For college student Elise Knauf, a summer job at our Coopersville, MI Dunkin’ was supposed to be just that. But after joining the team in June, Elise quickly discovered something more. She found a workplace filled with supportive managers, friendly coworkers and regular customers who became familiar faces. Now she wants to keep growing with Shamrock Company long after the summer ends.

“I’ve been loving it,” Elise says. “I’m hoping to stay for a long time.”

A Sweet Start

Elise has always been drawn to the idea of working as a barista. After previous experience in food service, she wanted to try something new and decided coffee was the perfect fit! And while she’s still relatively new to the team, the experience has already made an impression.

One of the best parts of working
at Dunkin’ is the energy.

There’s always something to do, whether it’s helping guests, preparing orders or keeping up during a busy rush. That pace makes the workday fly by and gives Elise plenty of opportunities to learn.

“The managers always bring a good environment,” she shares. “They’re always happy and that’s great because when you’re here at four in the morning, it can be hard to start.”

“It’s a lot of fun and you make a lot of good friends at this job.”

– Elise Knauf, Dunkin’ Crew Member

A Place to Grow

One person who has made a particularly big impression on Elise is Ali Youtz, our Regional Vice President of Operations who hired her.

“She pushes you to do your best,” Elise says. “And she makes sure to give you credit when you do the right thing.”

That encouragement has helped Elise build confidence, especially during busy shifts. She remembers previous jobs where management focused primarily on mistakes. 

“The management here will uplift you,” she says. 

For a college student balancing work and school, that kind of encouragement means a lot.

The Next Chapter

As a social work student at Ferris State University, Elise is already thinking about how the patience, communication and empathy she practices at work will carry into her future career. She’s also keeping an eye on Shamrock’s scholarship opportunities and hopes to apply next year.

With school back in session, Elise is exploring the possibility of transferring to a Dunkin’ near her college so she can continue working during the school year, with plans to return to Coopersville in the summer. She’s ready to take on additional responsibilities and possibly move up through the ranks.

She encourages anyone considering a job at Shamrock to give it a shot!

“The environment’s always poppin’ and it’s always so much fun,” she says.

What are you waiting for? Join us!