Category: People
-
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
-
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.
-
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
-
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
-
From Pizza Delivery to Management: Kurt Radke Found His Place at DDO
At this year’s Estrellas de Oro reward trip in Mexico, we caught up with Kurt Radke, Restaurant General Manager (RGM) for Pizza Hut in Peoria, AZ. Surrounded by fellow top performers from across Desert de Oro Foods (DDO), Kurt reflects on an unexpected career journey that started with a delivery driver position and turned into
-
Finding More Than a Job: Lasondra Otero’s Journey
At Desert de Oro Foods (DDO), leadership starts with our people. For Restaurant General Manager (RGM)Lasondra Otero, that mindset has guided her journey from a part-time role to leading our Brockton, MA Taco Bell – a position she’s held for the last five years. Lasondra joined Taco Bell as a Service Champion in 2016, looking
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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