When Angelica Haas walked into a Border Foods Taco Bell at 16, she expected it to be a first job. Four years later, she’s making a name for herself and quickly rising the ranks with her recent promotion to General Manager (GM) of our Gillette, WY Taco Bell!

Originally from Pennsylvania, Angelica has called Gillette home for the past eight years. She initially applied to Taco Bell because her older brother worked there. Although he gave notice shortly after she was hired, Angelica had already developed a connection with the team.

That connection inspired her to keep growing. After a few months, Angelica became a Team Trainer. At 18, she stepped into a Shift Leader role, followed by a promotion to Assistant General Manager (AGM). About a year and a half later, she reached her current role as GM.

Defining Excellence Through Resilience

For Angelica, one of Border Foods’ core values, “excellence,” is a big motivator in the fast-paced world of quick-service restaurants.

“It’s easy to give up, but I feel that perseverance and resilience are such big parts of my character, and such key roles to achieving excellence,” she shares.

That mindset has shaped how Angelica approaches her own development and the restaurant’s. Angelica describes herself as very progress-oriented, finding motivation in seeing positive change, whether that means developing her team or improving another area of the restaurant.

Excellence to me is doing the best that you can with what you have.

– Angelica Haas, GM

Supportive Leadership

Angelica credits Alyssa Harrison (GM of our Wyoming Boulevard location in Casper) as one of the biggest influences on her career. Alyssa has provided support and the honest feedback Angelica needed to keep moving forward.

That focus on development has become a major part of Angelica’s own leadership style. She’s especially proud of the personal growth she’s experienced through Border Foods’ classes and learning events. She’s also proud of helping her team members take their own next steps up our career ladder.

A First Job With Lasting Impact

Looking back, Angelica says Taco Bell was the perfect first job. She appreciates the opportunities to move up, as well as the training programs we offer along the way. Her own journey from team member to GM is a reflection of just how much can happen when you embrace opportunity!

My Border Foods experience has been adventurous, self-developing and engrossing!

– Angelica Haas, GM

As a Construction Project Manager, Andrew Davies spends much of his time behind the scenes, helping bring Border Foods restaurants to life. From new builds and remodels to testing new equipment and layouts, his work plays an important role in creating spaces that work better for the team members who use them every day. That behind-the-scenes impact is exactly why Andrew’s Q3 Core Value Callout means so much.

It means a lot to know that the work we do and the impact we have is recognized by others across the company.

– Andrew Davies, Construction Project Manager

Taking on New Challenges

Andrew has been with Border Foods in his current role for five years, but his Taco Bell journey started much earlier. As the son of our VP of Facilities, Taco Bell has been part of his family’s story for more than four decades. At 15 years old, he joined our Elk River, MN restaurant as a Service Champion working there for about two years. Now, he’s helping shape the future of our Taco Bells through projects that require flexibility, creativity and plenty of problem-solving!

During our third quarter, Andrew helped complete our first ever Kitchen X in Carver, MN, followed swiftly by our second in Rochester. Because Kitchen X projects differ from a traditional new build, they require new ideas, trial and error, and a willingness to keep improving the concept.

“I’m proud of the projects we’ve completed and the challenges we’ve worked through along the way,” Andrew says.

Improving the Restaurant Experience

Andrew’s work extends beyond completing construction projects. He’s also been partnering with Taco Bell Corporate’s engineering team to test new equipment and kitchen layouts that could benefit restaurant teams across the business.

These efforts are focused on improving efficiency and convenience for team members while reducing repair and maintenance costs associated with equipment. For Andrew, seeing the finished product is rewarding, but the best part is seeing how it affects the people who work in our restaurants.

“Knowing that our work can make their jobs easier and give them a space they’re proud of makes all the hard work worth it,” he says of the direct impact on restaurant teams.

Whether Andrew is working through an unexpected construction challenge or testing a new idea, he keeps the people using these spaces top of mind.

Learning From Others

Andrew credits much of his growth to the opportunities he’s had to learn from people across different departments at Border Foods.

Operations leaders like LouAnn Hansen and Jarrett Persons, along with Facilities leaders Chris Brown and Nate Wenger, have all helped him expand his knowledge and develop a better understanding of the business as a whole.

This cross-functional learning has helped Andrew build the skills he needs to take on new challenges and continue growing within the company. His next goal is to keep developing professionally and prepare for future opportunities, including the possibility of advancing into a Senior Construction Manager role.

It’s great being part of a company where people truly care about each other both inside and outside of work.

– Andrew Davies, Construction Project Manager

Growth, Family & Opportunity

For Andrew, growth means being willing to step outside his comfort zone and take on challenges that create opportunities to learn.

His advice to other Border Foods team members looking to grow and make an impact is to build strong relationships, take pride in their work and focus on making a positive difference for the people around them.

It’s a philosophy that fits naturally into Andrew’s own Border Foods experience, which he describes in three words: Growth, family and opportunity.

Family has a special meaning for Andrew. Not only is he the second generation to join Border Foods’ “family,” he also met his wife at the Roseville Taco Bell for their first date! Today, Andrew is building a story of his own here — one project, challenge and opportunity at a time. This core value recognition is a reflection of the impact he’s making along the way.

Inspiring. Challenging. Rewarding. That’s how Ashley Boyce describes her journey with Border Foods. After working as a professional chef and manager at McDonald’s, Ashley was looking for a change when she discovered an opportunity with Taco Bell. 

What started as an Assistant General Manager (AGM) role in 2019 has grown into a leadership journey that now has Ashley serving as the General Manager (GM) of our Taco Bell in Portage, MI, and Market Training Manager (MTM) in our Michigan market.

Today, she’s focused on developing people, strengthening teams and helping promote a culture where everyone is encouraged to become the best version of themselves.

“You can always be more,” Ashley says. “Constant growth is a must,” 

A Career Devoted to Developing People

Ashley’s path to leadership has been shaped by a passion for helping others grow. As a GM, one of the things she enjoys most is the opportunity to make an impact on the people around her. Whether it’s encouraging someone to pursue a bigger goal or helping a team member discover what they’re capable of, Ashley sees leadership as an opportunity to help others want more for themselves.

“I am a developer and teacher,” she says. 

Ashley describes her leadership style as passionate. She brings a serious approach and high expectations to her work while appreciating the balance her team brings to the restaurant. Most importantly, she wants her team to know they can depend on her.

“They can trust me to lead them in the right direction,” she says.

[pull quote] “I have a drive to be the best I can and help others be the best they can.” – Ashley Boyce, GM/MTM

Bringing Border’s Core Values to Life

Ashley has spent the past three years building her team, and credits their support and willingness to improve as a key part of their progress. They became a training store in 2025.

“We are far from perfect, but we try our best to bring the Core Values to life each shift we run,” she says.

For Ashley, that means creating an environment where people feel included and recognized. Her involvement with our Culture Committee has given her another avenue to help strengthen our company culture.

One initiative Ashley’s particularly proud of is a recognition program designed to encourage team members to recognize one another.

For her restaurant team, recognition is part of the rhythm of each shift. It’s one more way to build people up and create an environment where team members feel valued.

I hope my team knows they can always count on me to show up for them.

– Ashley Boyce, GM/MTM

Growing Leaders Through New Opportunities

As an MTM, Ashley is now able to expand her impact beyond a single restaurant.

One of the areas she’s most passionate about is manager development. She gives managers opportunities to work in other restaurants where they can build their skills, gain new experiences and improve their abilities.

For Ashley, development is about more than preparing someone for their next position, it’s about giving people the experiences and confidence they need to lead successfully.

“I am excited to see the outcome of all the hard work,” she says.

Her commitment has already produced meaningful results. Ashley is excited to have helped develop one of her AGMs into a leader who was named AGM of the Year for the region last year!

The People Piece

After years in the restaurant industry, Ashley says one of the biggest lessons Taco Bell has taught her is what she calls the “people piece.”

Leadership requires self-reflection. To effectively lead a team, Ashley believes leaders need to understand what their people need and be willing to adjust and grow. That means constantly challenging yourself to improve.

Her advice to other leaders reflects that philosophy: stay organized, use the tools available to you and hold your team accountable. Set goals, even small ones! Focus on what you can control. And perhaps most importantly, have confidence while remembering to stay humble.

“Be better than the day before,” she says. “Hard conversations make you and others around you stronger – get used to them, quick!”

As she looks ahead, Ashley is energized about what’s possible for her team and our Michigan market. With a focus on development and a commitment to excellence, she‘s helping build the next generation of Border Foods leaders –  one person, one shift and one opportunity at a time!

This is Corrine Kindred, our Human Resources (HR) Business Partner and one of our inaugural Heart of Border Foods recipients. While she obviously holds an important role with the company professionally, Corrine brings so much more to the big, beautiful picture here at Border Foods. She’s one of several passionate culture keepers in our midst.

A Brief History

Corrine joined our company as a Region Coach (RC) – when we acquired the Wisconsin/Illinois market – after working many years for Taco Bell Corporate. She says she heard which franchisees are the “good ones” during her time with Corporate. Naturally, Border Foods was on that list!

When Corrine “got a tap on the shoulder” to interview with our late, great operator Carol Williams, she recalls spending hours talking to her. “I knew that I had to work for her,” Corrine confesses.

“[Carol] was unlike any female leader I had ever encountered,” she shares. “The way she spoke about how she led her teams, how she supported her family … I sensed her connection with people.”

For Corrine, it was clear their values aligned. As she got to know the rest of the team, she found more of the same!

When I joined Border, it was like I was meeting my family that I hadn’t met yet. That is genuinely how I felt.

– Corrine Kindred, HR Business Partner

Today, as an HR Business Partner, Corinne is most often on site in our restaurants working directly with teams and location leaders. She supports Border Foods Taco Bells in Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota. 

“We are field-facing HR partners, meaning we’re on both sides of the fence,” she explains. “We understand the operations piece of running Taco Bells and on the HR side, we support all of the HR functions – culture support; analytics around retention, hiring, turnover; employee relations; a lot of training.”

Human Resources has become the perfect fit for Corinne. “That people connection is in my DNA,” she says. “I’m really interested in why people do the things that they do and why they are the way they are.” 

The Here and Now

Beyond her HR duties, Corrine has become instrumental in helping elevate voices all over Border Foods as an enthusiastic member of two dynamic groups at Border Foods – the Culture Committee and our women’s initiative, EmpowHER. 

“I feel even more embedded than ever,” she says. “These are the things that make me feel valued – that I get to participate in committees or initiatives that have real impact on people.”

“The Culture Committee allows people to be a part of something bigger than them,” she explains. Committee members bring the voices of their peers and departments back to the group, and then together, they make things happen! For example, a past survey on accountability revealed that people didn’t actually understand accountability. The result? Accountability training for restaurant leaders and above.

Culture Committee initiatives are far reaching, according to Corrine. “We’re doing some incredibly exciting things this year that are going to have a real impact.” 

What she’s talking about:

• the launch of a new points-based recognition program,
• enhancements to Border Foods’ employee assistance program (Border Cares), and 
• the dissemination of “stay surveys” designed to gain a better understanding of the whole Border Foods employee experience. 

Corrine is ecstatic about the progress. “Man, it fills my bucket!” she says.

At Border Foods, your voice is heard.

-Corrine Kindred, HR Business Partner

Corrine is also passionate about female leadership development (cue EmpowHER). Once again, our beloved Carol was a powerful source of inspiration, having built a successful career in a once male-dominated industry.

“Carol was able to balance being a strong female leader and having a family,” Corrine says. “I’ve never seen someone be able to do both – be a powerful leader and be present with her family.”

Border Foods’ EmpowHER initiative was founded in 2024 to further develop and build up women within the company. The group meets in-person twice a year – read up on our most recent workshop!

“EmpowHER really works to help support our female leaders with confidence; having a voice; and connection with other wonderful, strong female leaders,” Corrine shares. 

I don’t know how you can go wrong when you connect women with other fabulous women. It’s a recipe for success.

– Corrine Kindred, HR Business Partner

Corrine has become a strong leader here in her own right. It’s impossible to put into words the amount of good that comes from her own positive energy and commitment to our people. We may be filling her bucket, but lucky us, she’s pouring her heart into our workforce!

“I get the gift of making an impact on people.” -Corinne Kindred, HR Business Partner

General Manager (GM) Lexxy Husted remembers a time when she definitely didn’t want to be the boss at her Taco Bell, our remodeled Allendale, MI restaurant. Today, she’s Allendale’s GM! 

I love my people, my job and the opportunities I get from it.

Lexxy Husted, GM

Lexxy ended up on the fast track to leadership at a time when Allendale needed her most and helped us turn a struggling location – with no manager and poor hiring practices –- into a profitable, fully staffed restaurant.

She joined as a crew member in 2021 after serving as manager of the on-campus dining center for her alma mater, nearby Grand Valley State University. She knew her experience in foodservice would serve her well, but didn’t think anything of the job becoming a career.

“I went in and immediately felt comfortable,” she says of joining the Allendale team.

From College to Career Climb

Lexxy’s leadership development didn’t launch in the most conventional of ways. Not too long after joining the Allendale Taco Bell, Lexxy’s mentor and supervisor suffered the first of several strokes. Being a helpful person at heart, Lexxy knew she had to do something.

“I thought, I have to step up and help this woman,” she recounts. ”I’m gonna have to stay here and help her.” 

And stay she did! As time went on, Lexxy was encouraged to take the next step in her career. One of her cheerleaders, Area Coach (AC) Connie Horan, knew she had potential and pushed her forward. Six months later, Lexxy was promoted to team trainer.

Whenever I doubt myself, I always have someone in the company that says ‘yes, you can do it.

– Lexxy Husted, GM

It’s at this point, Lexxy says, that she really picked up on Border Foods’ care for its people. Territory Training Leader (TTL) Tranquility “Tran” Devereaux worked closely with her to prepare her for a Shift Leader position; six months later, she was promoted again!

For Lexxy, Tran’s one-on-one training meant a lot – it meant someone “higher up” cared enough to make sure she was getting the proper training needed for her to make a difference at her restaurant.

Allendale went on to become a training store, which Lexxy says gave her the chance to do outreach and train others. 

Lexxy was acting like an Assistant General Manager (AGM) long before she received the next promotion. And at two years in, she knew she didn’t want anyone else to come in and take over her Taco Bell!

She thought, I’m going to stay here, and I’m going to keep doing this and get better, she shares. “I’m going to see what I can do to improve everyone’s experience [on] the job.”

[pull quote] “Border Foods is really good at recognizing people for their achievements – picking out the people who are putting in the most effort.”-Lexxy Husted, GM

Caring for the College Crowd

Lexxy ended up in Allendale much like many of her college-aged crew – as a student at Grand Valley. She obtained a degree in psychology and a minor in women, gender and sexuality studies. 

I love helping others – it’s who I am as a person.

-Lexxy Husted, GM

She originally wanted to become a therapist for LGBTQ+ teens and go back to school for her masters. But having a friend working at Taco Bell changed that plan!

What Lexxy didn’t anticipate back then was how her college education would impact the team she leads today.

“It has helped me so much,” she says. “A lot of being a manager is understanding the people.” 

Lexxy says her team members, several of whom are part of the LGBTQ+ community, know they can talk to her anytime about student life or their class schedules, and she will listen and accept them for who they are.

“A lot of them were already customers,” she says. “They were coming in and seeing:  This is a place where I can feel accepted.”

According to Lexxy, the majority of the Allendale team have been with her the past three years; many for all five. They stay through college, sometimes work through the summer, and many continue working at Taco Bell long after graduation.

And what keeps Lexxy around? She’s very attached to her team and enjoys the training piece of her job. In fact, Allendale’s goal is to achieve training location status again.

And we think they can do it! If you’re interested in joining a team with high standards like Allendale, hop over to our job board and check out our open positions.

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.

There’s a new face around our main office! Meet Elijah Walters, Border Foods’ Business Analytics Intern for the summer. Elijah is finishing up his degree in finance and business analytics at the University of Minnesota, with graduation scheduled for this upcoming winter (he’s graduating early).

This is Elijah’s second internship experience; last summer he had a finance-focused internship with Life Time. Lucky for us, the mysterious workings of LinkedIn’s algorithm put our ad in his feed and the rest is history! 

Working closely with Max Corrigan (VP of Analytics & Marketing) and Evan Hatton (Business Intelligence Analyst), Elijah says he instantly felt part of the team. And it’s taken no time to throw him into the throes of real-world work, which he loves!

“Working throughout the different departments has been really cool,” he shares.

Facing a tough job market, Elijah says he’s not only grateful to have landed an internship but also appreciates how surprisingly hands-on it has been at Border Foods. At the time of our interview, he’d already taken a deep dive into analyzing HR data, forecasting, product costs, and more! He says he’s even had access to executive leadership.

“It’s really interesting to see how what I’m learning in school actually applies,” he says. 

For us, it’s rewarding to see how easily we can make a difference in a young person’s career. It’s kind of our thing – see lives changed with Live Más Scholarships. 

We’re proud to hear about some of Elijah’s first impressions – we offer a friendly, welcoming environment; seeing our Founders Jeff and Lee Engler walking around the office shows this is “a really connected business”; and we have approachable leadership.

Everyone’s so motivated not just for their teams, but in making Border Foods a better company.

-Elijah Walters, Business Analytics Intern

Elijah has learned some valuable things about himself through his internships. First, he shares, this experience at Border Foods has solidified an interest in working for a smaller company like our family business. He’s also realized that analytics – over finance – seem to be more to his liking because of the opportunity to work across departments.

We’ve enjoyed the opportunity to have him here! Are you looking for summer work? Check out our current job openings.

For Samantha Maples, growth hasn’t come from staying comfortable, it’s come from taking a leap. In this case, it meant moving 16 hours from home and pursuing a future in healthcare while showing up every day ready to learn. As a team member at Border Foods’ Taco Bell in Bismarck, ND, and a recent Live Más Scholarship recipient, Samantha is turning challenges into momentum and building a future rooted in compassion and purpose.

Q: You made a big move for school. What was the hardest part?
A: I’m naturally more introverted, so pushing myself to meet new people was tough. Being so far from home made it even harder because I didn’t have my usual support system to fall back on.

Q: How has that experience shaped you?
A: It’s helped me grow a lot. I’m more confident now and more comfortable starting conversations and connecting with people, even in unfamiliar situations.

Q: Was it worth it?
A: Absolutely. I’ve grown so much, and I’ve never once regretted it.

Q: You’re pursuing a future in healthcare. What does compassion in that field mean to you?
A: It means treating every patient as a whole person, not just a diagnosis. It’s about empathy, patience, and understanding that even small acts of kindness can make a big difference. That’s what helps people feel cared for, not just treated.

Q: What does it mean to make patients feel seen and safe?
A: It starts with listening – making sure patients know they’ve been heard, validating their feelings, and advocating for their needs so they feel supported and respected.

Q: What keeps you going on tough days?
A: I remind myself to stay resilient and keep pushing, even when things feel overwhelming.

Q: How has working at Taco Bell helped you grow?
A: It’s helped me both personally and professionally. I’ve built stronger communication skills and learned how to work as part of a team.

Q: How did you hear about the Live Más Scholarship?
A: My managers and bosses told me about it and encouraged me to apply. I probably wouldn’t have done it without them.

Q: What does winning the scholarship mean to you?
A: Financially, it helps ease the burden of paying for school so I can focus more on my education and my future in healthcare. Personally, it feels like recognition of the hard work and growth I’ve put in.

Q: Balancing school, work and life isn’t easy. How do you do it?
A: The joke answer is that I don’t sleep, but really it comes down to time management. I stay organized, prioritize what needs to get done and try to be intentional with my time.Q: What advice would you give to others just starting out?
A: Enjoy the journey. It’s not a race or a competition. Take time to appreciate where you are because every experience – good or bad – helps you grow.

One of Kelly Lawver’s last big moments before retiring from Border Foods was publicly congratulating Market Training Manager (MTM) Laura Swenson for her unwavering excellence in 2025.

Laura says being honored by her Area Coach on his very last day was extra special.

“It’s always an amazing feeling getting recognized for all the hard work I put in,” she says. “We have been running the numbers year after year, and it has just become our expectation here at Perryville, [IL].”

Laura has worked at the Perryville Taco Bell her entire career – 15 years! She landed her first job there after securing a degree from a local community college. She says once she was promoted to Shift Lead in 2013, she was fully committed to “the Bell.” She’s continued advancing ever since.

Trade Secrets

We asked Laura, so what’s the secret formula for maintaining excellence in a restaurant all year long?

“I have been lucky enough to stay at the same location through my whole Taco Bell career,” she shares. “I feel like this is one of the reasons we do so well. A lot of my team has been with me for years and are high performers because of that.”

Another of Laura’s leadership secrets? Supporting her crew of superstars whenever, wherever.

“I never leave my team to struggle, I’ll always be right there with them to get through the day,” she says. “I like to try and make sure they are taken care of first and foremost. I think that is a big reason as to why we are such a high-performing store.” 

“Laura leads with selflessness,” says Region Coach Jennifer Copeland. “Her dedication to developing future leaders in the region makes a lasting impact, and her contributions are invaluable! We are incredibly fortunate to have her on our team.”

I try my best to lead by example and put passion into my store and the team follows suit.

– Laura Swenson, Market Training Manager

The seriousness of work aside, we threw her into a quick round of this vs. that. Enjoy!

Q: Rush hour chaos or slow shift vibes? 
A: Rush hour chaos for sure. It helps the time fly by.

Q: Guest who orders EVERYTHING or one who can’t decide?
A: One who orders everything – it keeps the team busy and the sales flowing.

Q: Free meal: tacos or burritos?

A: Burritos. There are endless ways to change things up with them!

Q: Nacho cheese or creamy jalapeño sauce? 
A: Neither … spicy ranch!