Author: christopher
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Thousand Oaks KFC/Taco Bell Team Surprises Guests with Goodies
A recent guest appreciation day at our multi-brand KFC/Taco Bell (KT) location on Thousand Oaks Drive in San Antonio, TX gave guests and team members alike some feel-good vibes. It served as a reminder that an extra touch of attention doesn’t take a lot – but it sure gives a lot! Led by Restaurant General…
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Priscilla Tarango & Team Give Back to Local Youth
When Reagan Elementary in San Angelo, TX reached out to local restaurants for meal donations for an end-of-year event, it was a no-brainer for Priscilla Tarango, who is Restaurant General Manager (RGM) for our Knickerbocker Road Taco Bell 10 minutes away. “I try to help out in the community when need be,” Priscilla says. After…
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2026 Operations: Halfway There, Full Speed Ahead!
We’re mid-summer – what a great time to find out what’s cookin’ around Desert de Oro Foods (DDO). We chased down Fred Bendel, Vice President of Operations, for the latest intel. Mid-year Momentum With 347 restaurants and four brands, Fred confirms that DDO enjoyed a strong first half of the year and is on track…
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Built to Build: Celebrating 10 Years of Leadership with Chad Burge
Some careers are carefully mapped out, others evolve through a mix of curiosity and a willingness to take on challenges. For Chad Burge, President of Development & Operations at Desert de Oro Foods (DDO), and son of Co-founder Krystal Burge, the path has been anything but conventional. This year marks Chad’s 10-year anniversary with DDO.…
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Southwest Glow Up: Our Latest Taco Bell Remodels
Springtime kicks our annual construction and remodel season into full gear here at Desert de Oro Foods (DDO). This year’s schedule began with a few fun Taco Bell “glow ups” in our Southwestern market with a Helotes, TX rebuild and a Laveen, AZ lobby remodel. “We are excited to keep serving our existing and new…
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Walkin’ the Walk: Making Real Connections at DDO
Joaquim “Joaq” Harris accepted the role of Human Resources (HR) Generalist here only a year ago, yet he’s already determined to reframe how team members view the human resources function. “I think that people have this misconception about HR that, you know, we fire people, we’re the ‘gotcha police,’” Joaq says. “What I like to…
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25 Years of Heart: Sandra Soza’s Journey
For Sandra Soza, Desert de Oro Foods (DDO) has never been just a job. It’s been the place where she learned English, built a career, raised her family and discovered just how far hard work can take her. Now, after 25 years with DDO, Sandra’s story stands as a powerful example of resilience and dedication.…
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DDO Fuels the Future at Rosie’s House Music Academy
When our nonprofit partner Rosie’s House: A Music Academy for Children needed catering for a recent Teen Night, we were delighted to step up! Area Coach Rick Ontiveros, who oversees Desert de Oro Foods’ (DDO) Taco Bell Cantinas in Phoenix and Tempe, AZ, made it happen. “I think it’s important to work with the community…
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Ryan Silva: Leading with Heart in San Antonio
For Ryan Silva, leadership isn’t about titles or tenure. It’s about showing up, putting in the work and earning trust, one shift at a time. Today, Ryan serves as a Restaurant General Manager (RGM) for Desert de Oro Foods (DDO) in San Antonio, TX, leading a high-volume KFC multi-brand location. It’s a role he stepped…
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Kamila Merchand: Live Más Launches a Career in Nursing
When Kamila Merchand applied for Taco Bell Foundation’s Live Más Scholarship just before the deadline, she’d convinced herself that the funds were probably already spoken for. For her, the idea of winning felt so out of reach. But her manager at the time encouraged her to apply and then, something incredible happened. Kamila, a first…