8. Role Model Mr. Paul was featured in the Mountain Democrat the local newspaper in Placerville, California where he lives and works.
9. Lobby general earns Crew Person of the Yaer By Wendy Schultz April 9th, 2010 Special to the Democrat Monday, April 5, was Paul Voss Day in Placerville by official proclamation. There were balloons and a cake to celebrate; Placerville's mayor, Pierre Rivas, presented the proclamation from the city council and family and representatives from McDonald's Corporation and Mother Lode Rehabilitation Enterprises attended the celebration at the McDonald's restaurant on Broadway in Placerville.
10. Voss, 47, earned the accolades and his own day for doing something many do every day — his job. It isn't what he does that made Voss the only recipient of the prestigious “Crew Person of the Year” out of more than 22,000 eligible employees representing 560 Mc Donald's restaurants from San Francisco to Reno — it's the way he does it. The “Lobby General” of the McDonald's restaurant on Broadway in Placerville has been a living example of exceptional customer service, being a leader in the restaurant, exceeding McDonald's employee standards, receiving compliments from customers and team members, exhibiting the “I'm Loving It!” motto of McDonald's and being involved with the community, for almost 24 years.
11. Although McDonald's has more than 30,000 restaurants world-wide, only a handful of employees are honored each year for their exemplary work with the Crew Person award and no one in El Dorado County has ever received it before. Voss was nominated for the award by the owner and operators of the Broadway McDonald's, Dave and Sharon Handler, who have owned the restaurant for 21 years. “ Paul is like the poster child for great employees,” said David Handler, who also owns four other McDonald's. “He exemplifies everything a crew person should be about. Paul earns his check.”
12. The award was kept a surprise and before the celebration, an unsuspecting Voss was doing his usual job, taking out the trash, keeping the lobby and play area clean and the napkins filled, wiping down tables with one cloth and seats with another. He kept a watchful eye on customers coming into the lobby area, ready to lend a hand with a senior's wobbling tray or guide a busy mom to a table. A client of Mother Lode Rehabilitation Enterprises (MORE), Voss is also an example of just how effective employees with disabilities can be. “ I can't say enough great things about MORE,” said Handler. “I wish more businesses would recognize how functional their clients are. When customers see Paul, they know that we are doing something good for our community, for Paul and for the restaurant.”
