Hazel K. Smith is a proud owner and operator of several McDonald’s restaurants located throughout Houston. Smith grew up in Dallas, Texas. She was attending college and working on her degree to become an accountant when her mother suddenly passed away. At that point, she decided to quit her job at the bank. At the request of her brother, she then relocated to Houston.
In January 1993, Smith moved to Houston to commence working with her sibling, who had recently become a McDonald’s owner. He took her under his wings and began to train her in all aspects of the business. Being cross-trained in the store as a shift manager and an office administrator, she had oversite of the onboarding process for all new employees as well as knowledge of running the back office.
In 1998, Smith won her first “Outstanding Store Manager Award.” She continued to excel as a manager with her team as they repeated the process of being award winners each year. In 2008, she was given the opportunity to purchase her own store in the Houston community. Ironically, the store that she purchased was the store that she initially began her career 15 years earlier.
Smith is now the proud owner of six stores with over 450 employees under her tutelage. Smith is the vice president for the Local Black McDonald’s Owners Association, she is a board member of the Ronald McDonald House of Houston as well as a member of several other McDonald committees and has received numerous awards in her career. Some of her awards from McDonald’s Corporation include 2009 Rookie of the Year, Street Fighter Awards, People Awards and the Outstanding Store Awards. In 2011, she was honored as one of the Top 25 Women of Houston by the Steed Society and was featured in Rolling Out Magazine.
Smith is molded in the corporate responsibility that the McDonald’s Franchise represents. She states “how can you not want to be a part of molding the young adults of tomorrow? They need all the positive influence that they can get.” Her motto is “I have the power to create, nurture and transform. Knowing that everything I touch I can somehow improve motivates me to touch as many people’s lives as I possibly can.” She vehemently believes in lending a helping hand to young adults that need educational assistance. Throughout the Houston community, she gives back to the community through the Smith Foundation, Inc. The Smith Foundation recently awarded 14 scholarships in the amount of $4000 and a laptop to each deserving student needing a helping hand. Smith, a caring mother of three beautiful children, is also a dedicated loving sister and aunt.
Hazel K. Smith
Owner and Operator
McDonald’s
