land who found what they love to do, and they do it well.
Since the 1950s, after architect Stanley Meston designed the infamous Golden Arches for one of the world’s most recognized fast-food chains, people have been frequenting McDonald’s around the globe.
Who among us has not, at one time or another, pulled into a McDonald’s because we had a hankering for two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles and onions on a sesame seed bun? And those of us who have raised children in the past several decades have recognized the almost life-saving qualities of the “Happy Meal.”
For Ashley Kaple, McDonald’s has been a special part of her life since day one, and from Trussville to Moody, Springville to Arab, and lots of points in between, connoisseurs of quarter pounders and chicken McNuggets recognize her vitality for life, and her dedication to her calling.
From the ripe young age of 24, Kaple has been an owner / operator of McDonald’s restaurants, presently owning 13 stores in Trussville, Leeds, Moody, Arab, Oneonta, Pinson, Snead, Pell City, Centre, Springville and Talladega.
After years of dedication, hard work, and commitment, Kaple spends her days doing what she does best, managing more than 1,000 McDonald’s employees and being a positive Influence in her community.
The Closest Thing to Home
When Kaple was very young, her parents relocated from Atlanta to Oneonta, Ala where they opened their family business – the first McDonald’s in town.
“From a very young age, that is all I have ever known is my family working in McDonald’s,” said Kaple.
Even though Kaple attended Samford University, where she earned two degrees in both Biology and Business, all roads seemed to lead back home to McDonalds.
“Even after college, I just realized that I always loved the business and loved working with my family and loved McDonald’s, so I called my dad and told him I would really like to come into the business with him and that is what happened.”
While many people have been employed at McDonald’s as a summer job, or worked there through college, for others it has become a career, and for Kaple, it is the only job she has ever known.
You Deserve a Break Today
Although her family was already in the business, Kaple says that becoming an owner / operator is not a simple process and is more than just getting a “break.”
“They call it second generation, but just because you are the family member of an owner does not automatically put you in as an owner. There is a process.”
From interviews, work experience, going through manager training and making sure that you hold to both industry and McDonald’s standards, the road to becoming a store owner has not necessarily been an easy one.
“I started on the crew just like everyone else, was a store manager for a couple of years, and was often evaluated, making sure we were running a healthy business. All of the procedures have to be correct.”
Eventually, Kaple was approved to be an owner.
Mac Tonight
Fast forward to today where Kaple’s days are busy as a wife and mother, and overseeing her business. She is married to Dr. Trevor Kaple, a local endodontist, and also stays busy with their three small children, Reese, 5, Pearce, 3, and 20-month old Kennedy.
“If I am not working, I am pretty much always doing something with those four people.”
Kaple says she gets up around 4:30 a.m. each day, exercises, then goes through all of her reports, reviewing sales from the day before, and reviewing any problems she may have to address. She is quick to recognize her staff who helps her continue to be successful.
“I am so fortunate. We have two great directors, several supervisors, and of course our general managers. It is a really great team.”
Some days Kaple will spend an entire day at one store. Others, she hops around from store to store, depending on the circumstances.
One would have to ask, however, with three small children, how often is McDonald’s on the dinner menu?
“I honestly don’t know if a day goes by that I don’t eat something at McDonalds,” says Kaple, calling the grilled Southwest salad her favorite item. “But yes, my family dines at McDonald’s regularly. Just last week, I spent a Friday night working with one of my teams while my husband and kids ate and my children played in the play area.”
We Love to See You Smile
In addition to the smiles that Kaple and her staff bring to customers every day, she also serves on the board of the Ronald McDonald House, a charity formed in 1974 as an independent 501c3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to create, find, and support programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children.
Kaple says that while that is the only board she serves on, she and her husband actively support many local charities.
I’m Lovin’ It
One thing is for certain, Kaple has embraced her calling. She works hard, plays hard and faces each day with “prayer and a pot of coffee.”
What is her advice to others who know what they want out of life and how to get it?
“Definitely determination. It is huge to believe in yourself and know that if you want to accomplish something, you can. You may have to go a different route than you thought you might have to in order to get there, but just be determined and ambitious.”
Kaple says she continues to set goals for herself in order to live life to the fullest.
“I want to be a better mom, I want to be a better business owner, a better neighbor, a better McDonald’s owner, a better Christian. I just want to have an attitude of having goals and going after them, because even if you don’t reach your goals, you are still better off than you were before you started.”
There is no doubt, Ashley Kaple has “supersized” her life, and it shows by her dedication to her employees, her customers and her family, and on occasion, she’ll have fries with that.