Influential Woman · Fast Food

Michelle WHITE

Crew Member, WendPartners Franchise Group

Chesapeake, VA

Her Story

About Michelle

I started working fast food when I was young at McDonald's as crew. In 2005, I permanently started working for Wendy's because I liked the management, the employees, and the upper half. I started in Florida doing crew work - making sandwiches, cashier, whatever they needed. Then I moved to Virginia Beach and worked at the 22nd Street location where all the tourist crowds come, and that's where I got my strength. I've been working the grill since 2005, doing fries, helping with salvages, doing multiple things. Now I work permanently as maintenance - I go in, clean the store wherever it needs cleaning, do trucks and put them up, which I've been doing for years. I love it because I'm not harassed, and I've been working with the same manager since 2009. I help train new employees, especially the grill people, making sure they keep the grill area clean since our meat comes fresh, never frozen. I have to make sure they keep the blood and E. coli off the grill, keep it sanitized. I've been cleaning this store by myself since 2019, and out of all the Wendy's in Virginia that work under the same owner, I'm the cleanest store. We get 99-100% scores on inspections.

Her Interview

Ten minutes with Michelle

01What do you attribute your success to?

I attribute my success to the work ethic my parents trained me to have. My parents were military, and my dad taught me that no matter what you do, take pride in that work. He told me when I was mopping the floor to mop that floor with pride. That's the work ethic I have, and I take pride in my work. When I clean up my equipment, it looks so good people ask how I got it that way - I tell them I take pride in my work. You've got to have a work ethic. If you don't have no work ethic, then you don't have nothing. I also keep God in everything I do, because God will bring you through. I'm telling you from experience - always keep God in everything you do, and when you wake up in the morning, make sure you give that man thanks. He's the only one that's gonna bring you through.

02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?

The best career advice I ever received was from my dad, who was military. He told me that no matter what you do, take pride in that work. I remember when I was mopping the floor and wanted to be mad about it, he said to mop that floor with pride. That advice has stuck with me my whole career. It's why when people ask me why I work so hard, I tell them it's because I take pride in my work. My parents trained me to take pride in my work, and that's what I do every single day.

03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?

Stay encouraged, keep your head up, go for your goal. If you graduate and want to go to college, make sure that's what you want to do - go to college, do what you gotta do, graduate, get you a nice job, go out there and get you a nice career. You don't have to depend on nobody but you. Be independent. Always depend on you. Never think you don't have to do something because somebody else will - no, don't do that. Depend on you, because ain't nobody gonna be there for you when you really need them. I'm talking from experience - I'm not just talking to be talking. Always have your own back. Nobody's coming to save you, you have to save yourself. And always keep God in everything you do, because God is the only one you can rely on.

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