Atlanta Metropolitan State College
Campus Life
Yvonne Thomas Lecture Series
Who is Yvonne Thomas?
Yvonne Johnson Thomas and her husband Hank previously owned and operated nine McDonald’s Restaurants and two Marriott branded limited services hotel properties Fairfield Residence Inns. They have been partners in business since 1980 in Atlanta; Yvonne and her husband Hank were McDonald’s franchisee for thirty-two years. She has served on national, divisional and regional boards of several McDonald’s leadership organizations including the Women’s Owners Network (W.O.N.), National Black McDonald’s Owners Association (NBMOA), Division Leadership Council (DLC), and Atlanta Black McDonald’s Owners Association (ABMOA) and its civic organization: Wheels of Dream Foundation (which is centered on giving teens with limited resources a chance to pursue their dreams of business ownership). She has received many outstanding operations and business related awards. In 2011, Yvonne received W.O.N.’s highest honor, the Dorothy O’Brien Award, for her advocacy and commitment to helping women in business achieve economic security through business ownership. Yvonne Johnson Thomas was the first African American to graduate from the University of South Carolina with a business degree.
The Thomases are active in their communities and attend Midway Missionary Baptist Church in College Park, GA. The couple has established scholarships at the Piney Woods Boarding School (Jackson, MS), Howard University (Washington, DC) Morehouse School of Medicine (Atlanta, GA), and Atlanta Metropolitan State College (Atlanta, GA).
Beliefs: Business is a tool of empowerment
Activisms: Champions issues that affect women and girls around the globe
Truths: Treat others as you want to be treated
Accolades
Yvonne Thomas was voted as one of the Nation's Most Powerful and Influential Women for 2016
Selected by the Atlanta Tribune as the Business Owner of the Year 2016
Inducted into the ABL’s 100 Women of Influence
Recipient of the Power to Inspire Award from the Center for Civil and Human Rights
Board Chair, Women Looking Ahead Magazine
Recipient of SisterTalk ‘s Most Powerful and Influential Women of the Year 2016
Lecture Series
Mrs. Thomas stated that her goal for the lecture series is to further enhance the college experience with some "tidbits" and "real life" lessons that she has learned over her business and work span which aided her success. The chosen topics are lessons that she wished she had learned sooner, rather than later in her career.
The three lectures for this semester include:
1. DEFINING SUCCESS
2. THE TRUTH ABOUT SUCCESS
3. MONEY: THE GOOD, BAD AND UGLY!
Lecture Series Flyer
