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Teresa Marin is a Restaurant General Manager (RGM) who’s worked with us for two decades! “I wanted a part–time job to pay for my education,” she shares of how she got her start. “The culture was so amazing that it made me re-think my career aspirations, and here we are 20 years later!”
We recently caught up with Teresa at the Freedom, CA Taco Bell location she manages, to learn more about her secret to success on the job.
DRG: How long have you been working at the Freedom, CA Taco Bell?
Teresa: I started working here as a cashier in 2004, then left for other locations and came back in 2012 as the RGM.
DRG: What other titles have you held with DRG’s Taco Bell?
Teresa: Area Coach.
DRG: How do you stay motivated on hard days?
Teresa: My faith keeps me motivated.
DRG: What/who inspires you to work hard every day?
Teresa: My faith gives me so much inspiration to work hard.
“I love the culture here; a lot of people are like family to me.” – Teresa Marin, RGM
DRG: Why do you keep working for DRG?
Teresa: The leadership team is very supportive and I know I can count on them always.
DRG: What’s your favorite part of this job?
Teresa: The impact we have on the community and the career opportunities we provide for employees.
DRG: What are your goals for the restaurant in 2024/2025?
Teresa: My goal for this year to have happy, motivated employees that want to be part of the Taco Bell family.
DRG: How does customer feedback — positive or negative — make you feel and/or motivate you?
Teresa: Negative customer feedback keeps me humble; it gives me the opportunity to know what areas me and my team can improve on. Positive feedback makes me feel appreciated.
“Do the right thing, even if you are the only one doing it.” – Teresa Marin, RGM
DRG: What is your favorite Taco Bell menu item?
Teresa: Chalupa Supreme with nacho cheese and jalapeños.
Teresa, you make a SUPREME addition to our team!
We had the opportunity to partner with the local Boys & Girls Club of Greater San Diego, where we served Taco Bell fare to over 80 kids and staff members. Honoring our core value, “We Have Fun,” participants also played games at the event. We happily handed out backpacks filled with school supplies and t-shirts to children in attendance.
“DRG is honored to positively impact the lives of those around us.” – Haley Stevenson, Marketing & Events Manager
Boys & Girls Clubs of America provide a safe place for millions of youth each year, giving them an opportunity to discover their potential, which is why we’re a proud sponsor of Boys & Girls Clubs in the communities we serve. Giving back in each of our markets is ingrained in our brand identity; without community, we wouldn’t be who we are.
“To have the opportunity to help young people in our community reach their full potential is an absolute privilege,” says our Marketing & Events Manager, Haley Stevenson.
A special thanks to Lily and her team at the H Street Taco Bell for preparing food for the event. MVP status goes to Lily and Alma, along with their managers, for stuffing the 120 backpacks!
For their dedication to both preparation and participation, we also want to thank: Erika, Elmer, Jose, Maribel, Jesus, Benjamin and Shane.
We’re grateful for our longstanding partnerships and look forward to kindling new connections to create a meaningful impact in support of local organizations.
We’re celebrating an exciting milestone for Women’s Leadership Network (WLN)! In October, we successfully brought together our whole cohort in the same room! The real-life super women who comprise DRG’s WLN traveled from every market for our “Wonder Woman Workshop,” held at the company’s Restaurant Support Center (RSC) in Las Vegas, NV.
“The whole reason we were there was to break down barriers and shift our mindset,” shares Communications & Media Manager Sierra Burk, who doubles as a WLN co-founder.
While together, nearly 50 participants shared stories and refined personal goals, and most importantly, talked about how to combat “the villains” that so often prevent women from aiming higher, such as:
According to Sierra, who’s intimately involved in the planning, workshop content was designed around how to rise up and conquer these “villains.” Attendees were given the chance to each create a personal “book of possibilities” where they could record affirmations. “A lot of people felt inspired after that,” Sierra says.
“WLN is an avenue to build relationships and lift each other up.” – Sierra Burk, WLN Co-founder
The workshop also included remarks by Kelly Schwarz, the CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Nevada, and Ana Carolina Mexia Ponce Co- Founding Partner at Nido Ventures. DRG’s own leadership participated in a panel discussion about executive presence.
While WLN events are all about empowering women, it’s important to note they have the support of DRG men. Special thanks to Jason Dunn, VP of Ops Excellence, and Gursimran Ghumman, Director of Operations for Northern California, who both had direct impact on the success of this workshop. Jason led our goals workshop, and Gursimmran spoke on the executive panel.
Of course, no superhero event is complete without costumes! The workshop concluded with a fitting finale. Thanks to a direct connection through our Loss Prevention & Safety Manager, Ramon Montoya, volunteers from Critical Care Comics stopped by in superhero costumes to help the WLN assemble care bags for The Shade Tree women’s shelter in Las Vegas. Ramon is Critical Care’s Batman!
In just two years, WLN has already had such a meaningful impact on our organization. We’re looking forward to what 2025 will bring! Sierra shares that WLN may be expanded to include general managers. Stay tuned for updates!
