Asistores wins global McDonald’s award

Jocelyn Asistores, fourth from left, poses with the McDonald’s team in Middle Road. Asistores recently won the McDonald’s Global Ray Kroc Award, making her among the top 1% of general managers around the world who demonstrate superior performance in their McDonald’s restaurants, and throughout the McDonald’s system. (IVA MAURIN)

The CNMI has gained its first global McDonald’s awardee.

Jocelyn “Joyce” Asistores, general manager of McDonald’s Middle Road, has been awarded the 2019 McDonald’s Global Ray Kroc Award, which goes to the top 1% of McDonald’s general managers all over the world who demonstrate superior performances.

McDonald’s presents the Global Ray Kroc Award only every two years.

Asistores, who has been with the company since November 1994, is the first in the Marianas, and in the Ayuyu organization, to receive the award.

“It feels good to receive such an award but I want to give credit to the people who made it possible for me,” Asistores said. “There would be no award without my managers and crew because they are the ones who really work hard. I may be their leader, but they are the ones who work hard. Yes, I am getting this recognition, but the credit really is for them.”

Originally from the Philippines, Asistores began her career with McDonald’s in 1994 as crew, then went on to become a crew member, area manager, and in her current role as general manager.

“I am so proud of all the accomplishments Joyce has made thus far and I am confident in her abilities to accomplish much more,” said area supervisor Joe Ayuyu Jr. “She is an inspiration to her team and everyone around her. Joyce embodies the brand McDonald’s to the fullest and we are blessed to have her as part of our team. Cheers to 2020 and beyond.”

McDonald’s Saipan owner/operator Marcia Ayuyu said that Asistores is a very dedicated person and has great people skills. “She is a great leader,” she added.

In 2014, Asistores attended the McDonald’s Hamburger University, a state-of-the-art training center for McDonald’s managers and employees, in Chicago, Illinois, after which she was promoted to general manager for McDonald’s Garapan. In August 2019, Asistores was promoted to general manager for McDonald’s Middle Road. Currently, she manages a team of 59 employees.

As for her secret, Asistores said, “There is no special magic, you just have to do what is right. …It is not enough to just perform your duties. …You have to enjoy your work, and enjoy the people you work with.”

With more than 36,000 McDonald’s restaurants worldwide, Asistores joins the top 1% of general managers who demonstrate superior performances throughout the McDonald’s system.

“It feels good that you influence others by showing them the right thing to do,” Asistores added.

The Global Ray Kroc Award is designed to identify and celebrate the chain’s best restaurant managers across the world. Each nominee goes through a vigorous nomination process reviewed by field office HR, field operations teams, and nationally. Winners are selected based on a mix of business results and leadership behaviors.

McDonald’s of Guam & Saipan is locally owned and operated by franchisee’s Joe and Marcia Ayuyu. First opened in 1993, the organization includes eight McDonald’s restaurants: two on Saipan and six in Guam. In 2016, the Ayuyu’s acquired all McDonald’s restaurants in Guam and the company remains one of the largest employers in the Marianas Islands.