Celestina Quintana has to pinch herself. She still can’t quite believe it’s all real. When she looks at the life she built as a McDonald’s owner-operator, it can sometimes feel like a dream.
She was 10 years old when she and her parents emigrated to New Jersey from a small farm in northern Spain. That was 60 years ago.
Today, Celestina and her family own and operate several McDonald’s restaurants in the Newark area and she enjoys a life that the small girl from Galicia would have struggled to imagine. As Celestina looks toward retirement, her daughter, Jessica, is taking over the family business.
It’s not just the material rewards. What really makes both women profoundly grateful are the opportunities McDonald’s has provided—the opportunity to be someone’s first job, the opportunity to give back to the community, the opportunity to be challenged and engaged every day and the opportunity to grow as individuals and entrepreneurs.
McDonald’s has been their path to the American Dream. “When I pull up into the parking lot and I see the golden arches, it’s unbelievable,” Jessica says. “I’m proud to be part of something that is bigger than me.”
Learn more about how McDonald’s Franchisees are making their mark with this guide.