We’re celebrating 30 years of Territory Training Manager Melissa Naugle with Taco Bell! She may have started under a different franchisee, but Melissa has spent the better part of her illustrious career with us here at Border Foods. In fact, if you ask her, Melissa will tell you she wished she had known about our company sooner!
Melissa joined Taco Bell in 1994 as a Team Member, like so many others, looking to earn some money. It was a time of transition for her, as she was navigating divorce with a young child in tow.
“I’ve always enjoyed the fast food industry,” she says. “I like to be on my toes.” She quickly discovered she could have a fulfilling career with Taco Bell.
“Don’t ever be afraid to ask for help.” – Melissa Naugle, Territory Training Manager
Finding a Confidant in Border Foods
In 2015, we acquired the Taco Bell restaurant in Rockford, IL where Melissa was working. While Melissa acknowledges the change felt scary at the time, she learned that opportunity begins at the end of your comfort zone. “It was really smooth,” she says of the onboarding process at Border Foods. That was thanks to the strong leadership of our celebrated Taco Bell operator, the late Carol Williams.
“She just made you feel so comfortable,” Melissa says of Carol. “It was just her presence. You could talk to her.”
By this point in her career, Melissa was working in the Restaurant General Manager (RGM) role and says she lucked out joining the Border Foods family. “They’re always willing to help you, no matter what,” she says. “I felt like I was home.”
“Border Foods want[s] to see you succeed.” – Melissa Naugle, Territory Training Manager
Train or Remain the Same
Melissa has always loved training people, and set a goal as RGM to have her restaurant become a training location, so the Territory Training Manager position was a perfect fit. “When the opportunity came, I interviewed for it,” she says. Her favorite part of the job is seeing people grow in their career.
“I can look around and say, I helped that person,” she says of her impact.
As a Territory Training Manager, Melissa supports restaurants by conducting CORE walk throughs (surprise visits three times a year), meeting with Area Coaches (ACs) and taking time to develop new RGMs.
Melissa is thriving in this role. “It’s just the atmosphere — I [can] succeed doing what I love to do,” she says.
This self-professed introvert is happy in her current role, and recharges in the quiet of her home after a successful day’s work. “I can’t sit around, so I don’t think I’ll ever be able to fully retire,” she says of her future plans. We look forward to celebrating many more work anniversaries, Melissa!
