Meet Tony Dinh, Border Foods’ new Director of Technology. He joined us in late October and clearly, is moving at the speed of … NOW! Tony joins us after an impressive 22-year career with Taco Bell Corporate, where his most recent position was as Director of Product Management.
It’s obvious Tony takes his new role at Border Foods seriously knowing that as owner operator of 250+ Taco Bells, we need smart solutions to keep up with this fast-moving world. He’s taken the reins on several important initiatives that aim to make our in-house technology department more relevant and ready for growth.
Tinkering with Tech
Tony comes from a family of software developers, so his curiosity in the industry stems directly from his upbringing. He secured a degree in information systems and decision sciences from Cal State Fullerton.
From there, it didn’t take long for Tony to follow the taco trail. He landed a position with Taco Bell’s service desk in 2002, where he provided tech support by phone to restaurants. He says he stayed with the brand for two decades because of its warm, welcoming environment and the fact that it’s a place where new ideas are embraced.
It always goes back to the people and culture … that whole feeling really kept me.
-Tony Dinh, Director of Technology
Tony’s entire career has been based in California until four years ago, when he moved back home to Minnesota (where we’re based).
As one of Taco Bell’s largest franchisees, Border Foods has participated in several of the tests that Tony and his team have conducted over the years. So Tony is no stranger to our company! When his position with the brand was eliminated in May, we knocked on his door almost immediately.
After enjoying some time off during transition, Tony accepted our offer. So what’s he find exciting here? “The opportunity to mold this department and get it ready for what we want it to become,” Tony says.
Testing 1, 2, 3
As we grow, naturally, our technology department is growing, too! Today, Tony oversees three IT personnel but not too long ago, it was very much a department of one. From a technical standpoint, there are several projects keeping the department busy.
First, Border Foods was selected to help Taco Bell Corporate test usability of a larger touchscreen display monitor in the kitchen, believed to be easier for team members to read. Another Corporate initiative is the Network 3.0 rollout which will ensure all restaurants have a backup network, key to keeping technology stable. With the network update, Tony says Border Foods is taking it a step further by placing priority on simplifying back of office tech setup by reorganizing cables (labeling, color coding) to get most everything neatly into one box (called standardized racks). This will make restaurant support easier when problems arise.
As for department goals, Tony shares a few core focus areas. “The big one is just elevating our tech team and our skillset,” he says. But his list also includes:
- Keep technology simple for field operators;
- Close the gap of fear in technology;
- Better train on technology initiatives; and
- Transition from being a reactive department to proactive.
“I’m going to put a lot of energy into making it easier,” Tony says of how the tech department’s work should ultimately impact the organization as a whole.
And we like your energy, Tony! Innovation won’t slow down and lucky are we, doesn’t look like you will either! If technology is your jam, keep an eye out for job openings in IT.
