Lubeznik legacy grows through McDonald’s stores, commitment to community

Glance around a McDonald’s, and all kinds of people will be there.

High school students, retirees, executives, toddlers, teachers, doctors — anyone, really. That’s part of the beauty of the business, longtime owner-operators in the Lubeznik family say.

“Before my first day of work, my father really pointed out something that stuck with me my whole life,” said Sam Lubeznik, a third-generation McDonald’s owner-operator who owns nine stores, including six in the Region. “He said, ‘As you go in there, you’re going to work with a lot of people from different walks of life. Our family doesn’t have anything without each and every person that comes there. The people who work at the restaurant; the people who come there. Everything we have is because of those people.’”

Legacy of stewardship

The Lubeznik family, or “McFamily,” as they like to call themselves, has not only the stores Sam owns in Northwest Indiana and northern Illinois, but also 19 stores his cousin and uncle, Jack and Rod Lubeznik, own across the Chicago area and the Region.

Since Sam and Jack’s grandfather opened a McDonald’s franchise in 1961, the Lubezniks have helped build the legacy of the hamburger giant’s brand — and their own legacy as philanthropic entrepreneurs who care about their communities.

“One of the most important values and expectations of being a McDonald’s owner-operator is to be a great steward of the communities where we operate,” said Jack Lubeznik, 37, of Chicago, whose management group employs about 1,300 people. “We want people to be proud that they work for a company that is very passionate about giving back and community involvement.”

The Lubezniks long have supported Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana by volunteering their time, coordinating fundraisers and conducting “round-up” campaigns at their restaurants. They support food banks and feed the needy through a turkey giveaway called Food for the Body and Spirit.

And they’re benefactors of the Michigan City arts center bearing their family’s name, carrying on the work started by their grandparents, Jack and Shirley Lubeznik, to support artistic exploration and expression.

“Nothing makes you more successful than being in a position to help others. It’s not just the right thing to do for the community and for giving back, but it’s a wonderful thing to do for yourself,” said Sam Lubeznik, 44, of Michigan City. “Being part of brand McDonald’s allows us to do things bigger and better than we would have been able to otherwise.”

Jack Gilhooly, associate director of corporate partnerships for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicago-land and Northwest Indiana, said he’s impressed with Sam’s capacity to give back in so many ways. Sam Lubeznik sits on the board of directors for the local branch of Ronald McDonald House Charities, and also chairs a nationwide fundraiser for the organization called Kids & Clays, a sporting clays open his family started in 1999. The event has raised $3 million locally and $30 million across the country in its 25 years.

Jack Lubeznik, meanwhile, owns the store — in East Chicago — that contributed the most last year to Ronald McDonald House locally from rounding up in-store purchases. Jack’s stores contributed $270,000 to this effort during the past two years, and Sam’s donated $188,000, Gilhooly said.

“That all happens because of Jack and because of Sam — because they impress upon their team how important the charity is, and then their team and their crew members are asking their customers. It doesn’t just happen,” Gilhooly said. “It’s because of that motivation and inspiration from Sam and from Jack.”

Respect breeds success

Both branches of the Lubeznik family try to build familial environments at their workplaces and help employees take advantage of all the ways they can grow within such a prominent corporation.

“It’s rewarding to find and recognize talent and help develop the really special people we get to work with every day,” said Sam, whose team includes about 750 people. “McDonald’s provides a platform for a ladder to success that so many of our teammates would not have had otherwise.”

Sam and Jack Lubeznik both have an education in business. Sam studied business management and supervision at Purdue University, while Jack got an economics degree from Indiana University.

Both say their owner-operator setup gives them the best of both worlds — functioning as independent entrepreneurs but with the backing of a well-known brand. They’re proud to be the face of McDonald’s to so many customers in the Region and to make sure that face — and their family name — is known for a collaborative and generous spirit.

“The only way you can be successful working with so many people,” Jack said, “is to really always be empathetic and respectful.” •

Read more stories from the current issue of Northwest Indiana Business Magazine.