Press Room

With an Introduction by Ed Rensi, former president of McDonald's USA

McDonald's is more than just burgers and fries - it's in the pantheon of global brands. As the world's largest restaurant chain, it's recognized on every continent, praised for its legendary work culture and its recession-proof blue-chip stock, and studied for its attention to changing customer tastes and markets. The alma mater of countless thousands of workers, McDonald's has honed its organization and leadership to create an unparalleled success story, with literally billions served.

EVERYTHING I KNOW ABOUT BUSINESS I LEARNED AT McDONALD'S (McGraw-Hill; November; Hardcover, $24.95) examines the company's winning strategies. With "ketchup in his blood" from decades of work experience beneath the golden arches, author Paul Facella distills the company's management strengths with exclusive interviews with executives, franchisees, managers, and vendors throughout the corporation, including company founder Ray Kroc.

Revealing the long-running strategies behind such a monumental brand requires an insider's view -- and Facella's life has been intimately tied to McDonald's for decades. Starting behind the counter at McDonald's, at age 16, he was promoted to Crew Member, then rose through the ranks to positions of increased responsibility, including Assistant Manager, Store Manager, Director of Training, and Director of Operations for 12-store franchise. By the time of his retirement with the company, he was a regional vice-president, responsible for more than 450 stores and $600 million dollars in sales.

With his long experience and access to company insiders, Facella serves up anecdotes, stories, and recollections that offer Super-Sized strategies, with "Lessons Learned" applicable to every company, at every level.

From the critical collaboration between owners, operators, employees, and suppliers, to management's continuous push for excellence and recognition, to the power of transparency across the board, these are among the seven principles of a global powerhouse:

Chapter 1: Honesty and Integrity: All in a Handshake

Chapter 2: Relationships

Chapter 3: Standards: Never Be Satisfied

Chapter 4: Lead by Example

Chapter 5: Courage: Telling it Like it Is

Chapter 6: Communications

Chapter 7: Recognition

EVERYTHING I KNOW ABOUT BUSINESS I LEARNED AT McDONALD'S is a lifetime of leadership and management essentials observed behind the scenes of one of the world's biggest brands.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Paul Facella was regional vice president of the New York Region, a position he held for eleven years. A pupil of the legendary leaders Kroc and Turner, worked as a team with his staff, operators and vendors, and applied their leadership lessons to the New York Region, growing it to $650 million in revenues - a four-fold increase in profit and a 90% increase in store count, and one of the strongest performing regions in the country.

EVERYTHING I KNOW ABOUT BUSINESS I LEARNED AT McDONALD'S: The 7 Leadership Principles that Drive Break-Out Success by Paul Facella; McGraw-Hill, November, 2008; Hardcover, $24.95; ISBN-10: 0-07-160141-4; ISBN-13 978-0-07-160141-2.

Praise for

EVERYTHING I KNOW ABOUT BUSINESS I LEARNED AT McDONALD'S:

"Paul Facella has completely captured the timeless and practical essence of the ‘McDonald's Way' that allowed so many ordinary people to succeed beyond their wildest dreams.

Reading this book will surely become a must-read for anyone aspiring to win."

Claire Babrowski, Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, Toys "R" Us

"How McDonald's successful business model was founded on seven simple 'human principles,' and useful for any business person as a guide for how their business can succeed."

Jean-Marie Horovitz, former Managing Director, Citigroup

"The sentiments expressed and the experiences so eloquently demonstrated in Paul's book clearly define how this company keeps employees engaged and keeps "ketchup flowing" in the blood."

Janann Williams, Vice President of People, McLane Company, Inc.

QUICK STATS (From McDonald's 2007 Annual Report):

· 1.6 Million Restaurant employees dedicated to serving customers

· 540 Million Snack Wraps were sold in 2007

· 24,500 Restaurants around the world offer extended or 24-hour service

· 1 Billion more customers were served in 2007 than in 2006

FAMOUS McDONALD'S ALUM:

· Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos

· Former White House Chief of Staff Andy Card

· Nine-time Gold medal Olympic athlete Carl Lewis

· Editor in Chief of Working Woman Magazine Bernadette Gray

· Actor/Screen Writer/Movie Producer Damon Wayans

· Tonight Show host Jay Leno