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!
