7/25/2019 Online BE

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From prison to restaurant manager: McDonalds has been really good for me

POSTED O DE!EM"E# $% &'() "* +,D- P.#-M-S-#,

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-ndre/ Monroe considers himself luc0y1 -t $'% he is a married father of t/o /ith

a good2paying 3ob1 4es also 5nishing a bachelors degree in operations

management at 6rand 7alley State .ni8ersity1

- decade ago% he /as in prison on a drug con8iction1

Monroe says he o/es much of his transformation to McDonalds and franchise

o/ner Tony !astillo% /hom he began /or0ing for se8en years ago1

4e still isnt sure /hy one of !astillos managers hired him in &''9 during the

recession /hen applicants easily outnumbered 3obs% and Monroe had more time

behind bars than 3ob eperience1

;obody /as hiring1 , couldnt get a 3ob any/here%< remembers Monroe% a soft2

spo0en man /hose green eyes carry a sharp ga=e1 4e is sharing his story at a

table in the 4olland area McDonalds he no/ runs as the general manager1

+anding a minimum2/age spot on the restaurant cre/ /ould pro8e life2changing

for Monroe1

4e doesnt elaborate much on that period of his life bet/een high school

graduation and going to /or0 at McDonalds% other than to say he had some

troubles1

;, made >uite a fe/ bad decisions%< said the Tra8erse !ity nati8e1 ;, /as in8ol8ed

/ith drugs% and in8ol8ed in selling drugs1