QCD Milestone Story: Kevin McDade

When Kevin McDade first walked up the steps of Golden State Foods (GSF) in Sumner, Washington to apply for a job, a bold thought crossed his mind: "I could retire from this place."

Little did he know just how true that thought would become. Now, 35 years later—and still going strong—Kevin continues to build his legacy at GSF and QCD, reflecting on a career that has been nothing short of extraordinary.

The Beginning of a Lifelong Career

Kevin started with QCD in the warehouse. He worked hard, moving up to a lead position in no time. He had a knack for logistics, for seeing the bigger picture, and soon, he was entrusted with a larger responsibility—helping move products for 200 McDonald's stores from the Sumner distribution center and launching a new GSF logistics facility in Portland, Oregon.

His dedication and leadership did not go unnoticed. Promotions followed, from Operations Supervisor to Warehouse Manager, and Kevin never settled because he thrives on challenges. When the opportunity arose to return to Sumner, he took it, finding new ways to optimize space and operations. His efforts played a crucial role in launching a partnership with Starbucks—one that would eventually grow into today’s expansive QCD network that services thousands of stores and in dozens of markets across the U.S.

Building QCD from the Ground Up

Kevin wasn’t just a witness to QCD’s growth—he was a driving force behind it. He handled the very first case for the Starbucks partnership, marking the start of a new chapter. Soon, he was traveling across the country, opening new distribution centers in cities like Las Vegas, San Antonio, Charlotte, Miami, Orlando, and Waipahu, Hawaii. Wherever he went, he brought the same passion, dedication, and belief in the company’s Values.

In 2010, he relocated to Orlando to serve as the Operations Manager, and within two years, his leadership earned him a promotion to General Manager. Under Kevin’s guidance, the Orlando distribution center received the 2020 Chairman’s Challenge Award, GSF's highest honor, as well as back-to-back Best in Class Awards in 2020 and 2021.

Additionally, Starbucks recognized Kevin and the Orlando team with the Annual Siren Award, as the facility led all large distribution centers in multiple quarterly Distribution Excellence Program Service Efficiency Scorecards throughout 2020.

More Than Just a Job

To Kevin, QCD isn’t just a company—it’s family. It provides him with opportunities to grow, mentors who believe in him, and a career that allows him to support his own family.

“Through the highs, the challenges, and the losses in life, my family and I have always felt supported,” shares Kevin. “I know that true success isn’t just about work—it’s about the people who stand by you through it all. And QCD and GSF have always stood by me.”

Advice for the Next Generation

After 35 years, Kevin has one message for those starting out with the company.

“The opportunities here are endless,” he says. “Work hard, have passion, and you will grow.”

For him, success is not just about promotions or numbers—it’s about people. His greatest joy is the team he works with every day, the bonds he’s built, and the legacy he will eventually leave behind when he does one day “retire from this place”—just as he pondered from the beginning.

Kevin may have started as a warehouse associate, but today, as General Manager, he knows for sure that walking up those steps at Sumner all those years ago was the best decision he ever made.