Live Mas: Not Just a Mission, But a Lifestyle
When you hear “Wilmington Taco Bell,” mixed feelings and thoughts of service, employees and experiences may come to mind. I am here to tell you that your wildest imagination couldn’t capture the magic happening behind closed doors. To frame Taco Bell as the perfect workplace where everyone is happy all the time and everything goes right would be a lie and would take away from the adaptability this crew and store has developed. The Wilmington Taco Bell staff is a group of unique people from different backgrounds, education systems, and experiences who come together and enjoy their job, even through diablo-sauce-level hiccups.
The minor hiccups help characterize Wilmington Taco Bell the best. When you think you’re down-and-out after being battered by orders, there is always someone else to rely on in your moment of need. Without core employees, managers, and our wonderful general manager, the Wilmington Taco Bell would be no different than any other franchise location. However, each individual and my connection to each of them has shown me the importance of having a work environment and colleagues like those at Wilmington Taco Bell.
Kenny Phillips has been with the Taco Bell company for over twenty years, starting from the lowest position to heading his own store. Kenny's rise in the company can be attributed to his empathy and compassion for his employees. Although it may affect him and his personal hours, Kenny is the type of general manager who gives his family a second shot. Kenny does not discriminate between old and new employees and works to treat everyone equally; a core value in not only the franchise but also aligning with the expectations of Kenny himself. He really is the foundation for why this location is so resilient and dedicated to one another.
Skylar Williams, Gaige Smithson, Dustin Caricco, and Anthony Rowan have all made a lasting impact on me during my college career. To be fair, I often faced criticism from other students for prioritizing a job off campus over a life on campus. However, my life, family, and friends are all at the Wilmington Taco Bell. Skylar was the first manager to train me; she reminded me of my older sister a lot, joking and laughing much as we did back at home. Skylar’s acceptance was the first thing I felt. Her willingness to ignore my lack of common sense and see me for my effort has always been, and will forever be, ingrained in how I treat people.
Although I do study communications, I am no master like the Window Wizard - Gaige Smithson. Gaige Smithson is the older brother I never knew I wanted, or even needed. Gaige has taught me a lot about communication, how to sell, and how to break bad news. But it is his blinding positivity that I choose to instill in my work habits. Gaige has been a part of most of my relationships in and out of the store, including one of my best friends, Preston Burkhart. Preston and Gaige introduced me to everything Wilmington-related, including the campus. The two know everyone, everywhere, and always have something fun for us to do.
Dustin Caricco has given me the baseline of consistency and dependability within his daily dedication to his staff. Dustin is not only consistent but also someone you can depend on for many things outside of the store. I have worked with Dustin during his time climbing the ranks, and couldn’t be happier with whom they chose to be someone managing and directing me each shift.
Anthony Rowan has taught me that patience is the most valuable skill and that anger keeps stagnant. Anthony is the goofball type of manager who is sometimes a little too silly for his own good. However, when it comes to his staff needing something, he will forever be the first line of response no matter where he is. Anthony is a ball of inspiration, from his smile to the way he treats everyone else around him.
Each weekend when my class was done and my shifts were finished, I would take that treacherous 100-mile drive back home to Marion, Ohio. I never felt like I really needed to spend much time on campus or look for friends because I had such a strong group of individuals willing to sacrifice a lot just for some college kid who works seven months out of the year!
Wilmington Taco Bell’s impact on me can be felt in how they immediately accepted me as one of their own, a kid from over a hundred miles away just starting his freshman year of college in a new town. This isn’t out of the norm for this Taco Bell because of the work ethic, dedication, and willingness to take a chance on people are all part of the Wilmington Taco Bell experience. All these efforts are spearheaded by General Manager Kenny Phillips. From the guidance of Gaige Smithson to the glee of Anthony Rowan and the grounding nature of Skylar Williams, I truly feel at home and welcomed at the Wilmington Taco Bell. No matter where I go, I’ll be grounding like Skylar, communicative like Gaige, consistent like Dustin, and blindly positive like Anthony.
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