Brooke Hagen

Brooke truly represents what it is to be a Fazoli’s All American. She is a Senior at North High School. Every shift, she’s always doing whatever she can to make sure not only her station, but the restaurant as a whole is rush ready for our guests. During her shifts, Brooke moves thru the restaurant with purpose, really owning the concept of “full hands out, full hands in. ” While she primarily works FOH positions, she loves the challenge of DT and is working on becoming a certified Associate Trainer. Sadly Brooke comes from a broken home. Her biological parents included a mother that was neglectful and addicted to drugs and a dismissive and abusive father. They divorced and while custody was split for a while, an altercation at her father’s resulted in them never going back. Her mother would disappear for days. As a result she became a primary caregiver for her younger sister. Brooke was 13. She and her siblings eventually ended up with her Aunt and Uncle. They opened up their heart and their home to take them in. Brooke’s mom never came to any of the custody hearings, which continued for several years. I cannot imagine how it would feel to have your parent not want you, but through it all, Brooke was strong for her siblings and herself. She comes to work everyday with a big smile on her face. I know this is her happy place. When asked about her employment at Fazoli’s, Brooke had the most amazing answer. “I love working at Fazoli’s because of the people. They make me smile and make my shift the happiest place I have been all day. I love working with the customers and building bonds with them that will last forever and keep them coming back, lifetime customers. I’ve learned here that age cannot define friendships.” Her outlook completely embodies the spirit of Making Moments Matter! Brooke is also a very accomplished artist. Her work has been displayed at several local museums and featured at the Pablo Center, our local arts and entertainment venue. I’ve seen pictures of her ceramics and they are beautiful and whimsical. With all of the hardships she’s faced it’ s a true testament to how resilient she is. She chooses to see the light in the world. She comes to work every shift with a positive attitude and a willingness to take care of our guests, all day, everyday. Brooke is an excellent candidate for All American and deserves this recognition.