It’s the highest award given out by our brand, something every Taco Bell manager strives to achieve: Golden Bell recognition. Here at MRCO, we’ve got not one, but THREE remarkable Golden Bell winners this year: Restaurant General Managers (RGMs) Elaine Johnson, Ashley Duncan and Eddie Carrillo.
Golden Bell celebrates the country’s top 100 Taco Bell RGMs and Area Coaches (ACs). In a nation with more than 7,800 Taco Bell locations, that’s no small fiesta potatoes! And now our beloved managers have won a trip Hawaii!
Winners’ Circle
“Golden Bell is like the premier Taco Bell award for GMs across the country,” says Eddie, a quiet spoken two-time winner and manager of our Taco Bell-Pizza Hut Express inside Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital in Nashville, TN. “ … there’s so much prestige to it.” He likens the experience to an artist winning a Grammy.
This is the second time for Elaine Johnson, too, who is RGM of our Taco Bell in fast-growing LaGrange, GA (Georgia is our newest market!) She was totally surprised by her win — says she wasn’t focused on Golden Bell, but just trying to do her job well.
“When you do things the right way, especially when people are not looking, the results will come.” – Elaine Johnson, RGM
Eddie admits that the first time he won, he wondered, did I just get lucky? No, Eddie, you’re really pretty great! Eddie’s restaurant was second runner up for the biggest sales increase in the company.
Team Spirit
Providing a different perspective, this is RGM Ashley Duncan’s first time and admittedly, she and her team have worked hard to earn this honor. Overseeing a small-town convenience store location in Beaver Dam, KY, Ashley says that she set out to “be the best” the minute she heard about Golden Bell and metrics for securing Signature Restaurant status. But she knew she couldn’t do it alone.
“My team is basically what got me where I am,” she shares. “I’m beyond proud of my crew.”
According to Ashley, the whole team is happy and fired up. “They believe they can hit any goal they want!”
And that’s what makes Golden Bell recognition sweeter than sweet tea! Our managers feel valued for their incredible leadership and their team members learn that anything is possible. So don’t wait, go for the gold!