Greene County woman goes from cashier to McDonald’s owner
Like thousands of Pennsylvanians, Jodi Richards’ first job as a teenager was working as a cashier at her local McDonald’s restaurant in Waynesburg. Unlike most, she never left.
Now, more than two decades later, Richards operates three McDonald’s franchises in the Washington area, having earned successive promotions at the company until she was in a position to make the jump to ownership.
Richards said she quickly fell in love with the fast-paced work environment and atmosphere.
McDonald’s locations can serve as a “hub” for a small town, Richards said. “I really like McDonald’s, and I also like serving people.”
“It’s so much more than what people think it is,” she said.
From her first role as a crew member at 16, Richards was promoted to manager at 18, general manager at 22 and eventually as a regional supervisor responsible for multiple restaurants at 25.
She credits the robust internal professional development opportunities available through the company, including the flagship Hamburger University leadership and management program in Chicago.
Richards rolled academic credits she earned at HU into a Bachelor’s of Arts in Business Management degree at West Liberty (W.Va.) University, eventually returning to pursue her masters in business management in 2018.
She is now the “very proud” owner/operator of three McDonald’s restaurants in the Washington area, at Trinity Pointe, West Chestnut Street and Jefferson Avenue.
“As McDonald’s celebrates Women’s History Month, leaders like Jodi Richards exemplify the opportunity, resilience, and dedication that have helped shape the brand for generations. Her journey is a reminder of the extraordinary things that can happen when talent is recognized, people are supported and possibility is encouraged at every step,” the company said in a statement.
The company has always held a special place in Richards’ life, she said, from her first memories getting matching orders – a hamburger with extra pickles – with her family as a kid.
Richards said that trips to her local restaurant with her mom and grandmother back home in Greene County were always a highlight.
More than 25 years later, Richards still has the first crew hat she received as a cashier, now covered in dozens of pins from annual promotions.
“It’s a fun relic,” she said.