– BORDER FOODS –

A TACO BELL FRANCHISEE

  • Laberge Leads On And Off The Ice

    Laberge Leads On And Off The Ice

    Andrew Laberge is no stranger to leading a team. As a former ice hockey captain and semi-pro player, the newly minted Restaurant General Manager (RGM) has found success in applying the team-centric mindset he learned on the ice to his latest venture with us here at Border Foods.

    Rooting For The Rookie

    Andrew got his start as a Taco Bell team member when he was just 16 years old. He never expected that what was originally intended to be a side job while he pursued his hockey career would quickly turn into something he’d commit to full-time. 

    Upon graduating high school, Andrew joined a semi-pro hockey team — but after year two with the squad, he started to lose interest, sharing that he was inspired to devote more time to work instead. Andrew found he really enjoyed working alongside his fellow Taco Bell team members as well as the fast-paced environment of the quick service restaurant industry.

    I love hockey and it’s been my life since I was young. But the career at Taco Bell has been very beneficial to me.

    Andrew Laberge
    Sticking With It

    Luckily, we felt the same about Andrew! In December 2024, Andrew’s own RGM approached him and shared that she was being promoted to Area Coach. She asked if he would be interested in training to eventually take over her role. Andrew was ecstatic about the proposal and happily accepted. 

    In February of this year, at just 20 years old, Andrew became Assistant General Manager (AGM) at the Andover, MN Taco Bell, and as of early August, he’s officially the restaurant’s new RGM. 

    A True Team Player

    Thanks to his past as a competitive athlete, Andrew naturally holds himself to a high standard as RGM. He shares that the integrity, accountability and teamwork he learned during his hockey career are values that lend themselves well to his work at Taco Bell today. 

    It’s clear that when it comes to his list of responsibilities, Andrew’s crew takes top priority. His favorite part of working at Border Foods has been the people, he says, and his biggest challenge as RGM has been balancing his new responsibilities while still supporting his team on the line. However, according to Andrew, it’s all worth it. “Work can be stressful, but the people around you take off that load,” he shares.

    When asked about his future with Border Foods, Andrew shares that he’d someday love to begin training to be an Area Coach. “But I’m completely fine with where everything is leading me right now,” he adds.

    We can’t wait to see what you’ll do next, Andrew! 

    Border Foods

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  • Three Cheers for Shana’s 30 years!

    Three Cheers for Shana’s 30 years!

    Work anniversaries always call for a celebration, and this one is no exception. We’re excited to share that our very own Shana Burns — Shift Lead at the Sprinkle Taco Bell located in Kalamazoo, Michigan — just celebrated her 30th work anniversary with us! 

    Shana truly helps to make this place a fantastic place to work.

    Shana is an incredible asset to the Border Foods family, and we couldn’t be more grateful for the dedication and determination she’s brought to our company. We sat down with her to hear her story and learn more about what’s coming next.

    An Unexpected Opportunity

    When Shana started at  Taco Bell as a team member in 1995, she never imagined that she’d be starting what was to become her lifelong career. Soon, however, it became apparent to Shana that she could grow professionally with Border Foods. She climbed the career ladder, eventually reaching Restaurant General Manager (RGM) level, a position in which she led various Taco Bell restaurants over the course of 20 years. Unfortunately, after two decades, health challenges arose for Shana; luckily, she was able to continue working with us. Shana took a step back to become a Shift Lead instead — a position that has proven to be a bit less strenuous!

    As you can imagine, Shana has seen the Taco Bell brand undergo quite the transformation over the past 30 years. She shares that she’s enjoyed watching the company grow and change, citing menu innovation and new technology as updates that have stood out.

    Even as our company has evolved, Shana’s own focus has always remained the same: the people. 

    “You can have the best product in the world, but it’s the way you treat your customers and your team that keeps people coming back,” she shares.

    A Friend in Border Foods

    Shana and Border Foods share a lot of the same values, which is a huge reason why Shana has stayed with us so long. Shana truly embodies all six of our core values, but one stands out the most: excellence. 

    When she’s at work, Shana lives by the phrase, “act like an owner.” She shares this mindset with her team, and encourages them to take accountability for what they bring to work every day. This mentality not only makes Border Foods a great place to work, Shana says, it also motivates her team to make the business the best it can possibly be.

    Thinking about the Future

    Shana isn’t sure where the road ahead leads. What she does know, however, is that no matter what her next step is, she’ll be happy.

    Congratulations again, Shana. We couldn’t be more grateful for all of your contributions!

    Border Foods

  • Meet Crystal, The Accounting Creative

    Meet Crystal, The Accounting Creative

    Crystal Kovach says she’s very much an accountant and a perfectionist, two terms she uses as if they’re synonymous. That’s stellar news, considering we put her in our accounting department!

    But beyond Crystal’s daily number crunching as an Accounts Payable Specialist, it’s what she’s been whipping up on the side that’s getting her extra attention at Border Foods. For the past year, Crystal has been dabbling in special event decor for us, creating balloon arches and garlands, button pins, banners, homemade ornaments, centerpieces, and cardstock creations — all just for fun.

    At Border Foods, we want team members to live más in all facets of their lives — and unleash their passions!

    For Crystal, it all started with throwing baby showers for co-workers and just took off from there. She’s now volunteered her creative talents for several company events, including our 250th restaurant celebration and the retirement of one of our longtime Region Coaches. Crystal’s most recent gig was creating decor for our third annual Swinging for Scholarships golf tournament!

    Crystal doesn’t want the company to feel forced into utilizing her talents, though, she says it’s just become a really meaningful creative outlet for her.

    From Career Pursuits to Creative Outlets

    Crystal has spent most of her career in foodservice accounting, most recently at the University of Minnesota. She joined the Border Foods family about three years ago. She says she’s always loved graphic design, and originally wanted to major in business management and interior design. Creativity has always found a place in her life.

    In fact, a little over a decade ago, when she had a small child at home and was caring for a sick parent, Crystal took a break from accounting to start her own invitation business on Etsy.

    Her business was profitable from the start, but she soon found she couldn’t hire fast enough to meet demand and maintain her high standards. The result? Stress quickly took all the enjoyment away.

    “When I did the business it took everything out of me,” Crystal confesses. She realized she needed to go back to “a solid, safe zone” — solid income, a security net — and that’s how she landed back in the professional world.

    But she couldn’t ignore her passion for creative projects. “I learned from my mother how to care about people and make them feel special,” she shares. This is what inspires her ideas.

    For Crystal, tapping into her creative side makes her feel good because she knows it’s helping to make other people in the company feel special. Decorations, she says, set the mood for any gesture of appreciation.

    In return, Crystal says in doing “one little thing in her own time,” she feels supported and appreciated by her supervisor.

    We’re so lucky to have Crystal’s multifaceted talents on our team!

    Border Foods

  • Pam Hare: Leading Changed Her Life

    Pam Hare: Leading Changed Her Life

    This month we bid beloved Region Coach Pam Hare farewell as she transitions from leading Border Foods’ Region 1 — which covers western South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming and Nebraska — to a sure-to-be fulfilling retirement with her husband Greg.

    “I’m so proud to have played a part in the growth of Border Foods,” Pam says. When she joined us 14 years ago, we had just under 90 locations. Since then, Pam and her team have been involved in many acquisitions! She likes to say we “Border-rized” certain markets like Sioux Falls, SD; the Upper Peninsula of Michigan; the Quad Cities; North Dakota; Billings, MT; and Nebraska.

    Being a leader at Taco Bell completely changed my life.

    Pam Hare, Region Coach

    Pam will be remembered for many things around here, not the least of which is for her positive energy and embodying our core value of treating people like family. She’s been described as “the mother” of her region, always leading with heart and taking care of her people. In fact, she was one of our very first Heart of Border Foods award recipients.

    In her most recent role, Pam oversaw 23 restaurants in four states that employed roughly 800 team members. She swears she’s loved every minute of it! 

    “I honestly can’t think of a time where Pam wasn’t energized to be here,” says CEO and President Aaron Engler. “No matter the task, she shows up with joy, purpose and a genuine love for the work — leading, growing and building something with her team.”

    A Brief Career Overview

    Pam’s earliest passion was actually live animals, not tacos. Growing up, her dad worked for a veterinarian in their town. She remembers joining him on middle-of-the-night house calls to deliver baby farm animals and perform emergency surgeries. 

    “I was intrigued by all he could do to help or save animals,” she says, reflecting. Despite having dreamt of following in her father’s footsteps up until about age 14, she instead went on to work for her brother’s drive-in restaurant for the next eight years.

    At 21, Pam decided to relocate to Rapid City, SD, and quickly realized she needed a job. After applying for an open position, she was contacted by the local Taco Bell franchisee.

    “I had never even heard of Taco Bell,” Pam admits. But a 44-year career with our famous brand would take off from there, with her first position as a Shift Lead.

    “I was given the opportunity to lead people with Taco Bell,” she shares. “Working side by side with great leaders who mentored me brought out my love for leading people and helping others be successful.”

    Pam became a part of the Border Foods family in December 2011 when we acquired the Rapid City market.

    “Pam’s ability to lead with compassion, care and consistency has shaped one of the most financially successful regions in our company for years. And it’s no accident,” Aaron says. “She treats her team like family, and they show up for her because of it.”

    A Bright Light

    People are paramount to the success of our company. And Pam has always taken that seriously. According to her, her leadership style is centered around believing in others, giving them room to grow and letting them shine.

    “I encourage others to take the chance and be successful,” she shares. “What I do matters to me and I want it to matter to others. If I can help someone by having a conversation about my path to success, and give them the nudge to go for what they want, that’s great!”

    She lights up every room she walks into with her warmth, her smile and her presence.

    Aaron Engler, CEO & President  

    “Knowing you made an impact, no matter how small or large, is very gratifying,” she says of her time here.

    Relishing Retirement?

    Pam says people are what she’ll miss the most about this busy work life. “I will always value all the great relationships with my team, my guests, and my co-workers that I have made throughout my career.”

    But she also has some great things to look forward to! Pam’s list so far for relishing retirement includes:

    • coffee on the patio in the morning sunshine;
    • no itinerary for the day;
    • quality time with her husband, family and friends (and cats); and
    • bucket list travel!

    As for this last item, it turns out we have plenty of stops on the map! “It will be amazing to have so many people that I can visit on a personal level in 10 states,” Pam says, reflecting on how travel and her work family will continue to collide.

    Until then, we wish Pam well in this next chapter. Congratulations on a celebrated career with Taco Bell and our company! 

    Border Foods

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  • RGM Gayle Grigsby on Empowerment

    If there’s anyone who knows the ins and outs of quick service restaurants (QSR), it’s Gayle Grigsby. An on–again, off–again employee since 1997, Gayle says there’s no other brand in the world like Taco Bell. 

    “From when I was young, I knew I wanted to be in the restaurant industry,” Gayle says. “My dad always said, ‘Things change in the world, but one thing remains: People have to eat.’”

    With the stability that working in restaurants promised, Gayle landed her first job at Burger King when she was in high school. She became a Shift Manager before she graduated and quickly realized a QSR career was on the horizon. In the late 90s she moved over to Taco Bell, never looking back. During her time with the brand, she’s worked as a Restaurant General Manager for 12 different locations. 

    Today, Gayle’s the General Manager of our Coldwater, MI location. And she has some big stats to brag about. 

    “My team is very loyal to me,” she says. “I’ve had the same 18 employees for the last two years.” And in an industry where turnover is more than 100%, that says a lot. 

    Gayle credits her staff’s tenure to her dedication to her team, the company’s commitment to recognition, and the support she gets from her Area Coach. 

    “I care about what my team members are doing with their lives outside of the restaurant,” she says. “I’m flexible with schedules. I try to stay involved with each person in the restaurant. I know my candidates apply for jobs with me because we’re the best place to work in town.”

    When it comes to the future, Gayle says she’s perfectly happy right where she’s at. 

    “I love having the opportunity to empower someone, to give someone a chance that they maybe otherwise didn’t have,” she says. “I feel like I can change people’s lives through mentorship. My job is crazy awesome.”

    Looking to start your career? Apply today!

    Border Foods

  • RGM Shawn Belknap on Integrity

    RGM Shawn Belknap on Integrity

    We caught up with Shawn Belknap, a Restaurant General Manager in our Wisconsin market, and asked a simple question: “Why do you think your team members like coming to work each day?”

    His answer was simple, too, “Because I’m myself,” he says. “The person I am in my restaurant is the person I am at home.”

    It’s that kind of integrity that keeps Shawn’s restaurant team cohesive and high-performing. “We don’t cut corners,” Shawn says, referring to how he runs his location. “We do things right the first time.”

    Shawn got his start with Taco Bell in 2011 as a part-time dishwasher. He worked his way up the career ladder and when Border Foods acquired his then corporate market in 2015, he was promoted to Assistant General Manager. By 2017, Shawn was a Restaurant General Manager. Today, he’s that and so much more. In addition to his daily restaurant duties, Shawn teaches SPARK courses, training other managers who want to take their careers to the next level. Plus, he’s starting the process of turning his restaurant location into a certified training location. 

    Here, you’re not just a number, I’ve shaken the leadership teams’ hands. The director of operations knows me on a first-name basis. Those things matter.

    Shawn Belknap

    When it comes to explaining his teams’ success, he credits good hiring and, of course, integrity. “I’m a big believer in surrounding yourself with people who are smarter than you,” he says. “Someone took a chance on me, and it changed my life. I hope to do the same for the team members I get to hire.”

    Shawn says Border’s benefits and pay far exceed any other company he’s known. “I’ve made more money with Border Foods than another company I’ve ever worked with,” he says. “Plus, I’ve grown more than I could have imagined, both professionally and personally. I’m very ambitious and I don’t think there’s anything I can’t do, if I put my mind to it.”

    Looking to start your career? Apply today!

    Border Foods

  • RGM Ziggy Arrington on Family

    RGM Ziggy Arrington on Family

    “People ask me, ‘Why are you always smiling?’” says Restaurant General Manager Ziggy Arrington. “Because I enjoy what I do. It’s that simple.”

    Ziggy knows Taco Bell like the back of his hand. He’s been with the brand for 30 years and joined Border Foods when we acquired the South Dakota market in 2015. “When Border Foods took over our market, I didn’t know what to expect,” Ziggy says. “But it’s been absolutely life changing.”

    A few years ago Ziggy’s son passed away — an event that he thought he couldn’t overcome. “Every day is still tough, but having Border Foods to lean on has made my impossible days a little bit easier,” Ziggy says. “To go through losing a child and have nowhere to go… to not know who to talk to or what to say… and then to have your place of employment in your corner, that’s why I smile.”

    When you love what you do, it’s so easy to come in and do it, because it doesn’t feel like work.

    — Ziggy Arrington

    Today, Ziggy is the General Manager of the East 10th Street location in Sioux Falls, SD. He says that working for Border offers a career full of promise. “There’s opportunity whether you’re at the top of the company or just getting started,” he says. “It doesn’t matter where you’re from or what your past was like. Here, there’s family and opportunity.”

    Ziggy says coming to work feels more like coming home. He enjoys seeing his team members grow and change, and he loves the family atmosphere that Border provides. 

    Looking to start your career? Apply today!

    Border Foods

  • RGM Lisha Burke on Accountability

    RGM Lisha Burke on Accountability

    Lisha Burke always knew she wanted a career at Taco Bell. So much so, that she declared her dreams of becoming a Taco Bell employee in her high school senior paper. And where there’s a will, there’s a way. Growing up in a small coal mining town in Montana, she didn’t have access to a local Taco Bell. Between her junior and senior years in high school, however, Lisha decided to drive to her brother’s home in Billings, MT, to sleep on his couch, all in the name of Taco Bell. 

    “There was a Taco Bell in Billings that I started working at,” Lisha, who goes by “Lish,” remembers. “I just loved the food, that’s why I wanted to work here in the first place.”

    Twenty five years later, Lish is living out her dream. She’s been the Restaurant General Manager of the Grand Avenue location in Billings for the last eight years, working for Border Foods since we acquired the Montana market just months ago.

    Oh, and she still loves the food. She’s part of a big group of Taco Bell fans who would love for the brand to bring back the “enchirito.” For now, she settles for a few order modifications using her free employee meal perk. “I eat at Taco Bell every day,” she says, laughing. “I know some people don’t believe me, but I really do.”

    Lish’s passion for the brand extends down to her team. As a Golden Bell winner, when it came time to choose her plus-one for Taco Bell’s coveted Hawaii trip, Lish chose her assistant manager. 

    “My wife wasn’t too happy about that,” Lish says. “But I’m nothing without my team. None of my success comes without them.”

    Lish says she loves Border Foods’ drive to keep team members accountable at all levels of the organization and that’s something she focuses on, too. It shows in her team — Lish has employees who have been working for her for years. And that says a lot in an industry with more than 100% turnover. 

    At Border Foods, it all comes down to the people and our teams.

    Lisha Burke

    “We put goals around our metrics, and then we apply consistency and accountability to those numbers. And it works. My team has been ‘green’ in all of our period numbers because we believe in the processes Taco Bell has put in place.”

    When it comes to candidates who may be on the fence regarding joining the company, Lish has one thing to say: “Start with us and give yourself a chance to have a real career.”

    Looking to start your career? Apply today!

    Border Foods

  • RGM Barb Bunney on Teamwork

    RGM Barb Bunney on Teamwork

    When Barb Bunney was hired to work at Taco Bell six years ago, she was scared and nervous. 

    “I was coming straight out of the bakery and deli space, and I didn’t know what to expect,” Barb says, reflecting on the transition. “But Border Foods had patience and my managers let me learn and ask questions. It was a smooth, easy transition.”

    Before her role as Restaurant General Manager in Rapid City, SD, Barb was a leader in the bakery department for SpartanNash, a large grocery store retailer headquartered in Michigan. When her job at SpartanNash demanded more time away than she had at home, she started searching for a career that would allow her to be with her family. In addition to her own, a big family is exactly what she found at Border Foods. 

    “The people who work at my restaurant are like my own children,” Barb says. “We can’t move forward without being a team. You can’t do this job alone, and Border gives us the resources to learn how to work together, day-in and day-out.”

    In addition to the team atmosphere, Barb says that Border’s compensation plan stands out among the rest.

    The bonus potential is very substantial, and the benefits and insurance are incredible, she says.

    The insurance policy came to the rescue when her husband needed a lung removed as a result of a strange form of cancer. “Border was there to help us through that. The company cares.”

    When it comes to goals, Barb is content with the job she has, yet she’s always looking for ways to grow and improve herself in her role. 

    Looking to start your career? Apply today!

    Border Foods

  • RGM Martika Cox on Development

    Meet Martika Cox, our Madison General Manager with big goals for 2022. Martika got her start with Taco Bell 10 years ago as an Assistant Manager for a restaurant in Rockford, IL. When Border Foods acquired the location in 2015, everything changed. 
    “Before Border, we were just a number,” Martika says. “Today, I feel like we matter.”
    When Martika made the transition to Border Foods, she also began supporting other locations. In 2016, on a visit to the Madison area, Martika made a passing comment to Human Resources Business Partner Corrine Kindred about wanting to manage a restaurant of her own. Two weeks later, Martika was promoted to General Manager.  At her Whitney Way restaurant, Martika says she’s constantly on the go. Madison, WI is a traditional “college town,” full of new daily customers. “There’s never a dull moment,” Martika says about her job. “I have an incredible team and I try to support them in every way possible.” It’s Martika’s love for her team that drives her location’s results. Last year, she only lost two employees and kept her retention numbers in the “green.” She attributes strong retention to the way she manages.  In her down time, Martika serves as a board member for Free Sales for Families, a local nonprofit focused on hosting entirely free garage sales for community members in need.  When one of Martika’s employees found herself unexpectedly pregnant, Martika made sure the employee was supported through this nonprofit.
    “We got her what she needed,” Martika says. “That’s just what we do for each other.”
    Looking into 2022, Martika hopes the Whitney Way Taco Bell will become a certified training restaurant — a goal that would feed into her love of empowering people. And of course, she’s striving to make the cut for the annual Best of the Best trip to Mexico. “I’m close,” Martika says, reflecting on her goals. “I think I can get there this year.” Looking to start your career? Apply today!

    Border Foods