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!

When Theresa Williams first clocked in as a late-night closer at a Taco Bell she had no plans of building a decades-long career. It was meant to be a part-time gig — nothing more. Four decades later, Theresa is still here, celebrating 40 years with the brand and a remarkable journey alongside Border Foods since its ‘90s inception.

“I had no intention of staying,” Theresa recalls. But stay, she did! Today, Theresa serves as our Employee Relations Specialist and works in the home office.

Career, Career, Career

Theresa’s career began at our Taco Bell on Rice Street in St. Paul, MN, where she was hired by fellow tenured staff member, Juli Sargent, who was General Manager (GM) at the time. When Juli was promoted and transferred to a different location, the revered late Carol Williams became Theresa’s manager. Carol changed many lives at Border Foods – Theresa’s was no different.

“She’s the reason I’m here.” Theresa says. “Carol wasn’t just my boss, she was my friend.”

Carol kept working with Theresa, developing and promoting her. This led to a steady rise from Shift Manager to Assistant General Manager (AGM) then GM (Carol’s role). But Theresa’s career climb doesn’t end there!

Over the years, Theresa continued evolving through a wide range of leadership positions, including Training Store Manager, Area Training Manager and District Manager, and then moved into facilities and recruiting. Each role brought new opportunities to learn.

Embracing Every Chapter

Choosing a favorite role of all time is difficult, Theresa says, because of how invested she gets in the moment.

Whatever I’m doing at the time is my favorite.

-Theresa Williams, Employee Relations Specialist

This incredible mindset carried her through one of the most demanding positions, leading the facilities department. There, she had to learn quickly. Managing five technicians at once was challenging but also gave her a new appreciation for problem solving and partnership.

“It was just fun to see all of the improvements that were made,” she says.

In the Moment

Today, with her focus on employee relations, Theresa’s work sits at the heart of our organization, where she supports both team members and leaders.

As Employee Relations Specialist, her role spans everything from guiding employee relations cases and supporting restaurant managers, to handling background checks, unemployment hearings, and legal claims. She most enjoys the variety and chance to partner across many departments.

The Power of Belief

For Theresa, Border Foods has been so much more than a workplace – it’s been a constant source of opportunity and stability.

“I’ve had all of these opportunities,” she says. “Whether or not I had the experience, the belief was there that I could do the job.” 

“They’ve been there for me,” she says of Border Foods. “And I’ve been there for them.”

It’s this reciprocal loyalty that’s our super glue! Today, we celebrate Theresa’s 40 years of growth and unwavering commitment, and the legacy she continues to build every day. And if her story proves anything, it’s that belief in people and potential can shape a career that lasts a lifetime!Start your own career with Border Foods today!

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

Thirty-five years – that’s a whole lot of time and energy devoted to one company and brand! Today, we tip our tacos to two remarkable men who’ve been a part of shaping culture at Border Foods and growing people daily for countless years.  

Ziggy Arrington started his career with Taco Bell in 1991, and came over to Border Foods from another family owned franchisee in 2015. He’s been a General Manager (GM) ever since and continues to lead our East 10th Street location in Sioux Falls, SD.

I’m right where I’m supposed to be, doing the things that I love.

-Ziggy Arrington, GM

Ken Lund is one of our esteemed Directors of Operations who celebrates 35 years with our company! Ken began his career as a team member and has progressed steadily to where he leads today. He also happens to be a member of our Culture Committee.

I feel fortunate to have worked with the Engler family over the years … The Englers, along with Carol and Jeff Williams, established a strong culture from the beginning that makes people want to be part of Border Foods … [It’s] why our company remains exceptional.

– Ken Lund, Director of Operations

We quizzed these two legends to get a sense for what they love, what they’ve seen and where they’re looking for joy in 2026. 

Q: What’s the best part about your job?

Ziggy: The best part about this job I think is not just my own growth, but watching everybody around me grow.

Ken: [It’s] undoubtedly the opportunity to work with so many fantastic individuals, from our dedicated team members and restaurant management teams to our above restaurant leaders, peers, and the leadership team – everyone contributes to making lives better on a daily basis.

I am surrounded by the best people, and I feel truly blessed.

– Ken Lund, Director of Operations

Q: How has Border Foods made your life better?

Ziggy: I mean, I kind of pinch myself, you know, as far as how far I’ve come in my life … it’s beyond my wildest dreams with this company.

Ken: In countless ways, it’s truly hard to quantify. Border Foods has provided me with the opportunity to grow within the company, offering coaching, development and the support needed to excel in my role. They have invested not only in my growth but also in the development of everyone within the company.

What keeps me young, it’s all the people … it’s the culture.

– Ziggy Arrington, GM

Q: Reflect on Border Foods’ evolution since you joined. What stands out? How’s this the same great company as always?

Ziggy: I go back to family. It’s just so awesome to see two brothers work together and have that vision …  working with family. Sometimes I’m overwhelmed by the emotions – that’s what I would want for my family.

Ken: I was part of an acquisition by the Engler brothers in 1992. When we first met, Lee assured me that he would teach me how to run the business at a high level, manage financials and help me grow – and that’s exactly what he did. Lee and Jeff took me in like family … they have taken great care of their team and me, which is why I’m still here.

Q: What’s your proudest achievement?

Ziggy: [It’s] just being somewhere, able to work; being valued, appreciated, seen every day. Watching the growth from a professional level.

Ken: It’s hard to define really one … I have a few … I think of all of the people we have been able to impact, making their lives better through development and promotions. And receiving the Heart of Border Foods Award, which reflects the values that Border Foods has instilled in me.

Q: Any good lessons learned on the job?

Ziggy: The lesson in life to treat people the way you want to be treated.

Ken: It starts with integrity and personal accountability. Control what you can, namely yourself, and your actions and your reactions. When you do that, you can navigate any situation. 

When you take care of your team, they will take care of your guests.

– Ken Lund, Director of Operations

Q: What do you look forward to in 2026? How do you keep things exciting?

Ziggy: I think what keeps it exciting for me is again, continuing to watch a new group of people come in – or people internally – [who] are still growing.

Knowing the company and the people we have, I feel like we’re in good hands.

– Ziggy Arrington, GM

Ken: l’m really looking forward to our company’s growth. What keeps this exciting is our ability to adapt to situations and make the best of whatever comes our way. It’s like coaching a team in the Super Bowl, making adjustments to ensure our success. We’ve had fantastic years, and the challenge is to grow and adapt to surpass our previous achievements.

Q: Any famous words for aspiring future leaders?

Ziggy: You get to be who you are when you work for Border Foods. You get to show your talents, show exactly who you are. We embrace that.

Ken: Every one of us has the opportunity to make good decisions that benefit both ourselves and our teams. Love your team, coach them, support them and take care of them. When you do that, everything else usually falls into place.