Dr. Howard Liebman Attends McDonald’s Annual Shareholders’ Meeting and Speaks about Career Online High School’s Role in the Archways to Opportunity Employee Education Program

Oak Brook, IL, May 21, 2015– Smart Horizons Career Online Education, the world’s first AdvancED/SACS accredited online school district, is pleased to announce that CEO and Founder Dr. Howard Liebman attended the McDonald’s annual shareholders’ meeting today at McDonald’s corporate headquarters in Oak Brook, IL. Dr. Liebman spoke about Cengage Learning’s Career Online High School and the pivotal role it plays in McDonald’s Archways to Opportunity employee education program. As a part of the Archways to Opportunity program, McDonald’s now offers all employees the ability to earn an accredited high school diploma through Cengage Learning’s Career Online High School.

“It was an honor to attend the McDonald’s shareholders’ meeting today,” stated Dr. Liebman. “McDonald’s has set a national example of how companies can help their employees build a brighter future while also developing a more highly skilled workforce with the Archways to Opportunity employee education program. “

Dr. Liebman also joined McDonald’s CEO Steve Easterbook in congratulating Juan Diaz, the first McDonald’s employee to graduate from Career Online High School as a part of the Archways to Opportunity employee education program. Diaz, who was also in attendance at the shareholders’ meeting, is a McDonald’s General Manager in Southern California. Although he finished high school and began college in his native Mexico, his high school diploma was not recognized in the United States. Diaz recently earned his high school diploma and workforce certificate in Food and Hospitality from Career Online High School and then enrolled in College for America, making continued use of McDonald’s employee education benefits.

“We congratulate Juan Diaz for earning his high school diploma and entry-level workforce certificate through Career Online High School,” said Dr. Liebman. “Juan is a great example of how upskilling initiatives like McDonald’s Archways to Opportunities program are changing employees’ lives. Juan can now take advantage of expanded opportunities such as a college education and new opportunities in the workplace.”