– BORDER FOODS –

A TACO BELL FRANCHISEE

  • AC Brenda Gillispie Finds Inspiration at Border Foods

    AC Brenda Gillispie Finds Inspiration at Border Foods

    We recently caught up with Area Coach (AC) Brenda Gillispie beachside on our Best of the Best (BOTB) reward trip in Cancún, Mexico. “It’s so exciting to be here,” Brenda shares. She describes the experience perfectly: bringing people to the best place ever to enjoy themselves. The milestone was particularly sweet for this self-described “daddy’s girl,” who brought her dad on the trip as her “plus one.” “It’s absolutely amazing,” she says.

    This BOTB newbie is the perfect candidate for a vacation in paradise. “I love traveling, I love adventurous stuff,” Brenda shares. “I love doing new things.”

    Finding Her Place

    Brenda isn’t new to Border Foods. She’s been with us for five years, and knows what it takes to make it to the top. “It took a few years and a lot of hard work, and a lot of teamwork,” she says of her career climb. “[But it] was worth it.” 

    Brenda joined us as a Shift Lead from another quick service franchisee after hearing her sister gush about her job with us. “She told me all about Border and how amazing they are for their people,” Brenda recalls.

    This is it. This is my place.” – Brenda Gillispie, Area Coach 

    Brenda Gillispie, Area Coach

    The connection was immediate. Our culture of recognition and family is what really stood out to her. Now, well into her career journey, she says, “I feel like I’m a part of something that’s so big and beautiful. I love that.” 

    Hard Work Pays Off

    While her feeling of being in the right place was immediate, reaping the rewards took a little longer to come to fruition for Brenda. She admits the road to Best of the Best was a “battle,” in her words. 

    “I’m not one to get knocked down so quickly. I know these things take time and I was just willing to put in the work,” she says.

     Everything you want in life, you have to work hard for.

    Brenda Gillispie, Area Coach

    Inspiring leadership and teamwork helped Brenda stay committed for the long haul. Her favorite part of the AC role is connecting with people. “I feel so inspired by the people that are around me,” she shares. “We’re always there for each other no matter what.”

    Looking Ahead

    Brenda’s five–year plan includes mulling over a Region Coach position, although she says she always takes stock of her role after every promotion before considering her next move. “I love continuing to improve myself and others,” she says.

    There’s just so much to offer at Border.

    Brenda Gillispie, Area Coach

    No matter the title, one thing’s for sure: Brenda plans to stick around with us for the long haul. “I love Border. I’ll die here and I’m okay with that,” she says with a laugh. 

    If you’re looking for a career with this kind of longevity, consider joining us!

    Border Foods

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  • Heather Aos’ Tips on Earning a Spot at BOTB

    Heather Aos’ Tips on Earning a Spot at BOTB

    Meet Heather Aos, Area Coach (AC) of Border Foods’ Area 31, which comprises all of our Taco Bell restaurants in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (UP). This gal knows a little something about elevating a career with us — her words, not ours!

    Heather joined Border Foods eight years ago with our large acquisition of UP and central Michigan Taco Bells. Today, she’s a recent Golden Bell winner, an eight-time recipient of a spot on our annual Best of the Best (BOTB) reward trip to Mexico, and an oh-so-worthy subject of a Core Value spotlight for embodying daily excellence in her work.

    [Border Foods] does unbelievable things for you.

    – Heather Aos, Area Coach

    We caught up with Heather in Cabo to hear more about how she got here and her most meaningful advice for others seeking to follow a similar path.

    The History of Heather

    “I started back in high school, so I was 15 and basically, I needed a job,” Heather shares. Her main motivation at the time was earning enough money to buy the car she wanted. Her first Taco Bell job was working for her best friend’s mom, a person she revered but lost unexpectedly to illness. By the time Heather graduated from high school, she was already a Shift Manager.

    Heather continued to climb the career ladder with natural inclination and drive. She was promoted to Assistant General Manager (AGM) about four years before we acquired her location. She’s only been away from the Taco Bell brand for six months during her entire career! 

    Within that first year, they developed me to be an Area Coach … I got the whole UP and that was kind of my dream career!

    –Heather Aos, Area Coach

    Heather takes us back to the time of the Michigan acquisition. She says she remembers thinking the things she was hearing from our leadership about competitive pay and other perks were too good to be true. But she soon realized what she was hearing was real — higher pay, bonus potential and recognition in the form of an all-expenses paid trip to Mexico, these are all a part of making lives better.

    “It seems unreal sometimes,” she admits. “These trips are just the tip of the iceberg.”

    Heather Knows Best

    So how can you, achieve career growth like Heather and earn a reward trip? Well first, you can’t win if you don’t join! Check out our current job openings.

    “We work really really hard all year round,” Heather says. “You have to be ‘on it’ from the start of the year to the end of the year.”

    Heather emphasizes consistency and remaining high performing all year. “You can’t let something slip to get to this trip,” she adds.

    Heather touches on the importance of developing the bench: “Try to keep everyone who you have in the store. Make great hires. And then have the ‘pedal to the metal’ everyday.”

    Heather appears to be living her best work life right now. She oozes of praise for Border Foods and reflects on having the good fortune of working with eight different teams in the course of her career. She doesn’t show any signs of slowing down!

    And, this could be YOU! The time to elevate your career to the next level is now. Buckle up!

    Border Foods

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  • The Heart of Stillwater: Brenda Foley

    The Heart of Stillwater: Brenda Foley

    We caught up with dedicated Service and Food Champion Brenda Foley in Cancún, Mexico, where she was enjoying some well-deserved beachside relaxation — on us! Brenda, a 30-year veteran with our company, won time away from her Taco Bell family in Stillwater, MN, as one of this year’s Heart of Border Foods (HOBF) recipients.

    “Brenda cares a lot about people,” HR Business Partner Richelle Johnson shares in the award reveal video. “People who work with her, she’s kind of like a mom to all of those kids in Stillwater.”

     The Heart of Border Foods Award is about taking care of others, family and teamwork.

    On Becoming Our Beloved Brenda

    Brenda takes us back to her beginning with Border Foods. She shares that her career here started when she was babysitting for a restaurant manager who thought she should come work for her at Taco Bell. Starting as a Service Champion, Brenda recalls working the restaurant lobby for her first five years alongside another revered Border Foods veteran, Sr. Safety & Risk Manager Juli Sargent.

    She was a young, single mom at the time. For Brenda, Taco Bell proved to be a great fit (her words, not ours). The champion role offered flexibility for young parents — and later, the very same flexibility was available as she navigated personal health issues.

    She’s had several great mentors along the way — and the same has definitely been said about her! Over her three decades with us, Brenda has been offered other internal positions and promotions, some of which she’s turned down. She says she was always certain she didn’t want to get “stuck in an office.”

    According to her, it’s rare to work for a company like Border Foods. “They don’t push,” she explains. “They make sure that you’re ready and that, if it’s not a ‘right fit’ for you, it’s not a right fit.”

    It IS like a family … they think about you.

    Brenda Foley, Service & Food Champion

    Being supported and mentored throughout the years has helped Brenda to develop into the loved leader she is today. It’s also certainly given her the kind of fulfillment that keeps her beaming light shining so bright for her team and all the restaurant regulars. People come in to the Stillwater Taco Bell just to see her!

    Thinking about the Big 3-0

    Thirty years with one company is a supreme commitment. What does Brenda think about the milestone?

    She recalls a time early on when she met someone who’d been with Border Foods for five years. “I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I can’t believe that you’ve been there for five years!’” she recounts. “And here I am, my 30 years!”

    When asked what’s next for her, Brenda responds, “Just to be who I am still and keep continuing to mentor.“

    At Border Foods, we’re proud to be the kind of employer that allows its team members to be their authentic selves.

    “I hope I have a lot of good years left to stay [here],” Brenda adds.

    Congratulations on your 30-year service anniversary, Brenda! You’ve been a delight to many, and we’re so fortunate to have positive people like you that the next generation can look up to.  

    Border Foods

  • Still Basking in BOTB Fun!

    Still Basking in BOTB Fun!

    Our annual Best of the Best (BOTB) reward trip has once again come and gone, but we’re still reveling in all the fun times we had! The closing Sunset Toast celebration is our grand finale, where we hand out a host of “Fun Awards” designed to capture the on-the-spot creativity only time away from work can inspire!

    Thank you to the following individuals for bringing some extra enthusiasm to the beach (and for giving us reason to come up with this lighthearted list of awards):

    Most Unique Homemade T-shirts for Travel Day

    Crystal Kovach, Accounts Payable Specialist

    Matching Swimsuits & Celebration Attire

    Heather Aos, Area Coach

    Most Social

    Lindsay Mitchell, RGM, E. Main Street, Illinois

    Marketing Champion (Donning Taco Bell Attire)

    Alyssa Harrison, RGM, Wyoming Blvd., Casper, WY

    Best Hat

    Joshua Miller, Area Coach

     

     

    Border Foods

  • Bold Ambitions at Border: Thirteen Live Más Scholarship Winners

    Bold Ambitions at Border: Thirteen Live Más Scholarship Winners

    Congratulations to this year’s Taco Bell Live Más Scholarship recipients from Border Foods Taco Bells! This ambitious group proves that there are zero limits to what you can do with your future. Representing nine exciting career interests, they work hard and study harder! 

    What’s really inspiring is their common desire to help others. First-time $25,000 award recipient Angie Acosta plans to become an ER nurse. She’s determined to contribute to better health care access and also, being bilingual, help break down language barriers.

    “My passion is being a caregiver,” she says. “I just really love helping others and giving effective care to everyone, regardless of the situation or the setting.”

    Daria Kianian, another new recipient with $10,000 in Live Más support, dreams of becoming a genetic counselor. She’s already making a difference as co-president of her school’s Red Cross Club. Their fall blood drive brought in enough donations to save 180 lives!

    Apply, Win, Repeat

    This year, our Live Más scholars have landed a combined total of $155,000 in well deserved educational support from the Taco Bell Foundation! Some are brand new, others are repeat winners — regardless, the impact is enormous.

    I see the end of one path in the distance, but with it, the beginning of another.

    -Jayden Beach, Technology

    Previous recipient Tamera Afraid of Lightening had just convinced herself that she must not have won this year the day we surprised her. She was elated!

    Tamera is a single working mom who had been commuting to college but, recently discovered her program was now available at a school closer to home, so she switched. But the downside of proximity was that tuition was more expensive.

    “This scholarship will put less of a financial burden on me,” she explains. “it will let me perform and be a great student, it will let me be a great mother who can be there physically for her son … and it will also help me be a great employee so I can balance my work, mom and student life.”

    Jayden Beach, also a repeat winner, is in his final stretch of college. He’s been awarded $25,000! With two semesters left, he’s looking for jobs in the technology field. 

    “None of this would have been possible without the Live Más Scholarship,” he says. “And I will forever be thankful for what I’ve been able to accomplish so far.”

    This kind of impact never gets old. We’re so proud to be associated with the Taco Bell Foundation! Congratulations to this year’s fab 13!

    $25,000

    Angie Acosta, Medicine NEW!
    Jayden Beach, Technology

    $15,000

    Rashida James, Medicine

    $10,000

    Brenden Ohlemacher-Lonetti, Criminal Justice NEW!
    Daria Kianian, Science NEW!
    Isabella Rodriguez, Beauty & Fashion NEW!
    JayLa Bohanon, Medicine NEW!
    Johnathan Tribby, Music NEW!
    Kaleb Teshome, Engineering NEW!
    Khoa Le, Science NEW!
    Tamera Afraid of Lightening, Medicine

    $5,000

    Matthew Fogg, Technology NEW!
    Rebecca Murphy, Food  NEW!

    Border Foods

  • Facilities’ Freshest Faces: Meet Xao & Kenneth!

    Facilities’ Freshest Faces: Meet Xao & Kenneth!

    We’ve added some talented new people to our facilities team! Please welcome Xao Vang and Kenneth Delancey, both of whom boast extensive professional experience in their respective trades. Without further ado, here’s a quick ‘lil introduction:

    Xao Vang

    IT Support Specialist

    Q: How do you pronounce “Xao”?

    A: Sou.

    Q: What is Xao’s experience level for this role?

    A: Nearly 25 years of technology experience working in the field and leading teams of installers with some similar systems. He’s worked with Comcast, Holiday, Taco John’s and most recently, SwanSys (formerly Minnesota Petroleum Service).

    Q: What brought Xao to us?

    A: He was drawn to Border’s family-oriented feel.

    Q: Any fun facts?

    A: Married for 25 years; five children with wife Wanda.

    Spending time together no matter what it is, is what brings us joy.

    Xao Vang, IT Support Specialist

    Q: What does he enjoy doing outside of work?

    A: Taking walks, volunteering at church, and playing board games with the family.

    Q: What‘s his favorite menu item? 

    A: The chili cheese burrito!

    Kenneth Delancey

    Construction Specialist, Remodel Team

    Q: What relevant experience does Kenneth boast for this new role?

    A: Twenty-five years as a licensed contractor managing projects of all sizes across many different trades.

    Q: What will be his focus? 

    A: Combining project management and site supervision, Kenneth’s focus will be overseeing the handful of midterm restaurant remodels we handle on our own each year — our “self-perform” projects — without a general contractor.

    Q: Anything to share on the personal side?

    A: Kenneth was born and raised in San Diego, CA, and moved to Minnesota in 1987. He and his wife, Karen, live in Maple Grove, and have four adult children who also live locally.

    Q: Other fun facts?

    A: Kenneth played football with the Minnesota Gophers in 1989 as a running back. He says he still loves the game of football, and is a proud Raiders and Chiefs fan!

    Kenneth loves socializing and learning new things.

    Q: What is his favorite menu item?

    A: Cantina chicken taco or bowl.

    Border Foods

  • A Celebration To Remember: BOTB 2024 Recap

    A Celebration To Remember: BOTB 2024 Recap

    You might say our 2024 Best of the Best reward trip was the most engaging one yet! It was our pleasure to treat 72 hardworking individuals and their guests to five days of R&R in paradise at Secrets of Playa Blanca Costa Mujeres in Cancun, Mexico. Let’s just say, lots of fun was had!

    About BOTB

    Each year, we honor our commitment to giving recognition where it’s due by plucking a deserving group of Area Coaches (AC), Restaurant General Managers (RGM) and support staff out of the restaurant or office scene and flying them to an island in the sun. This year’s adventure included delicious dinners, exciting excursions, and plenty of time to kick back to relax and enjoy the ocean breeze. We can’t be the best of the best at what we do without these amazing people, and this annual reward trip is how we properly convey that gratitude!

    The Ultimate Side Story

    One thing that was not on our official agenda, proved to be the most memorable.

    Two of Border’s very own got engaged during the trip! RGM Johnathan Leaf proposed to (now fiancé) Kaela Wrobel, Assistant General Manager (AGM) of our Little Falls, MN Taco Bell. There aren’t enough exclamation points in the world to properly convey our excitement! Johnathan got down on one knee at the beach while cameras captured the iconic moment. It was truly a best of the best kind of moment.

    We hope to see YOU on the beach at BOTB this time next year! Cheers to another amazing season of (much-deserved) relaxation and recognition.

     

     

    Border Foods

  • Brian’s Lifelong Journey with Taco Bell & Border Foods

    Brian’s Lifelong Journey with Taco Bell & Border Foods

    When Brian Davies applied to Taco Bell in the mid-1980s, he never imagined it would become a decades-long journey, culminating with his role as Vice President of Facilities at Border Foods. This year, he celebrates 40 years in the Taco Bell and Border Foods family, a milestone underscoring the breadth of his experience and the passion he brings to his work.

    From Zantigo to Taco Bell

    Brian’s story begins at a Zantigo restaurant in Roseville, MN. He originally tried to land a spot at a Taco Bell just two blocks from home but wasn’t called in for an interview. So, when an opening appeared at Zantigo, he jumped on it. Ironically, Taco Bell purchased Zantigo restaurants in 1987, making Brian part of the system after all.

    “I joked with Carol Williams for years,” he says. “She was the GM who didn’t interview me at Taco Bell, but two years later, she ended up with me anyway after the acquisition.” Brian spent his teen years juggling cashier duties during high school, crediting Taco Bell for teaching him how to interact comfortably with customers and coworkers. 

    The people I worked with became a second family.

    Brian Davies, Vice President of Facilities.

    Embracing Opportunity & New Challenges

    By 1996, another acquisition loomed — this time, Border Foods. Meeting Border Foods’ founder Lee Engler sealed the deal. “When I sat down with Lee and learned what he was about, I fell in love with the opportunity,” Brian says. 

    Continuing to evolve within the company, Brian seized every chance for growth. Early on, he stepped into an operations services role when a fellow district manager went on leave. “I thought I’d have fewer hours,” he laughs. “But I was actually at the office until 8 or 9 p.m. most nights.” That temporary position gave him invaluable insight into supporting restaurants from a corporate perspective, a skill set he’d build upon for years to come.

    Brian later assisted with new restaurant development and remodels, working under Border Foods’ former Chief Development Officer, Barb Schneider. Eventually, he oversaw the company’s internal facilities team. Brian introduced new processes and measured their performance through profit-and-loss metrics. 

    Becoming VP of Facilities—and Looking ahead at 50 Years

    Today, Brian is our Vice President of Facilities, overseeing everything from remodeling projects and new builds to daily operations services. He still visits Taco Bell restaurants regularly — especially the Elk River location, which he opened years ago as a general manager. 

    Through it all, Brian credits a culture rooted in family and mutual respect for his career longevity. “I’ve met so many wonderful people,” he says.

    Leadership genuinely cares. From scholarships to rallying around team members in a crisis, this place just feels different.

    Brian Davies, Vice President of Facilities

    When asked about retirement, Brian reveals an ambitious plan: “I’m celebrating my 40-year anniversary in 2025, but my goal is to make it to 50.” 

    He sees each new role as a door he’s chosen to walk through, never letting fear hold him back. “I feel lucky,” he says. “I work hard, and Border Foods has opened a lot of doors for me. I just made sure they never closed before I had a chance to see what was on the other side.”

    Brian has made it a priority to share what he’s learned, particularly with family members who’ve joined the company. His wife, Holly, once worked at Taco Bell. His son, Andrew, now contributes to remodel efforts. 

    “He grew up around Taco Bell,” Brian says of Andrew, recalling how as a kid, he’d pretend to drive a forklift. Today, Andrew is a go-to equipment resource for the entire team.

    Ultimately, Brian hopes new hires see the potential for their own decades-long careers. “Be honest, work hard, and dedicate yourself to your family and your work,” he advises. “With the right attitude, you can retire from Border Foods and love every step of the journey.”

    Border Foods

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  • Border Foods Rally 2025: Red Carpet Recap

    We rolled out the red carpet for this year’s Border Foods Rally to honor our 2024 award winners and celebrate a year of big wins. Recognition will always get you on our best dressed list! Congratulations are in order for this year’s impressive group. We could not be the best of the best at what we do without their hard work and dedication!

    Enjoy this snapshot of ceremony highlights:

    • We honored our Heart of Border Foods (HOBF) winners for exemplifying the positive attitude, dedication and family culture at the core of our business. Recipients include: “Taco Bell Mom” Brenda Foley, a Border veteran of 29 years; Richelle Johnson, an authentic team player; and “father figure” Tony Christiansen, who embodies our family core value;
    • Brenda Gillispie was named RGM of the Year; Angela Love-Hamlin, AC of the Year; and Nathan Besler, Region Coach of the Year;
    • “Best of the Best” trip winners found out they’re going to Mexico!
    • And our Circle of Excellence winners were recognized for their leadership and commitment.

    Border Foods

  • Becky Wenger: Training Leader Supreme

    Becky Wenger: Training Leader Supreme

    It’s no secret, recognition is a big part of who we are at Border Foods, and we‘ve retained some pretty exceptional people at this company! Territory Training Leader (TTL) Becky Wenger is a supreme example.

    Celebrating more than 30 years with us, Becky has enjoyed diversity in her Border Foods career — first rising up the ranks in the Taco Bell restaurant setting, spending two years in administrative office support, and eventually, becoming an integral member of our Training Department as it was being built from the ground up.

    “[I] feel super fortunate to have been asked,” she says of being tapped by our own Sharla Hennek to join the training team in its infancy. A self-proclaimed people person, Becky has a passion for teaching and making a difference — even when it’s as simple as showing someone how to properly wrap a burrito!

    “It was like a dream,” she says emphatically (you can hear the smile in her voice). “It was the best of both worlds. I got to still go back and teach Shift Leaders and Assistant Managers and GMs everything I know for the day, but yet I still had some of that admin side where I could fine-tune some of my skills on that side.”

    When you see the spark go off in somebody … when they finally get it for the first time or they have that confidence to run the shift, that’s what I love

    Becky Wenger, Territory Training Leader

    Becky likens being a training leader to being a grandparent. “You get to love up on ‘em and take care of people all day long, and then you send them home to their stores at the end of the day.”

    But to excel as a trainer, it seems Becky had to first discover her passion for people and team development … and tacos (did you know her first job was at a McDonald’s with her best friend?) 

    This is exactly what 15 years as a Restaurant General Manager (RGM) uncovered!

    The Journey to Leadership

    Becky joined the Border Foods family in 1994 after working in a Taco Bell owned by Taco Bell Corporate. It didn’t take long to get promoted: she was a Shift Lead by 18 and Assistant General Manager (AGM) the following year. But it’s her promotion to RGM in 1999 that really made a splash. She was only 20 years old.

    “That’s when things got real because I was one of the youngest GMs, if not the youngest GM at the time,” she recalls with incredulousness.

    Not only was Becky one of our youngest restaurant leaders, but she was given a brand new Taco Bell! The location at Larpenteur and Lexington Avenues in Roseville had only been open two months, and boasted the latest and greatest bells and whistles for the time.

    “I was on top of the world!” she says. “I never thought about working anywhere else because they just kept me so busy.”

    Becky says she loved her time in the restaurant; she gushes about the satisfaction that comes from creating a team and watching them grow.

    Now, she helps others find that same satisfaction at work. Colleagues admire her ability to connect and genuinely care about people (she was a 2022 Heart of Border Foods award recipient).

    Passion & Taco

    According to Becky, the key to being a great manager is to “work through your people, slow down, take the time to teach ‘em right … and know your customers. Be out there — be the presence in your store,” she advises.

    “Our ability to hire great leaders … we hire the passion first,” she explains. This couldn’t be more obvious than in Becky’s own career path! “We take the people that do great in the restaurants, and they have a passion for what we do, and then, we can teach the trade.”

    Clearly, Becky has the recipe for success down pat. We couldn’t be happier to have her here!

     

    Border Foods

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