Before there were 250+ Border Foods Taco Bells, Director of Operations Gay Demaree was a young woman launching her career with Taco Bell. Hired directly out of college, she started as an Assistant Restaurant Manager (AGM) and then was later promoted to General Manager (GM). In 1995, Corporate put the Minneapolis market up for sale and lives changed.
With one famous transaction between Taco Bell Corporate and the Engler brothers, our company went from owning 13 Taco Bells to 76 overnight. And Gay, known as one of our “originals,” came along for what she says was an amazing ride.
Gay spent 34 years with Taco Bell, 30 of which were with our company. She’s opened new restaurants, participated in acquisitions, visited most of our restaurants, trained and developed countless people, planned large company meetings, helped launch our successful Swinging for Scholarships fundraiser, attended nearly every reward trip we’ve hosted, and traveled extensively.
“[I] have enjoyed the career of a lifetime,” she shares. “It has been fun. Amazing, rewarding — so many adjectives, not sure where to start and stop.”
A Look Back
Gay’s career really took off once she joined us. When we acquired her Taco Bell location in 1996, it was already a certified training restaurant. She stepped into the role of Area Training Manager alongside a colleague, spending most of her time in the restaurants. Soon, it became clear that this was not the most efficient way to train company leaders. The role was no longer needed.
But having become close with the late Carol Williams, our former VP of Operations, Gay stayed and took on her next position as an Area Coach. After a couple of years, she was promoted to what is known today as Region Coach, a position she maintained for 15 or so years.
When Carol passed, Gay was promoted to Director of Ops Excellence, a brand new position.
“I was kind of the liaison between Taco Bell Corporate and Border Foods,” she explains. In this role, she supported our former Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams (Carol’s husband) in his restaurant visits.
Today, Gay leaves behind the post of Director of Operations for Territory 1, where she most recently oversaw a third of the company’s operations (restaurants in six of 10 states).
She shares what she’s loved about it. “You didn’t even know you were doing it, but you were creating that footprint of what a great organization is,” she remarks, referencing Border Foods’ longtime commitment to “making lives better.”
Region Coach Jarret Persons, who’s worked with Gay for 10 years, says she’s been a hands-on leader who very much enjoyed being in the restaurants.
“What I’ve learned most from [Gay] is around people and culture,” he says. “The personal relationships she has built, the way she truly knows her team, and the culture she has created are impressive. She has mentored me in understanding the importance of personalization, especially when it comes to recognition … that level of care really makes a difference.”
If there’s one thing I hope people remember, it’s that we built more than a company — we built a culture.
– Gay Demaree, Director of Operations
“When you look at her time with Border Foods, it’s incredible to think about how many people she has hired, trained, promoted, and developed,” Jarret says. “But more than just numbers, it’s the impact behind those names. She believes in people, sometimes before they fully believe in themselves. She trusts them to run the business, to lead teams, and to grow into roles.”
“Sometimes you have to help them find their strengths,” Gay says.
Director of Operations Ken Lund says elevating our teams’ experiences will be Gay’s legacy at Border Foods.
Transition Time
“It will be a big change, I am sure,” Gay says of retirement, now just days away. She’s always been a go, go, go person but she’s had no problem pulling together a list of things to occupy her newfound time!
She says she’s excited for long walks with her fur baby, Bella; more time with husband Jon, son Tate and soon-to-be daughter-in-law Hattie, her parents and in-laws; scrapbooking; exercising; house projects; the list goes on!
“I hope to get a lot of “Therapy” – the name of our boat – on the St Croix,” she says comically.
“I know what I won’t miss – living out of a suitcase; having a computer on my lap, on the couch, on the boat. Or working Sunday nights,” she quips. “‘But I am certain that I will miss the people – the connection, the fun, the interaction.”
She’s approaching this major life transition with positivity. “I leave with immense gratitude and a full heart.”
Meanwhile, we at Border Foods have big shoes to fill! Gay, thank you for dedicating so much of your life to our company, culture and people. You will be missed!
After 34 years with Border Foods, I can honestly say it’s been more than a career — it’s been a privilege. To help shape the company from the beginning, to build lifelong relationships, and to work alongside leaders who inspired me every day … that’s something few people get to experience. I’m incredibly proud of the impact we’ve had on so many lives, and deeply grateful for every person who was part of the journey.
– Gay Demaree, Director of Operations
