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 do is help people. I want people to be able to reach out to us and know that we’re there to assist them.”
“When you’re a people person and when you want to help people, this is the perfect job to be in.”
– Joaq Harris, HR Generalist
To Joaq, at the core, HR should be a resource for people. Beyond his day-to-day job responsibilities at Desert de Oro Foods (DDO), he’s made it his ultimate goal to build connections and trust. In fact, we caught up with him during his first ever Estrellas de Oro trip to Cancún where he admits he’s soaking up the sun and on a mission: to bond with others on the trip.
Joaq shares that a mentor of his once shared that people are less likely to be afraid of him or HR if they know his story. So he’s set out to let people into his life and forge connections.
He shares a story from his past that shows how it’s all coming full circle.
“When I was in seventh grade, there was a kid who had a stuttering problem,” he says. “He couldn’t get past the first four letters of my name. And so he would just say ‘Joaq, Joaq, Joaq’ over and over. Finally, I just adopted the name because I didn’t want people to tease him.”
A Beautiful Back Story
Joaq has spent his entire 15-year career in human resources. Prior to joining DDO, he handled HR for a nursing home and major hospital in Arizona. He’d never worked in the quick service industry!
“I didn’t know anything about restaurants,” he says. “I worked in hotels, but this was something different.”
Joaq’s first interview was with Vice President of Human Resources Marlinda Cole, who asked him a poignant question he firmly believes solidified his hire.
“Marlinda always asks a question at the end,” Joaq shares. “She asks you if you think you’re kind, and then she asks you to prove it.”
How you treat others is so paramount to DDO culture that we cover it in job interviews.
What followed was his recounting of an incredible story that would leave his future boss in tears.
In early 2017, Joaq found out he was sick — his kidney function was at only 10%.
“I basically was going to die. There’s no other way to put it,” he says candidly. “The nephrologist that I was working with basically said, ‘We have to get you on dialysis immediately.’”
The gold standard in this case, of course, was to get a kidney transplant.
“My wife and a coworker at the time took over my Facebook page and started asking for a kidney for me,” Joaq recalls. “And then literally like, 2,500 to 3,000 people called the Mayo Clinic all saying that they wanted to donate.”
Then one day, in between the flood of calls, he heard from a woman named Paulette. They’d gone to the same high school; he hadn’t spoken to her in 30 years! Paulette recalled something kind Joaq had done for her ages ago and because of it, was inspired to donate her kidney to save his life. She flew from San Diego, CA to Rochester, MN (Mayo Clinic) to make the livesaving donation and we are better for it!
Diving in at DDO
Joaq has lived in many places in his lifetime, some cold, some warm: New York, California, Minnesota, Arizona. Both of his parents joined the Air Force, so he grew up living the military base life.
One place he stayed a while was Duluth, MN – two decades – it’s where he met his wife of 24 years. They remained in Duluth until one fateful day when he was shoveling snow off his roof and realized he’d had enough of the cold. His job search started immediately!
Phoenix, AZ would become their next destination. Joaq and his family (he’s dad to three daughters) moved to the Valley of the Sun in August 2022 and still live happily there today. In fact, he says he plans to retire in Arizona.
Fast forward to the present, there was something in our job ad that drew him to us.
“It’s an amazing company. I’m just very happy to be part of it.”
– Joaq Harris, HR Generalist
“What I’ve liked about Desert de Oro is that they’re trying to [make] this a career for people,” he explains. “There’s an opportunity for people to stay long term.”
And there’s also an opportunity for Joaq and the rest of the HR department to positively impact that. As a parent and coach, he says he loves working with young adults, a key part of our demographic in the restaurants.
“To see young people empowered to do things on their own and be successful is the greatest thing that you can do,” he says.
In DDO, Joaq has found a company with like-minded leaders who are willing to invest in people. He leaves with some parting advice. “I think if you’re going to go anywhere where somebody has your best interest at heart, you want to come work for DDO. They care about you, they’re going to cultivate you, they’re going to motivate you. They’re going to train you and give you everything that you need in order to be successful.”
And great news, Joaq’s going to be a part of that! Make the connection today and take a look at our open positions.