Student Spotlight: Suzanne Nevant, UNC ’21
Suzanne Nevant became president of the Family Business Club in the fall of 2019. Membership was up for the club in the fall, and even into early spring. The group hosted successful events for undergraduate family business students where family business leaders had interactive lunches with students. The events for the club came to an abrupt stop when students did not return to campus due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. Instead of wrapping up junior year in Chapel Hill, Suzanne was back home in Asheville with her family.
Suzanne’s mother, Christine, is an owner operator of McDonalds franchises. She owns seven McDonalds in Western North Carolina. In the fall, she spoke to the Family Business Club about lessons she has learned along her career and how she has found success leading her business with her heart. Suzanne is extremely proud of her mom and the way she runs her business and supports her employees. Being home this spring enabled Suzanne to get a closer look at the impact her mom makes daily, and she hopes that one day she can be an equally strong and caring leader.
McDonalds, like all restaurants, had to adapt to a new normal due to Covid. They have been working hard to figure out a way to serve loyal customers while taking precautions and measures to keep customers and employees safe. Suzanne actually worked in the restaurants as an employee this spring not only to learn each position, but also to keep employee’s spirits high despite the changing times and strict controls. Suzanne also trained peers in her mother’s McDonald’s so that they could benefit from the Archways to Opportunity Scholarship which pays $2,500 toward each semester of college tuition for all student employees. Christine awarded this scholarship to 15 students for the fall of 2020. Suzanne was originally supposed to intern in New York City for Goldman Sachs, but her program was moved remote and the start date delayed. Although she wishes she could have an in-person experience in NYC, she is grateful for the unexpected time she was able to spend getting to know the business and connecting with employees on a personal level.
Suzanne looks forward to returning to campus this fall. She has one more semester of being the president of the Family Business Club, and hopes to make it memorable for all those involved!
