ROSE ANDOM
Rose Andom grew up in an environment no child should ever be raised in. The youngest of four children, her eldest sister died at a young age of rheumatic fever, she witnessed her father commit domestic abuse against her mother, and they divorced while she was still a child. Despite the disadvantages she faced, Rose became the first person in her family to attend college, and she graduated with her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Kansas. She then received her MBA degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, while working full-time at the Hallmark Card Company.
Following her time at Hallmark, Andom worked at Ford Motor Company as a District Sales Manager for three years. She then made the move from Kansas to Los Angeles, where she began working at McDonald’s Corporation and entered an accelerated management development program. In her ten years at McDonald’s, she was an assistant manager, restaurant manager, area supervisor, business consultant, training consultant, and franchising manager.
In 1991, Andom left the corporate world and purchased her first McDonald’s franchise in Kansas City. Over the next 24 years, she owned and operated six McDonald’s restaurants, including the three at Denver International Airport. When she bought the DIA locations, the total volume was approximately $6 million. By Andom’s retirement in 2015, the annual net sales were nearly $20 million. She remained involved with the corporation and served on the board of the National Black McDonald’s Operators Association for over 20 years in various positions, including as the vice chair for her last four years.
Andom is incredibly involved in the community and attributes this to her humble beginnings. She consistently donates to multiple nonprofit organizations, including the Denver Rescue Million, Warren Village, Women’s Foundation of Colorado, Denver Health and Food Bank of the Rockies. Her proudest community involvement has been her role in opening the Rose Andom Center, which provides services to those suffering from domestic abuse. The Center opened in 2016 and Andom has contributed more than $2 million to date. She isn’t done helping either. Her next project is to build a 70-unit affordable apartment complex in Northfield for those who are without shelter.
In 2013, former Denver Mayor Michael Hancock honored Andom by proclaiming October 31 “Rose Andom Day” for her leadership and willingness to give back to the city. She received the Colorado Black Women for Political Action’s “Tribute to Black Women Award” for business in 2014 and the “Women of Distinction Award” from the Girl Scouts of Colorado in 2016. While she has no children of her own, many of her employees over the years considered her their surrogate mom.
Following her time at Hallmark, Andom worked at Ford Motor Company as a District Sales Manager for three years. She then made the move from Kansas to Los Angeles, where she began working at McDonald’s Corporation and entered an accelerated management development program. In her ten years at McDonald’s, she was an assistant manager, restaurant manager, area supervisor, business consultant, training consultant, and franchising manager.
In 1991, Andom left the corporate world and purchased her first McDonald’s franchise in Kansas City. Over the next 24 years, she owned and operated six McDonald’s restaurants, including the three at Denver International Airport. When she bought the DIA locations, the total volume was approximately $6 million. By Andom’s retirement in 2015, the annual net sales were nearly $20 million. She remained involved with the corporation and served on the board of the National Black McDonald’s Operators Association for over 20 years in various positions, including as the vice chair for her last four years.
Andom is incredibly involved in the community and attributes this to her humble beginnings. She consistently donates to multiple nonprofit organizations, including the Denver Rescue Million, Warren Village, Women’s Foundation of Colorado, Denver Health and Food Bank of the Rockies. Her proudest community involvement has been her role in opening the Rose Andom Center, which provides services to those suffering from domestic abuse. The Center opened in 2016 and Andom has contributed more than $2 million to date. She isn’t done helping either. Her next project is to build a 70-unit affordable apartment complex in Northfield for those who are without shelter.
In 2013, former Denver Mayor Michael Hancock honored Andom by proclaiming October 31 “Rose Andom Day” for her leadership and willingness to give back to the city. She received the Colorado Black Women for Political Action’s “Tribute to Black Women Award” for business in 2014 and the “Women of Distinction Award” from the Girl Scouts of Colorado in 2016. While she has no children of her own, many of her employees over the years considered her their surrogate mom.