For Restaurant General Manager (RGM) Val Martinez, working at KFC is a family affair. Val and each of her 12 siblings (yes, really!) have all worked for the brand at one point or another!
However, when it comes to the longest tenure of the bunch, Val takes the cake: she’s been with KFC for a total of forty years, and her professional trajectory is a testament to her commitment: after her stint as a Service Champion, she became a Shift Lead, was then promoted to Assistant General Manager (AGM), and now, is an RGM at one of our KFC locations in San Antonio, TX.
Leveling Up
While Val has been at KFC for a long time, her story with Desert de Oro Foods (DDO) started more recently. We acquired Val’s restaurant from another franchisee in 2015, and quickly got to work revamping the place. The building was brought up to speed with all the most modern technology that the quick service restaurant (QSR) industry has to offer, providing Val and her team with a much more enjoyable work environment.
Though there was plenty of construction in the beginning of her time with DDO, Val describes the transition as very smooth. She was delighted to learn about our benefits during her onboarding, which include a 401k, PTO, generous bonus plan, incentive programs and company trips for top performers — the latter being a perk that Val has gotten to enjoy on multiple occasions!
Going Above and Beyond
Though Val is a seasoned KFC pro, she has chosen to remain at the RGM level. The reason is simple — Val loves what she does and feels strongly that she can make the biggest impact right where she is. She became emotional when we spoke with her about the positive influence she’s had on many of the young people who work at her restaurant. Some are still in high school, and Val says that many are tempted to work instead of continuing their education. However, Val always encourages them to get their diploma, doing her part by crafting their work schedule around classes.
Just recently, Val received a card from a former team member thanking her for her support while in school. The former team member graduated and is now a pharmacist!
So many of [my young team members] listen to me, and it makes me feel like I’ve done something good.
Val Martinez, Restaurant General Manager at KFC
Val’s goodwill extends to her restaurant guests, too. Recently, Val noticed that one of her regular customers hadn’t been in in two whole months. When the guest finally did come back, Val asked her where she’d been. Sadly, the woman had had multiple deaths in her family and wasn’t able to stop by for a while. “I just wanted to jump out of the window and give her the biggest hug!” Val says, “She told me that just me listening to her made her feel so much better … I get that a lot from customers.”
Sticking Around
It’s clear that Val is an incredible person, and that dedication to being the best she can be applies to her work, too. She runs her restaurant incredibly well and never misses a beat. In fact, she’s so good at what she does that she’s received multiple job offers from other franchisees — but lucky for us, she’s turned them all down! Val shares that she wouldn’t be able to find a company that could match our flexibility and benefits. Besides, she feels connected to her team and couldn’t imagine leaving them.
Val, we’re so lucky to have you on our team. Thank you for the incredible energy and spirit you add to our squad!