Ever since their grand opening just two months ago, our Grandville, MI Dunkin’ team has hit the ground running — and thanks to the incredible leadership of their Restaurant General Manager (RGM), Sarah Salzwedel, they don’t have plans of slowing down anytime soon.
AN INDUSTRY PRO
Sarah loves working in the quick service world. “You have to be a certain kind of crazy to work in restaurants, and I fit it!” she laughs, adding, “It’s what I know, and I like thriving at what I do best.”
For 28 years, Sarah led a variety of teams for a number of large brands, including a popular burger chain and a Mediterranean restaurant concept. A few things happened in Sarah’s personal life, which prompted her to start looking for a simpler, less hectic position. Sarah’s previous roles were cutthroat, she says: at her busiest, she was overseeing nineteen restaurants!
Lucky for us, Sarah learned about the RGM opening at Shamrock during her search. She interviewed with Ali Youtz, our VP of Operations, and it was immediately clear to Sarah that it would be a good fit. “I knew her leadership style would support me,” she says of her decision to join the team.
NEW FACES, FAMILIAR PLACES
Sarah’s new role feels meant to be: she previously managed a Pizza Hut right where the new Grandville Dunkin’ is located! It’s this familiarity with 28th Street — plus her clear yet kind leadership style — that are the main contributors to Sarah’s team’s quick success.
When we asked Sarah what building her team looked like, she shares that she took the interview process very seriously. In each conversation, she asked candidates what their best characteristic was and what characteristic they needed to work on most. Sarah feels strongly that people who are able to self-evaluate are also great at receiving constructive feedback — something that will help them continue to grow.
Her thoughtful questions paid off, and she ended up with a fantastic crew. But Sarah’s leadership didn’t stop there — during training, she made her expectations for the team clear from the start. And now that they’re in the swing of things, she makes sure to never sway from her original direction — something a great leader should always aim to do, she adds.
“The culture here is amazing. No pettiness, no drama … this team learns together, trains together, and is promoted together.”
Sarah Salzwedel, Grandville, MI Dunkin’ RGM
EXCITED FOR THE FUTURE
As for Sarah’s first few months on the job, she shares that she’s enjoying managing only one restaurant — not nineteen! “It’s a breath of fresh air to just be in charge of my four walls, and do that really well,” Sarah says. She adds that she wouldn’t turn down any growth opportunities in the future, but right now, she’s just enjoying making a name for Dunkin’ in Grandville.
Sounds like a plan to us! We’re so happy you joined the team, Sarah, and can’t wait to see what you’ll do next.
Interested in working for a team like Grandville? Apply to work with us today!