About Us

Zak's journey with McDonald's began in 2008 as a crew member in Winston-Salem, NC. Over the years, he worked his way up through various positions, ultimately becoming a General Manager and earning several awards for excellence in the areas of people, profit, and operations. Zak’s positive performance led him to take on multiple roles, such as Area Supervisor and Training Director, where he continued to achieve outstanding business results.

In 2015, after spending seven years on the franchisee side of the business, Zak joined the US TL&D team as an Operations Training Consultant for the Baltimore-Washington, and Raleigh regions. He excelled in this role and received recognition for his notable contributions, including the Above & Beyond Trilogy Award in 2015, the Raleigh Region 100/0 Award in 2016, and the U.S. Training Golden Hat Award in 2017. During his tenure with the training department, Zak had the privilege of teaching at Hamburger University as an HU Professor. Zak then transitioned to the Field Service team in 2017, as a Regional Business Consultant, eventually becoming an Operations Associate.

For his remarkable achievements as an Operations Associate, he was honored with the Outstanding Operations Contributor Award. In 2019, Zak's dedication and expertise led him to the position of Franchise Business Partner. He took on the role of Operations Associate Lead in January 2021, and served as the interim Digital & Delivery Growth Manager in 2022. For his consistent track record of delivering strong results, developing, and leading teams, and building influential relationships, Zak received the esteemed President's Award in 2023. He has extensive knowledge of restaurant operations, a laser focus on results and a true passion for people and talent development.

Zak holds a deep appreciation for McDonald's as it not only provided him with a fulfilling career, but also played a significant role in his personal life. Through the brand, Zak had the joy of meeting his wife Marilú, and together they now have their three-year-old son, Daniel. In addition to Zak's 15 years of McDonald's experience, Marilú has accumulated 12 years of operations and restaurant management expertise within the McDonald's system.

Zak and Marilu's profound love for the McDonald's brand and their desire to give back to others, inspired them to embark on their journey to become McDonald’s franchisees. The Hayes Family relocated to the Virginia Beach area in the fall of 2023 from Surf City, N.C. for the opportunity to purchase two restaurants in the Tidewater market of Virginia, Military Circle and Airline Boulevard. They are excited to make a positive impact in their restaurants and communities, while empowering their own employees to dream as big as they have in their lives.