After a very impressive tenure with Taco Bell, our very own Operations Services Manager is set to start a new life chapter: retirement! We sat down with Rhonda Topp to hear more about her incredible career — and what she has planned for life beyond her 9-5.
Crunching the Numbers
In 1992, right after graduating from college with an accounting degree, Rhonda started as a Taco Bell Assistant General Manager (AGM). Her original plan was to work there for a little while while she planned her wedding and studied to take the CPA exam.
It didn’t take long for Rhonda’s Restaurant General Manager (RGM) at the time, Carol Williams, to recognize her AGM’s incredible skill set. Carol took the time to ask Rhonda what she enjoyed doing most on the job and offered to help teach her anything else she wanted to learn. Rhonda took her up on the offer, and in the process, found out how rewarding running a restaurant can be! Rhonda says of her special bond with Carol: “When you find someone who cares about you and treats you like family, it becomes a reason to stay.”
Rhonda distinctly remembers one conversation with Carol that would change the course of her career forever. In it, Carol made the point that being an RGM is a lot like being the CEO of your own company. Not only do you get to call a lot of the shots, there’s also plenty of numbers and accounting to do! You might say it was a perfect fit for Rhonda.
Climbing Up the Career Ladder
After Rhonda’s stint as an AGM, she was promoted to RGM. And after that, she was a Multi-Unit Manager (a title that no longer exists), which is when Border Foods acquired the locations she oversaw. At Border, she became a District Manager, then an Area Manager, and finally, moved over to the corporate side and into her current position as Operations Services Manager.
Rhonda’s day to day largely involves vendor relations and managing contracts. From trash hauling to snow plowing, she keeps our businesses running smoothly! Rhonda is the lucky team member who gets to problem-solve QSR emergencies — like, for example, when a tree falls and blocks the drive-through at one of our restaurants!
“My favorite part of my career has been … the ever-changing adventure. There’s never the same day twice.”
Rhonda Topp, Operations Services Manager
We asked Rhonda what the wildest incident she’s dealt with has been. She shares that once, there was a huge snow storm at one of our locations. The snowplow assigned to the job wasn’t big enough for the amount of snow, and ended up plowing it all into the drive-through lane. Rhonda shares, “There was so much snow that it looked like a mountain!”
While challenges like these would stress a lot of people out, Rhonda thrives. “I’ve always liked that fast pace,” she says. “Nothing shocks me anymore!”
Trying Something New
It’s safe to say that Rhonda’s retirement will be a little less hectic than her current routine. She’s looking forward to slowing down, spending time with family, and working on mastering her newest hobby — baking sourdough!
“It’s going to be a change, that’s for sure,” Rhonda says of the transition. Luckily, Rhonda has a little bit of time to prepare for the adjustment — she won’t officially retire until June 2.
Please join us in congratulating Rhonda on an incredible career! Rhonda, we’re so appreciative of all of your hard work and can’t wait to see the amazing things you’ll do next.
