Author: christopher
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Celebrating our Live Más Scholarship Winners!
At Desert de Oro Foods (DDO), we believe in investing in our people — both in their careers and in their dreams for the future. That’s why we’re proud to celebrate our team members who have been named Live Más Scholarship recipients. “[Live Más] means choosing responsibility now so I can create opportunity later.” –…
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Celebrating our KFC Foundation Scholarship Winners
At Desert de Oro Foods (DDO), we build more than great restaurants, we’re committed to building brighter futures, too! This year, we’re proud to celebrate four incredible team members who have been awarded scholarships through the KFC Foundation. These scholarships don’t just represent financial support, but an investment in dreams. We’re thrilled to have a…
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Meet Fred Bendel, VP of Operations
Fred Bendel is VP of Operations by day and devoted husband by night. Of course, these haven’t always been Fred’s main “shifts.” Like many at Desert de Oro Foods (DDO), Fred’s successful career and launch into restaurant operations leadership started out working inside a Taco Bell restaurant. Early on, he’d work night shifts at Taco…
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A Major Promotion for Mike Ahaesy!
As of December 30, Mike Ahaesy is our new Senior Facilities Manager! The Dighton, MA resident has been with the Taco Bell brand for 32 years and the Desert de Oro (DDO) family for four. We’re so excited to tap Mike’s expertise as he begins overseeing facilities for our entire portfolio of restaurants. Change is…
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Adrian Rodriguez: From Top Cook to Top Destination!
Pizza Hut team member Adrian Rodriguez has had quite a standout career year! No stranger to Pizza Hut’s annual pizza making competitions, Adrian has participated every year since we acquired his location over a decade ago. Most recently, we’ve been proud to see our dedicated pizza cook rise to every occasion — winning state, then…
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From Burritos to Boulders: Area 12’s Fearless Leader
Meet Melanie Brun, an Area Coach (AC) here at Desert de Oro Foods (DDO)! Melanie oversees Area 12 in Region 3, and over the course of her career, she’s held a variety of positions. This wide-ranging QSR experience means that Melanie understands firsthand the challenges that her direct reports face every day — making her…
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Best of the Bell: DDO Celebrates Top Performing Restaurants & Leaders
Gold never looked so good! We’re proud to showcase our 2025 Golden Bell winners, which includes those Taco Bells that have also simultaneously reached Signature Restaurant status. For 2025, 136 Desert de Oro Foods (DDO) Taco Bells were named Signature Restaurants! Golden Bell celebrates the nation’s top restaurants in the Taco Bell system, along with…
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Meet MaElena, Modeling Perseverance, Leadership & Strength
“How far I’ve come, the little girl from Mexico,” MaElena Garcia says while acknowledging she needs celebrate herself more. Now a reputable leader at Desert de Oro Foods (DDO) as a Taco Bell Area Coach (AC), we celebrate the full life she’s created here! MaElena moved to the United States in 1996 at the age…
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Selene Quintana Leads with Purpose
Selene Quintana never planned on building a career in restaurants. At 16, she walked into a Taco Bell looking for a job that would support her dream of becoming a nurse. She wanted to help people. That first visit didn’t go as planned – the manager was busy and turned her away. Flustered but determined,…
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Meant to Be: Karla Garnica’s Journey with DDO
Some careers are planned. Others are simply destined. For Karla Garnica, Area Coach (AC) of Area 25 for Desert de Oro Foods (DDO), working in the restaurant industry wasn’t just a job, it was part of who she was from the very beginning. Karla grew up in California in a household where work ethic was…