We always like to close out the year with a blog highlight reel. Our plates were full in 2025 with healthy growth (more locations, more jobs) and lots of reasons to celebrate. Our blog played host to many newsy updates and people stories along the way. Here are the most-viewed articles of 2025 in order of popularity:
- Meet this Year’s Estrellas de Oro Winners!
They’re our real-life shooting stars (“estrellas”), shining brightly over our restaurants while leaving a trail of success in their paths. Check out who made the top 15% of our Taco Bell and KFC Above Restaurant Leaders (ARLs) for 2025.
- DDO Development: Nine States & Growing!
Kicking off the new year, we interviewed Chad Burge, President of Development & Operations, to get the inside scoop on company plans for remodels and new builds. We did what we said we’d do, and the momentum continues!
- Pizza Man: Meet Regional Director Nate Sleeper
We put the spotlight on Arizona pizza guy Nate Sleeper (who’s truly a cut above the rest). This blog post follows his career ascent from team member to boss of pizza sauce.
- DDO’s Taco Bells & Leaders are Award-Winning!
Winning together just tastes BETTER! This was a shout out to the year’s highest achievers: DDO Taco Bells that received the brand’s supreme label of “Signature Restaurant” and leaders who really brought home the gold (as Golden Bell winners).
- DDO Opens its 219th Taco Bell in Glendale, AZ
We took our flavor trail straight to Glendale, celebrating yet another big milestone. Taco Bell veteran and Area Coach Tyson Gilmore took the reins on his first restaurant opening (over the course of 26 years)!
- Yashica Oliver: The Heart Behind Mattina’s Ristorante
We dove into the details of Yashica Oliver’s rise to culinary greatness as Executive Chef and General Manager at Mattina’s Ristorante Italiano in Kingman, AZ, one of our full-service dining concepts. It’s a delicious story!
- Welcome to DDO, Jeana!
We introduce one of the latest hires at our home office, aka DDO’s Restaurant Support Center. World, meet Jeana Gould!
- DDO Replaces Iconic Location: It’s Out with the Old!
Another chapter in DDO history concluded as we closed the doors to Taco Bell’s 31st location. All was not lost with our “Store 31,” however. We built a shiny new Taco Bell just steps away, where we moved the whole crew! Hello, future!
- The Texas Spark: Meet Greg Jackson
Introducing our “KFC Guy,” Greg Jackson. He’s a real standout, a true example of what it means to lead with heart. And boy does he lead! Today, he’s Regional Director of nearly 30 restaurants in Texas.
- Honoring the Legacy of the Late Ed Ray
Memorial Day 2025 we took a pause to remember someone who’s meant a lot to our organization. Our friend and former Area Coach Ed Ray was one special guy. We dedicated a tree in his honor at our new location in Scottsdale, AZ.