McDonald’s Randolph Manager
Proves a Friend of the Disabled
By Sandy Vondrasek

Kelly Stacey, formerly a mental health professional and now manager at the Randolph McDonald's, has been honored twice for her work with the mentally handicapped. (Herald / Tim Calabro)

It takes a lot of management skills to keep a busy McDonald’s restaurant running smoothly. And it takes a lot more—including a big heart and a supply of trust and patience—for a McDonald’s manager to be willing to hire, train, and retain disabled workers.

Kelly Stacy of Bethel, the manager of the Randolph McDonald’s at Exit 4, has got it all. And people are taking note.

Stacy, named McD’s top assistant manager for the Boston region a few years ago, has, in the last few months, been honored twice for her willingness to hire the disabled, and to help them succeed at their jobs.

Last week, Susan Mills, a "job developer" for the state’s Vocational Rehabilitation department, presented Stacy with a certificate of appreciation for hiring disabled clients.

"She has been willing to try out people that I work with," Mills said. "Sometimes it is hard for them to find employment."

The local McDonald’s, Mills added, "has been really, really good about giving people a chance."

Stacy received a similar commendation two months ago from the Clara Martin Center, which honored her for her support of an employee with mental health issues.

Stacy, it was noted, not only hires and trains the disabled, she also puts in overtime efforts to secure transportation to and from work for them.

Stacy, interviewed at her workplace last week, noted that her corporate bosses have supported her commitment to hire disabled workers.

"They say, ‘Take a chance,’" she said.

"There has got to be a way they can get started," Stacy added.

Many of the disabled workers she hires need plenty of one-on-one supervision, said Stacy. Others develop into independent workers. Some prep salads and parfaits, for example, others do cleaning.

Her current Voc Rehab hire, said Stacy, "is a real sweet guy."

It turns out to be no accident that Stacy, who was promoted to site manager last year, is both willing and able to work with Voc Rehab and Clara Martin clients.

After getting a degree in mental health services, she worked for a number of years at Rutland County Mental Health. Stacy said her work involved helping clients gain work skills and employment.

Nor is it surprising that Stacy is a restaurant manager, as she has worked in the food service industry, part-time or full, since she was 15.

Work is full-time-plus, now. As manager, she works up to 70 hours a week, some of that at home. Home is busy in its own way, as Stacy is also raising her two-year-old grandson.

Stacy noted that the people skills she learned in her first career serve her well in her current position. And the extra support she extends to her disabled workers, she added, is not so different from that she gives to her entire crew. It is not unusual, she said, for one or another of her current staff of 47 full- and part-time workers to have transportation troubles.

She also strives to build teamwork and camaraderie among workers.

"A lot of people," noted Stacy, "think it (working at McDonald’s) is an easy job.

"It’s not an easy job," she said. "Teamwork is important."