Building Community: One Blizzard at a Time
Some Spokane staples feel like they’ve always been here, woven into the city’s summers, celebrations, and childhood memories. Dairy Queen is one of them. And behind one of Spokane’s longest running franchises is Danielle Vaughan, a third-generation owner, territory operator, and a woman who leads with confidence, care, and a deep love for her community. I sat down with Danielle to talk about her family’s legacy, her leadership journey, and the heart behind Spokane’s Dairy Queen locations a story rooted in hard work, hometown pride, and creating a place where everyone feels welcome.
Danielle’s journey with Dairy Queen started long before she ever imagined stepping into leadership. Her grandfather moved to Spokane in the 1960s and began building what would become a decades-long family business. Even though she didn’t initially plan to become owner, a conversation with her dad after graduating college changed everything. “I told if I stuck with it for five years, I’d know whether I wanted to stay. That was in 2006,” she said. “It was already an established business it felt silly not to take the opportunity.” Today, Danielle owns one Dairy Queen location directly (917 E Wellesley Ave) and serves as a territory operator, overseeing all the local sub-franchises in the Spokane area most of which are still family-owned despite the common misconception that franchises aren’t local.
Running a single franchise is a challenge, but overseeing many is a world of its own. Danielle’s days shift with the seasons. During the colder months, she focuses heavily on her own location, labor goals, staffing, and making sure the business stays strong. In other seasons, she’s inspecting other stores, introducing new equipment, working with managers, and making sure each location stays aligned with standards. “It’s always changing, which I like,” she said. “My managers are comfortable coming to me and bouncing things off me. No day looks exactly the same.”
Being born and raised in Spokane shapes everything Danielle does. Community involvement isn’t an optional add-on it’s the foundation of how she operates. Her teams regularly sponsor local school fund runs and sports teams, buy shirts for Rogers High School, support Rogers’ food insecurity program, visit elementary schools to hand out free DQ coupons, and participate in long-standing Spokane traditions like decorating a Christmas tree and donating stuffed animals to families staying at the children’s hospital. There’s also the annual summer fundraiser where one dollar from every Blizzard goes to Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital. Danielle and her staff roll a wagon through the hospital, delivering Blizzards to families and staff. “It’s sad but it’s also incredibly heartwarming,” she said. “My staff loves being involved.”
Some of Danielle’s proudest moments come from watching her young team grow. She loves hiring high schoolers and watching them stay through college before moving into their next chapters. Many of her staff are young women, and mentoring them means everything to her. “It’s such a proud moment to empower them,” she said. “I know they’ll mentor girls when they’re older too.” The hospital visits are another highlight emotional, joyful, and unforgettable.
Danielle is honest about sometimes being underestimated earlier in her career, especially as a woman in a male dominated industry. Her approach is simple: come in prepared, know your stuff, hold your head high, and offer a firm handshake. “You should respect me as much as a man,” she said. But she’s also seen the landscape change, with more women stepping into leadership roles and encouraging one another along the way. Her advice for women entering business management or franchise work is to not be afraid to put in the work, practice what you preach, get involved at every level, and trust your knowledge. “There’s nothing we can’t do,” she said. “Women I believe are often better managers we are detail-oriented, strong, and great with customer service.”
With many first-time workers joining the Dairy Queen team, Danielle prioritizes creating a warm, supportive environment where young employees feel welcomed, not intimidated. “We don’t hire robots,” she said. She emphasizes strong training, leading by example, building real connections, and making space for workers to have off days. Many teens have never used a broom before, she joked, but that’s exactly why patience matters you have to be willing to teach them.
Local kids know the rule: wear a sports jersey and you get a free cone. It’s one of Danielle’s favorite ways to celebrate young athletes and encourage confidence, activity, and community pride. She also prioritizes partnerships with elementary schools, hospital initiatives, and supporting kids wherever she can.
Looking ahead, Danielle is focused on continuing the success of her current location, which she credits to her incredible managers. As a territory operator, she hopes to eventually see new locations in areas like Liberty Lake or Wandermere. “We have a million McDonald’s,” she joked. “Make room for us!”
If Danielle could leave readers with one message, it’s this: fast food workers deserve more respect than they often get. “There’s a misconception that fast food is easy,” she said. “My staff works really hard to make every customer’s experience great.” Many of her employees are students navigating a tough job market, and Dairy Queen becomes a place where people come after wins and after hard days. “I’m immensely appreciative of my staff,” she said. “This place means a lot to people and I want every experience to be a good one.”
