 Roland Jones knows how to stand out. His career is filled with firsts: first African American hired into the executive structure of the McDonald’s Corporation—first black McDonald’s multi-restaurant franchise owner in his home state of Tennessee—initiator and co-founder of one of the first minority business networks in the country—and now the first insider to tell the story of how he and a small group of pioneer black McDonald’s owners changed the face of the world’s largest fast-food company and influenced corporate America to accept and eventually embrace racial, cultural, and gender diversity in the work and the market places.
During his quarter century with McDonald’s Corporation and his subsequent business ventures, Roland Jones often faced obstacles that seemed impossible, yet in virtually every instance, overcame—turning obstacles into opportunities and opportunities into successes. And he is the first to say that he did not make his way up the ladder alone. Faithful to his lifelong advocacy of service through collaboration and teamwork, he is a master of effective team-building and sharing both the responsibilities and the fruits of every success.
Today, Roland Jones uses his unique combination of business and people skills, ethical standards, strategic vision, creative problem solving, and market savvy to assist others. As a consultant to business owners, senior executives, and managers, he brings a wealth of experience and hands-on know-how to challenges ranging from long-range strategic and tactical planning to employee motivation and conflict resolution. A popular and energetic speaker, he is equally comfortable in corporate boardrooms and high school and college classrooms and auditoriums.
| Personally and through the pages of Standing Up and Standing Out, his revealing and inspiring book about his life and his years inside McDonald’s, Roland Jones demonstrates the power of having a dream, believing in oneself and others, seeing every difficulty as an opportunity to improve, and moving forward by serving others. |
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