General Manager (GM) Melinda “Mindy” Cegielski was an awestruck first timer on our Best of the Best (BOTB) trip to Mexico this year. While it’s supposed to be reward and recognition for her, we actually receive fulfillment in seeing someone with so much potential overcome challenges in her restaurant.
Mindy has worked for Border Foods since she was 16, steadily moving up the ladder. She currently manages our Hudson, WI Taco Bell. When Hudson failed its CORE audit two years in a row, right after she was promoted to GM, Mindy’s disappointment was palpable (she’s still emotional about it). Mindy worried she wouldn’t perform strong enough as a leader.
“It really just taught me that every day, you can’t skip those little things that you absolutely need to ensure get done,” she says. “Show up every day, be the best you can every day.”
That’s great advice from a gal who can now say she crushed it in 2025! Mindy was not only named GM of the Year for her region, but Hudson also made top place companywide for Best Overall CORE Average!
Meeting Mindy in Mexico
“Being here today … it’s an unreal experience,” Mindy says during her interview at BOTB in Punta de Mita, Mexico.
Everybody here treats me so nicely – I couldn’t imagine working for another company.
– Mindy Cegielski, GM
It was Day 1 and she already had a pretty good idea of what she wanted to do. “For sure hit the pool,” Mindy shares. “We need to go to every restaurant probably; utilize that swim up bar … do the casino night.”
Mindy says she was looking forward to meeting new people. “There [are] so many GMs here that I’ve never met before, so it’s really cool to see everybody together,” she says.
When asked why she thinks she made the BOTB winners list this year, she points to her resilience.
“I think it takes a lot every day to get up and make sure that you are being the best of the best,” she says. “You’re trying your hardest and you’re there for your team – you’re giving that follow up and feedback.”
Being a Border’s Best
A recent nomination for recognition via our employee hub confirms Mindy practices what she preaches.
“Mindy is the best boss in so many ways,” writes Assistant General Manager (AGM) Amanda Haro. “She takes care of us like family and really sets the tone for our culture at the store.”
At Border Foods, what makes us proud of Mindy are the lessons she’s learned and the determination with which she’s moved forward. “I want people to know I’m human, too,” she says. “Not everybody’s perfect.”
That kind of self-awareness is valuable for being a compassionate leader. She gives credit to her team. “There’s no ‘I’ in the word ‘team,’” she confesses. “We live by that in Area 2. Without them, there’s no me, there’s no anything.”
We’re excited to see what Mindy and her team accomplish this year! In the meantime, she entertained us with a little This or That:
Early shift or late shift? For sure late shift.
Beach or pool? If there’s a bar, the pool – but otherwise the beach.
Sleep in or wake up early? Definitely sleep in.
