For Holly Kinzie, General Manager (GM) of Shamrock Company’s Milton Avenue Dunkin’ in Janesville, WI, the restaurant business has always been about people. After working for the location’s previous owner for more than 17 years, Holly experienced a major transition when Shamrock acquired the restaurant in August 2025.

“I’ll admit I struggled with such a big change and wasn’t sure what I wanted to do,” Holly shares candidly. “Change isn’t always easy, especially after being somewhere for so long.”

Looking back nearly a year later, she’s grateful she stayed.

“I’m proud to be part of a company that has given me the opportunity to continue growing while doing something I genuinely love.” – Holly Kinzie, Dunkin’ GM

A Leader Who Invests in People

Ask Holly what has kept her in the restaurant industry for so many years and the answer is simple: relationships.

“I’m a people person, and building genuine relationships is what I enjoy most,” she says. “Over the years I’ve built strong bonds with both my customers and my employees. Those connections are what have made this job meaningful to me.”

That people-first mindset shapes her leadership style every day.

To Holly, great leadership means setting a clear vision, helping team members understand the “why” behind their work and making sure they have the support they need to succeed. She believes in celebrating wins of every size, whether it’s achieving strong drive-thru times, receiving positive customer feedback or recognizing a shift that worked together efficiently.

“When customers notice our hard work, I think it builds the team’s confidence,” she shares.

Celebrating Team Success

While Holly has plenty to be proud of, she points to her team as her greatest accomplishment.

“I’m incredibly proud of the team I have built,” she said. “They work hard every day and because of that, we’ve been able to break records and achieve great success. I couldn’t do it without them.”

She also enjoys bringing creativity to the guest experience. For more than 15 years, Holly has created festive holiday donuts that have become a guest favorite.

“Seeing the excitement on [their] faces when they walk in and see the holiday donuts displayed is incredibly rewarding,” she shares.

Looking Ahead

Holly encourages anyone considering a career with Shamrock Company to take the leap.

“I think it’s great that they give their current team members the opportunity to grow and advance their careers,” she says.

“[Shamrock] is a company that cares about its employees and believes in promoting from within.” – Holly Kinzie, Dunkin’ GM

Like many passionate leaders, Holly admits finding balance is an ongoing goal.

“After 18 years, I look at my store as my baby,” she says. “I care deeply about its success, my team and my customers, so it’s often the first thing on my mind.”

Even on challenging days, her motivation remains the same.

“My team and my customers keep me going,” Holly said. “I try to remember tomorrow is a new day and a new opportunity to do better.”

And if you happen to stop by her Dunkin’? You’ll probably find Holly enjoying her favorite order: an iced coffee with protein milk, mocha and butter pecan. A sweet order for a pretty sweet leader!