Evelyn Thompson, holding a Starbucks® “Leader of the Quarter” award, with fellow employees that include Michelle Abate (right).
Evelyn Thompson, who manages Starbucks in University Commons, has received her second “Leader of the Quarter” award from the world’s largest coffeehouse chain for overall outstanding performance.
Joe Rizzo, district manager of Western New York and Syracuse area Starbucks locations, bestowed the award upon Ms. Thompson in recognition of her considerable managerial strengths. She engages student and non-student workers through fun planning videos and fearlessly advocates of her team, Mr. Rizzo explained, citing the addition of small-batch Nitro Cold Brew and planned arrival of Starbucks Connect, a sub brand to accommodate meetings and networking on-site.
Known as being extremely curious, Thompson asks many questions in the spirit of making herself and her team better, Rizzo remarked. She also received the award in 2021.
Thompson provides development opportunities for team members and trusts and empowers them, Rizzo said, and her recognition programs continue to thrive and perform well. Thompson pursued Green Apron certification and completed the Starbucks Coffee Academy.
Further evidence of a well-run operation with Thompson at the helm are customer connection scores that are consistently in the high 40s and 50s.
“FSA, which operates Starbucks under a license with the company, is very proud of Evelyn’s achievements and this award underscores her hard work and the work of her crew,” said FSA Retail Operations Director Christopher Zenns, “The campus Starbucks routinely scores very high with Starbucks corporate guidelines in terms of customer satisfaction, staff training and health and sanitation.”
Thompson joined the campus’ Starbucks as a supervisor in 2012 after serving as a Bob Evans restaurant manager. She was trained in FSA retail locations and dining facilities and became assistant manager of the campus Tim Hortons location in 2018, where she remained until being promoted to Starbucks manager in 2020.
A Fredonia native, Thompson is a graduate of Fredonia Central High School and SUNY Buffalo State College.
