ST. LOUIS - Nolan Ruiz, St. Louis' largest McDonald's franchisee, celebrated his 10-year business anniversary by surprising his employees with $200,000 in development incentives at a Valley Park McDonald's.

The celebration, which coincided with National Hispanic Heritage Month, highlighted Ruiz's journey from wiping tables at age 14 to owning 33 restaurants, employing over 1,500 people, and generating nearly $120 million in sales.

"It’s humbling I would say! I’m overwhelmed with a sense of gratitude just for the team," said Nolan Ruiz, owner and operator of F.G.G. McDonald's.

During the event, Ruiz shifted the focus from himself to his employees, rewarding those who help train and grow future leaders within the company.

"Nothing like this has ever been done. I’ve been with McDonald’s for 27 years! It’s a great opportunity," said Yamilla Rodriguez, Director of Operations at F.G.G. McDonald's.

The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce honored Ruiz for his leadership, calling him a role model for entrepreneurial spirit and determination during Hispanic Heritage Month.

Ruiz expressed hope that his journey would inspire others to dream big, emphasizing that this milestone is just the beginning.

All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by KTVI. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by KTVI staff before being published.