– BORDER FOODS –

A TACO BELL FRANCHISEE

  • Gay Demaree Celebrates 31 Years with Border Foods

    At Border Foods, we’re lucky enough to have many incredible, tenured employees. After celebrating accomplishments at the Border Foods rally this winter, and after reviewing the list of folks who have been with us for decades, we think it’s only fitting that we highlight a few special anniversaries. Join us in a fun new series where we’ll touch base with employees who truly feel more like family. Next up, Gay Demaree!

    Border: What is your current title?

    Gay: Director of Operations

    Border: What date were you hired?

    Gay: June 10, 1992

    Border: What was your title on the date you were hired? 

    Gay: Assistant General Manager (AGM) 

    Border: Why have you stayed with Border for all these years?

    Gay: Opportunity, family, culture, passion to grow and to learn!

    Border: What’s the greatest lesson you’ve learned in your time with us?

    Gay: Learn from your experience and from your mistakes, this is what helps you grow. Family is key. When we take care of each other and help each other, personally and professionally, we are making everyone and the company better. And lastly, your success is our success; the better you do the better the company does.

    Border: What would you say to a new hire, or someone starting their career with Border Foods?

    Gay: You can do anything; go anywhere you want to within the organization based off of your performance.  Everyone on the team adds value and growing within the organization is up to you. Your options are unlimited.

    Border: What makes Border different than other QSR?

    Gay: So many things! Below are a few of my favorites:

      • Culture and our family environment. Caring for our team is a priority for everyone! 
      • Doing the right thing  🙂
      • The ability to make lives better.
      • The ability to ask questions and offer solutions.

    Border: What’s your favorite Taco Bell menu item?

    Gay: Bean burrito no onion

    Border: Name three people at Border (employed or past employees) who helped you where you are today.

    Gay: This is a hard one

      • Carol Williams, Carol Williams, Carol Williams…
      • Ed Heskett
      • Mark Bloomquist, a prior employee who gave me a great deal of opportunity with opening new restaurants, which developed my skills, taught me lessons on coaching.  He hired me and introduced me to world of fast food and to teaching and learning from others.
      • Jeff Williams

    christopher

  • Border Foods Welcomes New COO Vince Bosscher

    NEW HOPE, Minn. (May 17, 2023) — Border Foods welcomed its new Chief Operating Officer (COO) Vince Bosscher today, who has formally stepped into the new role after serving as the family-owned franchisee’s director of operations over the last four years. The change was prompted by previous COO Jeff Williams’ decision to transition out of his former role toward retirement. To allow for a smooth transition, Williams will stay on in an advisory capacity with the business through the end of the year.

    “At Border Foods, we believe that good food and service starts and ends with good people. Jeff and Vince are living proof of this belief,” said Border Foods President Aaron Engler. “I am honored that Jeff chose to devote the better part of his career to Border Foods, sharing his time and wisdom to make our family-owned business even greater; he leaves behind a huge legacy. I am excited for Vince to carry on Jeff’s work, embracing talent and new tools to encourage continued success in all that Border accomplishes.”

    “For 27 years, Jeff has been an invaluable asset to the Border Foods family, leading with smarts, heart and humility,” said Border Foods Vice President of Human Resources Sharla Hennek. “We look forward to Vince’s collaborative leadership as the incoming COO, driven by his commitment to all the people who make Border such a wonderful place to work.”

    Williams began his Border Foods career in 1996 as a district manager, later moving into the company’s corporate roles as senior vice president before eventually becoming Border’s COO in 2018. Throughout his time at Border Foods, Williams has focused on strengthening the franchisee’s staffing levels at its original 62 restaurants across the upper Midwest; cultivated a welcoming family culture through the creation of annual appreciation events and prizes like Family Fun Days and complimentary Best of the Best trips; and prioritized employee success and well-being through robust employees benefits and educational scholarships.

    “It has been a dream come true to spend the better part of three decades helping to build and run such a special business,” said Williams. “While family is at the core of Border Foods’ culture, it is truly excellence, teamwork and community that drives everyone. The sky is the limit for this business; I am excited to see everything new that Border accomplishes under Vince’s leadership.”

    Bosscher has over 25 years’ worth of experience with the brand and originally began working with Border Foods as a Taco Bell Corporate operations consultant, before he was eventually hired as an associate region coach at Border Foods in November 2017. In 2018, Vince was promoted to region coach and in 2019, advanced to his current role as director of operations, where he has spent the last four years building a robust team in the eastern region of Border Foods’ operations.

    “Border’s team of innovative, talented and caring people is what makes its future so bright,” said Bosscher. “I’m excited to get to work on building upon its history of exceptional service and delicious food, and most importantly, continue to cultivate its irreplicable family culture.”

    ABOUT BORDER FOODS

    Border Foods is a family-owned franchisee of Taco Bell, the nation’s leading Mexican-inspired quick service restaurant. With more than 200 locations (and growing) across the Upper Midwest, it is one of the largest Taco Bell franchises in the country. Headquartered in New Hope, Minnesota, the company has a people-first culture where leaders work to develop team members for long-term careers with the brand and beyond. Learn more at BorderFoods.com.

    christopher

  • Juli Sargent Celebrates 41 Years with Border Foods

    At Border Foods, we’re lucky enough to have many incredible, tenured employees. After celebrating accomplishments at the Border Foods rally this winter, and after reviewing the list of folks who have been with us for decades, we think it’s only fitting that we highlight a few special anniversaries. Join us in a fun new series where we’ll touch base with employees who truly feel more like family. First up, Juli Sargent!

    Border: What is your current title?

    Juli: Sr. Safety & Risk Manager

    Border: When were you hired?

    Juli: 6/28/1982

    Border: What was your title on the date you were hired?

    Juli: Crew Member

    Border: Why have you stayed with Border for all these years?

    Juli: I love this job!

    Border: What’s the greatest lesson you’ve learned in your time with us?

    Juli: Have kindness and compassion throughout your work day.

    Border: What would you say to a new hire, or someone starting their career with Border Foods?

    Juli: We have so many great opportunities here at Border. If you want to grow with us, the sky’s the limit. 

    Border: What makes us different than another QSR?

    Juli: Our leaders make decisions based on what is best for the employee

    Border: What’s your favorite Taco Bell menu item?

    Juli: There are way too many! I love them all, but if have to choose, I’d have to say the Nacho Supreme/Bellgrande 

    Border: Name three people at Border (employed or past employees) who helped you where you are today.

    Juli: Carol Williams, Jeff Williams, and Jeff Steely — thank you all!

    christopher

  • Best of the Best Trip: Look Who’s Going to Mexico!

    It’s one of the BEST times of the year!

    After reviewing performance metrics for 2022, we recently surprised a whole crowd of unsuspecting managers, coaches and support staff at Border Foods’ recognition rallies with news that they’ve landed spots at our annual “Best of the Best” getaway! 

    Winners get an all-expenses paid trip to Mexico for themselves and a guest of choice. This year, we’re taking top performers to Secrets Moxché in Playa del Carmen in March!

    Hey, check this place out:

    Congratulations to our 2023 “Best of the Best” winners:

    GENERAL MANAGERS

    Alicia Clement, Albertville
    Alyse Eckert, Hudson
    Alyssa Harrison, Wyoming Blvd
    Andrea Ramirez, Fridley
    Barb Bunney, North Street
    Brandon Rosillo, Fairmont
    Brittany Caldwell, Monmouth
    Calista Korbel, Buffalo
    Carsten Meyer, Lakeville North
    Casey Bertrand, Rawlins
    Cesar Figueroa, Nathan Lane
    Chad Zinda, Little Falls
    Daniel Mulhair, Spearfish
    Debora Sanchez, Hillcrest
    Denise Vogt, Edinburgh
    Donald Mendoza, Brooklyn Center
     (Heart of Border Foods)
    Edgar Muneton, Eden Prairie
    Edna de Leon, Edina
    Erika Vanotterloo, S Washington
    Gerardo Dominguez, Lake Street
    Heather Schwartz, Willmar
    Heidi Stottler, Monticello
    Isaac Aguilar, Maple Grove Pkwy
    Ismael Guzman, Bloomington
    Jackie Lamoureux, Marinette
     (Circle of Excellence)
    Jake Woltjer, Zeeland
    Jason Mcneil, Northland
    Jennifer Peloquin, Ulysses
    Jose Jimenez, Woodbury
     (GM of the Year!)
    Josh Cushman, Marshall
    Kent Farris, St Cloud
     (Circle of Excellence)
    Kevin Stimeling, Henderson Street
    Kristy Shoemaker, Paw Paw
    Laura Swenson, Perryville
    Lindsay Wuhrman, Marinette
    Mary St Clair, Maple Grove
    Nicole Terry, Golden Valley
    Nicole Zinther, Menominee
    Nid Lee, Vadnais Heights
    Noah Westrahall, Ionia
    Paula Volenski, Allegan
    Purnell Morales-Barnes, Cottage Grove
    Ryan Spindler, Alexandria
    Sandy Avila, Richfield
    Shawn Mcaleese, Hastings, MN
    Shelly Aguilar, Hopkins
    Stacey Hale, Deforest
    Timothy “TJ” Wegler, Osseo
    Vera Calle Sanchez, Stinson
    Will White, Lowell

    REGION COACHES

    Craig Curit, Region 5
    Grant Schofield, Region 3
    Jarret Persons, Region 10
    Kasey Baeza, Region 4
    Ken Lund, Region 8 (RC of the Year!)
    Louann Hansen, Region 6
    Pam Hare, Region 1
    Steve Daggett, Region 2

    AREA COACHES

    Alfredo Briones, Area 10
    Amanda Hobbs, Area 9
    Brian Ennen, Area 3
    Connie Horan, Area 40
    Dawn Vanmaanen, Area 27
    Deb Fraser, Area 32
    Felix Garcia, Area 15
    Frank Tuka, Area 23
    Heather Aos, Area 31
     (Circle of Excellence)
    Jenn Coleman, Area 5
    Juli Froehlig, Area 45
    Melvin Mora, Area 11
    Miguel Avila, Area 18 (AC of the Year!)
    Nathan Besler, Area 33
    Nic Gerry, Area 13
    Octivia Erickson, Area 2
    Tina Brown, Area 39
    Zack Shumaker, Area 14
     (Heart of Border Foods)

    SUPPORT STAFF

    Brittney Lundeen, Accounts Payable Specialist
    Ed Heskett, Loss Prevention Manager
     (Heart of Border Foods)
    Joel Wohlers, Staff Accountant
    Maricela Alatorre, Benefits Specialist

    christopher

  • 2023 Rally Wrap Up: Saucy Sales, Awards & Good Fun

    It’s one of the most festive times of the year companywide. We just concluded rah rah recognition rallies in Minnesota, Michigan and Illinois. In total, an estimated 275 team members showed up to these events!

    Our people are met with excitement the minute they enter — high fives, party music and chatter grows with intensity. It’s obvious that Border Foods rallies are “come as you are” events where hoodies, baseball caps and Taco Bell merch are welcome.

    At Border Foods, when we rally as a company, we relish in reasons to celebrate! President Aaron Engler shared recent company successes with the Minnesota crowd: year-to-date comp sales of 22.7 percent, 2022 sales hitting $490 million and companywide fundraising pulling in $2.5 million for Taco Bell Foundation’s Round Up program.

    From the most motivated individual team members to outstanding teams in our restaurants, we work hard to call attention to everyone’s best efforts. Here are more cheer-provoking highlights:

    • Award presentations in Minnesota kicked off with the reveal of three unsuspecting but well deserving Heart of Border Foods recipients: kindhearted RGM Donald Mendoza; Loss Prevention Manager Ed Heskett, a man of true integrity; and the lively Area Coach Zack Shumaker;
    • Jose Jimenez was named RGM of the Year; Miguel Avila, AC of the Year; and Ken Lund, Region Coach of the Year;
    • We announced the launch of a new in-house reward program for managers called Club Fuego;
    • Restaurants with the highest sales (Stinson, MN made $5 MILLION in 2022!) and fastest drive-thru speed of service were celebrated, among the many other restaurant-level achievements;
    • “Best of the Best” trip winners found out they’re going to Mexico in March!
    • And many more deserving individuals (see the full list) were recognized for their service (congrats to Julilyn Sargent for 40 years!), leadership and commitment to excellence.

    Minnesota Rally

    Michigan Rally

    christopher

  • COO Jeff Williams Prepares for Retirement

    There are a lot of emotions wrapped up in the forthcoming retirement of company great Jeff Williams, Chief Operations Officer (COO), who has devoted the better part of his career to Border Foods.

    Jeff joined the company in 1996 soon after his wife, the late Carol Williams, accepted a position. Actually, she’s the one that set up his interview with co-Founder Lee Engler (Jeff and Carol were already married).

    And when Carol passed away in 2018, Jeff took on the very unique role of assuming the leadership position of his beloved spouse, carrying on her legacy and simultaneously building upon his own. So in a way, Jeff’s retirement marks the close of an important era in Border Foods’ history.

    The Early Years

    Jeff takes us back to the ’90s when he first joined Border Foods as a District Manager (the equivalent of today’s Area Coach).

    “We went through such a metamorphosis over time,” he says of that period. The company that Jeff and Lee Engler bought from Taco Bell, he says, wasn’t properly staffed — he estimates at least half of the 62 restaurants didn’t have managers. Many closed. Because of this, the early days were just about survival and getting the right people in place.

    And yet even from the start, he says, the importance of family culture was apparent. It’s shared in that first interview and permeates throughout orientation. Here, this isn’t forced culture; it’s part of the very fabric of Border Foods.

    In fact, it’s this embedded family culture that Jeff has watched evolve impressively during his tenure. Border Foods now hosts annual Family Fun Days appreciation events, rewards its top 20 percent with the annual Best of the Best trip, and remains committed to providing educational scholarships and more robust employee benefits offerings than its competitors.

    “We value our people,”
    Jeff says matter-of-factly.

    Jeff was mostly in the field throughout the early years. Once he moved up to a corporate position, of which there were only a handful at the time, he met Jeff and Lee for breakfast on a weekly basis. It’s one of his favorite memories.

    “I loved working with Jeff and Lee so closely,” he says, sharing that the Englers’ generosity and level of involvement as entrepreneurs is not commonplace in the field.

    Jeff was holding the title of Senior Vice President when he agreed to take over Carol’s position in 2018 and eventually, moved into the COO position.

    Quiet Accomplishments

    Now, Jeff doesn’t seem to be one who can tout his own accomplishments. He quickly deflects; this humility brings us back to a focus on team and company excellence. He’s extremely proud of Border Foods’ impact on peoples’ lives.

    “I think a few years back, I coined the phrase ‘making lives better,’” he says. “To quantify our vision, purpose … this is how we have the opportunity to change peoples’ lives.”

    He shares an example of an employee who had a whiteboard in her office where she displayed handwritten goals. One was to “get promoted to buy a bigger house” for her family. Jeff feels good about working where dreams like these are entirely possible!

    “I believe people need to believe in something bigger than them,” he says. “… part of who we are is that we want to be the best.”

    “Our family culture is the foundation, but what drives us is excellence.”
    – Jeff Williams, retiring COO

    That excellence really paid off in 2018 when the Engler brothers received the highest honor in the Taco Bell world, the Glen Bell Award (named after the brand’s founder). Moved by company accomplishments more than his own, Jeff says that that was a great day for him, and a very emotional one.

    Defining His Legacy

    “Running an organization like this has kind of been a dream come true,” he shares. “… I hope the legacy is that the company is even more successful moving forward.”

    Jeff hopes to see Border Foods continue to offer exceptional job opportunities and mindfully do the right things. Of him and his colleagues, he says “we are all so incredibly lucky to have stumbled into this environment.”

    So what’s next? Jeff admits he’s feeling a little nervous about this next chapter.

    “You do something for so long,” he says. “Now you have to become something else.” As COO of a family-focused company, it will come as no shock that Jeff plans to spend more time with grandkids. He also plans to get back into volunteering. Meanwhile, we’ve got BIG shoes to fill! But Jeff’s legacy will be irreplaceable.

    christopher

  • COO Jeff Williams Prepares for Retirement, Leaving Behind a Family Legacy

    COO Jeff Williams Prepares for Retirement, Leaving Behind a Family Legacy

    There are a lot of emotions wrapped up in the forthcoming retirement of company great Jeff Williams, Chief Operations Officer (COO), who has devoted the better part of his career to Border Foods.

    Jeff joined the company in 1996 soon after his wife, the late Carol Williams, accepted a position. Actually, she’s the one that set up his interview with co-Founder Lee Engler (Jeff and Carol were already married).

    And when Carol passed away in 2018, Jeff took on the very unique role of assuming the leadership position of his beloved spouse, carrying on her legacy and simultaneously building upon his own. So in a way, Jeff’s retirement marks the close of an important era in Border Foods’ history.

    The Early Years

    Jeff takes us back to the ’90s when he first joined Border Foods as a District Manager (the equivalent of today’s Area Coach).

    “We went through such a metamorphosis over time,” he says of that period. The company that Jeff and Lee Engler bought from Taco Bell, he says, wasn’t properly staffed — he estimates at least half of the 62 restaurants didn’t have managers. Many closed. Because of this, the early days were just about survival and getting the right people in place.

    And yet even from the start, he says, the importance of family culture was apparent. It’s shared in that first interview and permeates throughout orientation. Here, this isn’t forced culture; it’s part of the very fabric of Border Foods.

    In fact, it’s this embedded family culture that Jeff has watched evolve impressively during his tenure. Border Foods now hosts annual Family Fun Days appreciation events, rewards its top 20 percent with the annual Best of the Best trip, and remains committed to providing educational scholarships and more robust employee benefits offerings than its competitors.

    We value our people,
    Jeff says matter-of-factly.

    Jeff was mostly in the field throughout the early years. Once he moved up to a corporate position, of which there were only a handful at the time, he met Jeff and Lee for breakfast on a weekly basis. It’s one of his favorite memories.

    “I loved working with Jeff and Lee so closely,” he says, sharing that the Englers’ generosity and level of involvement as entrepreneurs is not commonplace in the field.

    Jeff was holding the title of Senior Vice President when he agreed to take over Carol’s position in 2018 and eventually, moved into the COO position.

    Quiet Accomplishments

    Now, Jeff doesn’t seem to be one who can tout his own accomplishments. He quickly deflects; this humility brings us back to a focus on team and company excellence. He’s extremely proud of Border Foods’ impact on peoples’ lives.

    “I think a few years back, I coined the phrase ‘making lives better,’” he says. “To quantify our vision, purpose … this is how we have the opportunity to change peoples’ lives.”

    He shares an example of an employee who had a whiteboard in her office where she displayed handwritten goals. One was to “get promoted to buy a bigger house” for her family. Jeff feels good about working where dreams like these are entirely possible!

    “I believe people need to believe in something bigger than them,” he says. “… part of who we are is that we want to be the best.”

    Our family culture is the foundation, but what drives us is excellence.
    – Jeff Williams, retiring COO

    That excellence really paid off in 2018 when the Engler brothers received the highest honor in the Taco Bell world, the Glen Bell Award (named after the brand’s founder). Moved by company accomplishments more than his own, Jeff says that that was a great day for him, and a very emotional one.

    Defining His Legacy

    “Running an organization like this has kind of been a dream come true,” he shares. “… I hope the legacy is that the company is even more successful moving forward.”

    Jeff hopes to see Border Foods continue to offer exceptional job opportunities and mindfully do the right things. Of him and his colleagues, he says “we are all so incredibly lucky to have stumbled into this environment.”

    So what’s next? Jeff admits he’s feeling a little nervous about this next chapter.

    “You do something for so long,” he says. “Now you have to become something else.” As COO of a family-focused company, it will come as no shock that Jeff plans to spend more time with grandkids. He also plans to get back into volunteering. Meanwhile, we’ve got BIG shoes to fill! But Jeff’s legacy will be irreplaceable.

    christopher

  • Border Foods Opens First-Ever Taco Bell Defy in Brooklyn Park

    New concept reimagines the traditional drive-thru with an elevated kitchen and unique vertical lift that delivers food to four drive-thru lanes for a faster, contactless experience

    Brooklyn Park, Minn. (June 6, 2022) – Minnesota-based and family-owned Taco Bell® franchisee Border Foods today announced that Taco Bell Defy® will open its doors – and most importantly, its four-lane drive-thru – in Brooklyn Park on June 7. The first of its kind two-story model delivers innovative technology and design, like a proprietary vertical lift to transport iconic Taco Bell menu items straight from the kitchen to customers.

    “Taco Bell Defy embodies the innovative, entrepreneurial spirit of Minnesota businesses and franchisees,” said Lee Engler, co-founder and CEO of Border Foods. “It is a creative, technological solution for a faster, contactless experience for as many Taco Bell fans as possible and is poised to be the future of quick-service dining.”

    Taco Bell Defy aims to reduce service times to two minutes or less, all while providing fans with a fun, easy and seamless drive-thru experience. Regardless of how customers order, Taco Bell Defy has four lanes to accommodate them:

    • Pre-orders: Customers who order via the Taco Bell app will score skip-the-line service. For ultimate ease and convenience, the Taco Bell App can be downloaded ahead of time by visiting the Apple App Store or Google Play.
    • Delivery drivers: For those ordering through a third-party delivery partner, drivers will be able to process orders with the goal of providing an even faster delivery time.
    • Traditional drive-thru: For those who prefer to drop in for their favorite menu items, there’s one lane dedicated solely for this purpose.

    Minneapolis-based Vertical Works Inc. merged innovation, design and manufacturing to concept and build much of what fans can expect from Defy, and in doing so reinvented the drive-thru experience. Vertical Works is powered by WORKSHOP and PD Instore.   

    “We applied our innovative approach to problem solving to create a brand-new way for consumers to access fast food,” said Josh Hanson, co-founder of Vertical Works and CEO and founder of WORKSHOP. “We know today’s consumer expects a convenient and memorable experience, and the Taco Bell Defy concept delivers on both.”

    “We were excited to partner with Border Foods and Taco Bell to bring the Taco Bell Defy concept to life,” said Mike Strommen, co-founder of Vertical Works and CEO of PD Instore. “The Border Foods team was facing challenges with streamlining the journey from order to meal hand-off, and the Vertical Works team presented a solution to not only address this, but also deliver a more impactful customer experience overall. Taco Bell Defy’s unique design combined with innovative technology delivers food to consumers faster and more efficiently.”

    From digital check-in screens for mobile order customers’ unique QR codes, to a two-way audio and video technology service for customers to talk to team members on the second floor, Taco Bell Defy boasts many features that could show up in future Taco Bell restaurants in the US. In the meantime, Border Foods and Taco Bell are considering potential retrofits that could be made to several of Taco Bell Defy’s neighboring restaurants.

    “Taco Bell Defy is an incredible innovation for our brand, and one that’s meeting our consumer in a really unique way. For decades we’ve been committed to providing a fast, safe and friendly drive-thru experience; now with our bold goal of creating a two minute or less drive-thru experience for customers of this concept, Taco Bell Defy is the future,” said Mike Grams, Taco Bell President and Global COO. “We’re thankful for our incredible 36-year partnership with Border Foods and feel like Taco Bell Defy is a culmination of years of success between our teams, along with the expertise of local partners like Vertical Works who helped make this possible.”

    christopher

  • Congrats to our 2022 BOTB Trip Winners!

    Well, 2021 was a roller coaster of a year as we navigated the “new normal.” With new strains of COVID and the vaccines coming out, we’ve all been trying to do what’s best for ourselves and our family here at Border Foods. We had many leaders and role models step up and show outstanding performance throughout the year.

    To show our appreciation, we’re taking these 87 “Best of the Best” team members and a guest of their choice on an all-expenses-paid vacation to:

    Haven Riviera Cancún
    Cancún, Mexico
    March 30th-April 3rd 

    Area Coaches:

    Pete Ledum: Area 37
    Felix Garcia: Area 15
    Patrick Rahkonen: Area 38
    Kelly Lawver: Area 19
    Josh Miller: Area 21
    Adam Wilson: Area 8
    Heather Aos: Area 31
    Frank Tuka: Area 22
    Vince Wilhelm: Area 1
    Jennifer Copeland: Area 20
    Deb Fraser: Area 32
    Tina Brown: Area 39
    Alfredo Briones: Area 10
    Jenn Coleman: Area 5

    General managers 

    Heather Schwartz: Willmar
    Juli Froehlig: Buffalo
    Jose Jimenez: Woodbury
    Will White: Lowell
    Jackie Lamoureux: Marinette
    Gerardo Dominguez: Lake Street
    Ryan Spindler: Alexandria
    Kent Farris: St. Cloud
    Josh Cushman: Albion
    Deb Wilber: Fremont
    Alyssa Harrison: Wyoming Blvd
    Ismael Guzman: Bloomington
    Sandy Avila: Richfield
    Chad Zinda: Little Falls
    Mike Hafer: Caledonia
    Larry Irving: Minnetonka
    Edna Sanchez: Edina
    Mary St Clair: Maple Grove
    Alicia Clement: Albertville
    Lauryn Wilson: Division
    Mevin Mora: Maple Grove Pkwy
    Eric Ternand: Rogers
    Araceli Aguilar: Hopkins
    Marcus Amador: Jordan
    Dean Ruhf: Iron Mountain
    Vince Monreal: Deforest
    Daniel Mulhair: Spearfish
    Heidi Stottler: Monticello
    Alvaro Medina: Chanhassen
    Laura Swenson: Perryville
    Brad Halverson: Stillwater
    Vera Sanchez: Stinson
    Travis Comnick: Hinckley
    Nate Hamrick: Brainerd
    AJ Love-Hamlin: Court Street
    Melissa Naugle: Machesney Park
    Faith Parks: Ionia
    Bobbie Hansen: Pheasant Ridge
    Chelsea Weaver: Sprinkle
    Tony Beltran: River
    Nicole Terry: Golden Valley
    Karen Olson: Verona
    Darlene Dant: Marshall
    Brittany Caldwell: Monmouth
    Alisha Burke: Billings – Grand Ave
    Josh Nordberg: Billings – Central
    Jeremy Stepp: Nicollet
    Anne Kurich: 11th Street
    Kevin Stimeling: Henderson Street
    Nate Bowie: Lincoln Way
    Lori Sumner: Allendale
    Nate Martin: Chicago Ave
    Justin Perry: Sturgis
    Barb Bunney: North Street
    Brittany Siebenaler: Robert Street
    Angela Buffington: Crystal
    Daniele Oliver: Hwy 14

    Support StafF:

    Evan Hatton: Analyst
    Mary Haubrich: Accounts Payable Manager
    Juli Sargent: Risk Manager
    Becky Wenger: Heart of Border Foods
    Max Corrigan: Heart of Border Foods

    Region Coaches :

    Pam Hare
    Jarret Persons
    Steve Daggett
    Grant Schofield
    Kasey Baeza
    Craig Curit
    LouAnn Hansen
    Geison Cunha
    Ken Lund

    Circle of Excellence:

    Dominic Pagan
    Donald Mendoza

    christopher

  • Border Begins Dickinson Taco Bell renovation, continues North Dakota portfolio expansion

    Border Begins Dickinson Taco Bell renovation, continues North Dakota portfolio expansion

    Today was an exciting day in Dickinson, ND! We officially began renovations to our newly acquired Taco Bell restaurant in the town, conveniently located near the busy Interstate 94 and State Highway 22 interchange. The Dickinson location at 1560 3rd Ave. W. will briefly close in the fall to facilitate larger construction updates ahead of an anticipated completion in November.

    “As a family-owned business we strive to bring comfortable, high-quality and delicious dining experiences to all of our communities,” said Border Foods President Aaron Engler.

    Good food and service start and end with good people, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to bring that philosophy to the Taco Bell in Dickinson.
    – Border Foods President Aaron Engler

    In addition to a Taco Bell facelift, we’re hosting an online silent auction for memorabilia from the Dickinson restaurant and other Taco Bell items. Residents can bid farewell to the old restaurant and get excited for the new renovations and ownership by bidding on items starting now until September 30, with all proceeds benefitting the United Way of Dickinson.

    In December 2020, we acquired 11 North Dakota Taco Bell restaurants in Bismarck, Dickinson, Fargo, Grand Forks, Jamestown and West Fargo. Two Fargo-area locations recently reopened after renovations.

    “With more families, visitors and businesses discovering North Dakota’s dynamic offerings, it’s important our restaurants reflect their needs,” said Border Foods North Dakota Region Coach Pam Hare. “We’re excited to be part of the community and debut a new experience for Dickinson diners with this most recent renovation.”

    As part of the celebration today, a few members from a Facebook page called “How the Dickinson Taco Bell Ruined My Life” joined the Border Foods team to participate in the demo. Justin Wall, a Dickinson resident and Facebook group member, said that the service and upkeep of their beloved Dickinson Taco Bell declined over the years. He was excited to hear that the location was under new ownership.

    Border Foods is currently hiring at its Dickinson location, as well as several others across the state. As a family-owned franchisee with a people-first culture, the company uniquely positions team members for long-term careers both within and outside of the brand. A complete list of job openings and an online application can be found here.

    christopher