Jimmy Williams '83 Returns to Dickinson as Burgess Executive in Residence
Photo by Stephen Munchel.
Award-winning entrepreneur and McDonald's franchise leader joins the Burgess Institute to help prepare students for what's next
video by Stephen Munchel
As a Burgess Institute for the Global Economy executive in residence, James E. “Jimmy” Williams Jr. ’83 brings an exceptional record of entrepreneurship, leadership and service back to Dickinson. A former U.S. Navy pilot, Williams is president and CEO of Estel Foods Inc., which operates nearly 30 McDonald’s restaurants in Illinois and Missouri. His business and community leadership has earned significant recognition, including being named a 2026 Franchisee of the Year by the International Franchise Association and receiving the Fred L. Turner Golden Arch Award, McDonald’s highest honor for a franchisee.
In his role with the Burgess Institute, Williams now brings that breadth of experience directly to Dickinson students, sharing lessons from a career spanning military service, entrepreneurship, workforce development and community leadership.
“Coming to the Burgess Institute to have a chance to talk to young people about these matters is incredible,” says the former political science major.
Williams encourages students to think broadly about business: not only about how organizations operate but also about the relationships among business, government, regulation and the global economy. Those questions, he says, are increasingly important for students preparing to enter the professional world—and the Burgess Institute takes a big step in answering them.
“This is perfect, I think, for young people as they enter this amazing world,” Williams says, “because it’s preparing them for what’s next.”
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Published October 1, 2026