In life, the path to success is rarely a straight line. For Courtney Schuneman, a Shift Lead at Taco Bell, the journey has been one filled with challenges, resilience, and a drive to succeed. Her story is a testament to the power of perseverance, support, and finding a company that values growth and second chances.

Courtney’s Border Foods story began during one of the most challenging times of her life. “I was homeless at the time with my two kids,” she recalls. After losing her previous job and her home, Courtney found herself desperate for stability. “I had a vehicle, but no place to lay our heads every night,” she shares. Despite these hardships, she knew she needed to provide for her family.

Determined to turn things around, Courtney walked into a nearby Taco Bell. “I knew I needed something,” she says. “Two days later, I started working.” It was a pivotal moment, one that would set her on a path of both personal and professional success.

From the very beginning, Courtney found something at Taco Bell that she hadn’t experienced elsewhere: support. “I’m very thankful for my manager,” she says. “He’s seen so much growth in me in the year I’ve been with the company.” She quickly realized that Taco Bell was more than just a job—it was an opportunity to rebuild her life.

After five months with the company, Courtney’s personal life took a positive turn. “I got into my apartment and got a new car,” she shares proudly. With the stability of a home and a job she enjoyed, Courtney found a sense of relief she hadn’t felt in a long time. But what stands out for her is the sense of family she found within her Taco Bell team. “I call them my family at Taco Bell. I have more of them than I do immediate family,” she says. The close-knit, supportive environment has become a pillar in her life, providing a place where she feels valued and understood.

One of the most significant impacts of Courtney’s journey at Taco Bell has been on her children. “They don’t have to deal with their mom constantly stressed out,” she says. “We have a stable home, a schedule, and it’s smooth sailing now.” She encourages others in tough spots to take a chance, just as she did. 

Taco Bell offers so much support. It really is a family.

Courtney, Shift Lead

 

For Courtney, the future looks bright. She was promoted from Team Member to Shift Lead during her first year on the job. She credits Taco Bell with providing a clear path to growth, one that’s available to anyone with the drive and determination to succeed.

Nothing is impossible with this company. If you want it, you’re going to get it.

Courtney, Shift Lead

Looking ahead, Courtney sees herself continuing to climb the ladder. “I definitely see myself moving up to an RGM position,” she says, noting that she’s excited about the possibility once her children are a bit older. “I’m too old to keep starting over,” she laughs. “I’m comfortable here”

 

Assistant General Manager (AGM) Sara Castellanos has worked at our Apple Valley, MN Taco Bell for nearly 19 years. She was on a job hunt when she discovered our opening, and was hired the same day she applied! “And here I am! Still working at Apple Valley,” she says. 

As you might imagine, there’ve been a lot of changes during the course of Sara’s impressive tenure — the addition of digital menu boards being one example. 

I’m learning every single day,

Sara Castellanos, AGM

Training The Next Generation

When Sara was new on the job, she herself was trained using textbooks, but now training courses are all online. Today, Sara is in charge of Border Foods’ Learning Zone, used to train new hires in the restaurant. Maybe she’s found her passion!

“I love training people. I love to show them what I’ve been learning in the company for all these years,” she says.

Sara finds it rewarding to share her knowledge with others. “It’s exciting for me that they learn something from me,” she says. “It’s really nice.”

You need to love what you’re doing, otherwise you’re not going to be successful.

Sara Castellanos, AGM

Finding Work-Life Balance

Sara was hired as a Team Member, then moved up the ranks to Team Trainer, followed by Shift Lead, before being promoted to the AGM role. “I love the company,” she says. One of Sara’s favorite benefits is the flexible schedule.

Sara lives with her parents in a house she was able to purchase using money she earned working overtime in her current position. Caring for her 85-year-old mom and 82-year-old dad means flexibility is key. Sara doesn’t work night shifts, allowing her to be at home with her parents. “That helps me a lot,” she says.

After nearly two decades with us, Sara has no plans to move on anytime soon. “In the moment, I enjoy what I do,” she says. And we enjoy having you as part of the team! 

 

It all starts with a quick and easy Live Más Scholarship video application. Believe in yourself and good things are sure to come your way!

For Team Trainer Tamera Afraid of Lightening, this year not only marked receipt of her first Taco Bell Foundation Live Más $5,000 scholarship, but it led to another unexpected opportunity — an all-expenses paid trip to San Diego, CA for networking and personal growth! Bonus: It was Tamera’s first time in California.

This opportunity is open to all Live Más Scholars,
you just have to apply and engage!

Tamera is the first from Border Foods to be invited and attend Taco Bell’s “Summer of Connection” Conference for Live Más scholars, which has only been around a few years. Out of 350 attendees, Tamera was one of just 77 Taco Bell team members from around the country.

“It’s crazy that not a lot of people know about it,” Tamera says of Live Más and the conference.

There are other opportunities out there as long as you put your foot forward.

Tamera Afraid of Lightening, Team Trainer

How It All Came Together

According to Tamera, as a scholarship recipient, she was automatically added to the Live Más Scholar Connect app, an exclusive social network for Live Más scholars around the country. Designed to inspire career building and engage recipients with the larger Live Más community, Tamera says the app is similar to Facebook, where you can update your status and share accomplishments, and also “like” or comment on other people’s updates.

At some point, Tamera heard about “Summer of Connection” and joined a Zoom call to find out more. She says she would have never known about this cool opportunity without engaging on the app! She submitted a quick and easy application, and was selected.

“Not everybody is chosen,” Tamera shares. She’s still unsure how she got selected. She says the rumor is that as long as you’re active on the app, you’ve got a shot at it.

Conference Highlights

The 2024 “Summer of Connection” Conference (SOC24) was hosted in July in San Diego. Attendance is growing; it went from approximately 150 attendees in 2023 to 350!

Participants enjoyed four days together with keynote speakers (Taco Bell CEO Sean Tresvant was there), a choice of fun activities and targeted workshops, a beach party, and a rewarding final day of service. Designed to cultivate career skills and connections, Tamera certainly made new friends!

It gave me a lot of insight in myself.

Tamera Afraid of Lightening, Team Trainer

Tamera says she met some great people: 18-year-olds who are starting businesses, a young woman who’s walked the red carpet and already won an Emmy. She says what she wants others to realize about this opportunity is how connection benefits everyone.

“Connections are important, especially when you come from small Midwest town like I do,” she says. 

She’s grateful to the brand and to Border Foods for believing in her and providing opportunity.

More About Tamera

Tamera works at our Rapid City, SD Taco Bell. She’s currently finishing up prerequisites at Oglala Lakota College and plans to start nursing classes in fall 2025. She says she’ll take a break from school in the spring to work full-time and focus on passing the entrance exam for her program. 

Will she apply for the scholarship again? Absolutely! As a single mom and working student, she says she appreciates not having to worry about the cost of school and supplies. According to her, she can also be considered again for the conference again.

Sound pretty amazing? Apply for the scholarship and chase those dreams! The Live Más application period opens in November!

Area Coach (AC) Amanda Hobbs joined our company as a Restaurant General Manager (RGM) in 2012 and swiftly moved up the ladder. Today, with 20 years of experience with multiple restaurant brands, she oversees all of our Taco Bells from Mounds View, MN up to Andover. It didn’t take her long to get in a groove and discover her passions.

“I really love the fact that we have the chance to change people’s lives,” she says.

Amanda is passionate about Border Foods’ internal promotion process. She says watching others get promoted is what motivated her to work hard and set goals. We promote from within all the time — check out Hamdi Abshir’s story or Dominic Pagan’s journey with Taco Bell!

“It is achievable,” she says. Her advice? Work hard, don’t be afraid of feedback and be open to mentoring.

Then & Now

Amanda admits that she was once a little “spicy.” She says having people take time to “chip away” at her roughness allowed her to grow and had a really big impact on her life. Now, she’s paying it forward!

“There [isn’t] really a cap on promoting and developing,” she shares. “I really want to help develop people to be managers … support people through their lives so they shine bright.”

If you train your people to use tools and follow the routines, they can achieve amazing things.

Amanda Hobbs, Area Coach

Amanda touts Border Foods’ culture of believing in people and equipping them with the right tools to lead. Our new EmpowHER women’s initiative is a clear example. Amanda is especially grateful that she’s been empowered to run Area 9 the way she wants with the guidance of our core values.

“Being able to use what I know, and what I’m passionate about … I really love that about Border,” she shares. “I love my job.”

Amanda admits she hopes to be named “Area Coach of the Year” someday. For now, she’s focusing on fine tuning routines and continuing to instill excellence in her teams. Not a bad idea. Keep it up, Amanda!

Evan Schoff is a Restaurant General Manager (RGM) for our Taco Bell in Houghton, MI who was drawn to food management at a young age.

When Evan was just eight years old, he watched a mother-figure in his life managing concession stands in his community, and felt inspired.

“I just kind of fell in love with making people happy by putting something that tastes good in their bellies,” he says.

That formative experience set the stage for a future in the service industry. “I’ve been working in kitchens since I was 14 years old,” he shares. He then managed his first kitchen at 18.

Evan also has an impressive background in social services, preparing adults with special needs for getting jobs in the community. Evan says this experience has given him the skills to be able to understand someone’s learning style and adapt as their leader —  an invaluable asset as an RGM!

The minute that we’re not growing and achieving, I don’t think we’re living.

Evan Schoff, RGM

This U.P. Kid is Is Moving Up!

Born and raised in Escanaba, MI, Evan was thrilled with the opportunity to move to Houghton, MI. “It’s just a beautiful place to live,” he shares.

He joined Border Foods in 2022 of which he says, “my life was changed from there.” 

Evan’s favorite part of his job is the variety. “I never get bored at this job,” he says.

There’s always something to grow and achieve.

Evan Schoff, RGM

Evan’s crew is all about teamwork, inside and outside of the restaurant. Only about one-third of his team members have cars, he says, so it’s not uncommon for people to carpool to work. Speaking of cars, while oil changes and tire replacements aren’t officially part of the RGM role, Evan has performed both to help out members of his team!

“We’re family,” he asserts. “We treat each other with the love that we would to our own family.”

Evan’s career goal is to become an Above Store Leader (ASL). “I would love to grow in this company,” Evan shares. “To put that spark that’s in my store into other stores.” We’re lucky to have this kind of passion igniting our teams! 

Restaurant General Manager (RGM) Hamdi Abshir started with Border Foods Taco Bell when she was just 16 years old, in part, because our Northtown Mall restaurant in Blaine, MN was close to her home. Nine years later, she’s still going strong! 

Hamdi joined as a team member and quickly moved up to a Shift Lead and then Assistant General Manager (AGM), before scoring the RGM role. And she did a lot of growing along the way. “A lot of the people I’ve met I feel like have turned me into the person I am today,” Hamdi says.

I see [work] as a place where I can check my worries at the door and just go in and have a great day.

Hamdi Abshir, RGM

As an RGM, Hamdi is responsible for interviewing, scheduling, training, and of course, making the delicious tacos and burritos Taco Bell is known for.

“My personal philosophy is to take pride in your work no matter what it is,” Hamdi says.

Team Spirit & Support

Aside from the variety of work, Hamdi also appreciates Border Foods’ competitive wages, benefits and unfailing support. “When you work in our company, the first thing people will say is, ‘whenever you need me, I can help you,’” she says.

Which aligns with the advice Hamdi gives to future leaders: “Be there for your team because they’ll be there for you.”

This is something Hamdi experienced firsthand recently. Upon reaching an important life milestone — purchasing her first home — she says her boss was one of the people proudest of her achievement. 

“They’re all really celebratory,” she says of her entire team at Northtown Mall.

“It’s a good feeling to know you can try as hard as you can, but there are people who will cheer you on even if you fail,” Hamdi shares.

There’s always something this job can teach you.

Hamdi Abshir, RGM

As for the future, Hamdi has her sights set on the Training Manager role. “I really like developing people and showing them what they’re capable of,” she shares. We’ll be here cheering you on along the way!