Chelsea Galek, manager of the McDonald’s restaurant at 400 Towne Drive in Fayetteville, has won a Ray Kroc Award – an accolade that recognizes the top performing McDonald’s restaurant managers globally.

Galek was one of 395 McDonald’s restaurant managers from 70 markets around the world to receive the honor, which includes a cash prize, a trophy and a trip to McDonald’s Worldwide Convention in Barcelona, Spain.

>> Send us your company’s news about People in Motion

Part of the 1 in 8 Americans who have worked at a McDonald’s restaurant, Galek, a resident of Marcellus, started her career at McDonald’s as a crew member when she was 16 years old and has worked her way up over the past 20 years to her current position as a general manager. She is now part of the 1% of McDonald’s restaurant managers worldwide being recognized for the outstanding impact she has had on her team, customers and community.

She and her team are also champions for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central New York, routinely raising more than $1,500 each month through round-up donations. In addition to raising money for the organization, she also participates in Christmas in July to collect items from the community to donate to the Syracuse Ronald McDonald House.

While working at McDonald’s, Galek earned her associate’s degree in business technology at Onondaga Community College through Archways to Opportunity, an educational program that provides tuition assistance to McDonald’s employees.

If you’d like to submit an item about People in Motion at your organization, send a press release including photo, to business@syracuse.com with Company News in the subject field. We publish news about people with ties to Onondaga, Cayuga, Madison and Oswego counties. See all recent Company News items.