Team Member Showcase
Team Member Showcase
At Fazoli’s we have AMAZING Associates… and we want to tell your story!
Each month, we highlight Team Members who represent different and diverse segments of our workforce. Join Our Team & Let Your Story Begin!
August 2024 – Anji Nowak
- How long have you been employed at Fazoli´s?:
- 3-5 years
- Favorite Dish:
- Baked Sampler
- What do you enjoy most about working at Fazoli´s?
- The atmosphere, my team makes me want to come to work every day
- My Story:
- I have been with Fazoli's for almost 5 years now starting out as an Associate Manager and I am currently a General Manager. These last 5 years have challenged me in ways I did not think possible. I have learned so many things about myself working for this company. My team is what brings me back every day though, they have become family over these years, I love when they are as interested in our results and accomplishments as I am. One of my greatest compliments is hearing that the "atmosphere in the restaurant is wonderful". There are so many accomplishments we still have to achieve here in Lima but with the team I have I know we can do anything we set our minds to. There are strengths in every part of my team that excites me to see, almost as much as watching them work as a team to overcome an obstacle. I spend a lot of time here at the restaurant but when I go home at the end of the day I feel accomplished and appreciated, something I have not found in the past where I worked.
August 2024 – Jessica Morales
- How long have you been employed at Fazoli´s?:
- 5-10 years
- Favorite Dish:
- Fettuccine Alfredo
- What do you enjoy most about working at Fazoli´s?
- The people and the flexible hours.
- My Story:
- I have had the wonderful opportunity to grow my knowledge and career with Fazoli's. I owe a lot of my professional and personal success to my job. It has been a very fast 6.5 years that I have worked here, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. This place is like a second home and my co workers are like a second family.
July 2024 - Onivefu Ebanehita Oboro
- How long have you been employed at Fazoli´s?:
- Less than 1 year
- Favorite Dish:
- Spaghetti and meatballs
- What do you enjoy most about working at Fazoli´s?
- The people here and how welcoming everyone is.
- My Story:
- I’m 16 in 12th grade. Moving from Nigeria to the USA one and a half years ago was a big decision leaving home but not one I regret. My mom always said this move was filled with dreams of new experiences and opportunities, so getting my first job was one of them. In Nigeria everything was different, from entering school early to the workforce where only adults that have finished school or dropped out were allowed to work or given jobs. Fazoli’s took a chance by hiring me, a chance which I’m grateful for. My first day was filled with a mix of nerves and excitement because navigating the challenges of language and cultural differences scared me a little, although I had been here for a year and a half, it was easy to tell from my speech that I had an accent. Being let to work upfront despite my accent and getting trained in what I applied for while still letting me branch out, help customers and understand the work has been very exciting. Working here has been a great learning experience, where everyone is respectful of your space and property, everyone makes you feel so welcome, interested in stories/ experiences of Nigeria, no one makes fun of your accent and everyone is ready to work. Learning to deal with cash and taking up responsibilities. I initially applied for this Job to be able to pay for my senior year as I didn’t want to give my mom that burden but with the short time I have been here, so many things have been taught to me. Example: me and my trainer had met a woman who came in to complain, the owner and general manager where there, that day and they used B- believe, A- apologize, M- make it right to deal with that situation, the customer left happy and not angry as we corrected ourselves. Each task provides me with valuable insights into the restaurant industry. I have quickly learned the importance of efficiency and customer satisfaction, skills that would undoubtedly shape my future endeavors. Here teamwork is a big thing, everyone helping each other, makes the job even better. I am grateful for the experiences and people I've met so far and working here makes me feel responsible for myself and not dependent on parents who have their own bills, unlike back home. My time at Fazoli's not only shaped my skills in customer service and cash handling but also instilled values of teamwork, and cultural appreciation because of how diverse it is. I enjoy the things I’ve learnt being here and the skills picked up so far and lastly, I am thankful for how comfortable I have been made to feel while working here.
July 2024 - Faten Alawadi
- How long have you been employed at Fazoli´s?:
- 1-3 Years
- Favorite Dish:
- Cheese pizza
- What do you enjoy most about working at Fazoli´s?
- I enjoy working with my coworkers to take care of the guests to where they have a great experience when they come to eat so they will come back. It makes me feel like a part of the success of the store.
- My Story:
- I enjoy my job very much. I like that everyone works together as a team. I also like that I know multiple positions. Being able to work in Service and Drive thru have really helped me feel comfortable to open up to speak to people. I like to make our guests feel like they are at home away from home when they are in our restaurant. I feel appreciated at work from all of my managers which makes me want to stay because I'm happy. I think that is very important for all employees to feel appreciated. The kitchen has given me a sense of pride in the way my dishes come out as far as presentation and I enjoy challenging myself to see how quickly I can get the entrees out. I like that Fazoli's gives us the tools to be successful and grow as I feel like I apply a lot of the things I have learned with the opportunity that Fazolis has given me outside of the workplace.
July 2024 - Audrey Binkley
- How long have you been employed at Fazoli´s?:
- 3-5 Years
- Favorite Dish:
- Spaghetti and Meat Sauce
- What do you enjoy most about working at Fazoli´s?
- The environment and the people I work with
- My Story:
- I started this job at 16 when I was very shy and timid. I didn't really talk much to anyone but after a couple months I really came out of my shell. I made lots of friends that I would've never met had I not started this job. I've grown a lot here. I am now almost 20 and I feel like my work family here has watched me grow up and seen so many different stages of my life from all of my high school dances to me starting college. I have learned a lot about myself while working here and even became both a trainer and the Cultural Ambassador here at Fazolis.
June 2024 - James Shelton
- How long have you been employed at Fazoli´s?:
- 3 months
- Favorite Dish:
- Chicken Bacon Ranch Salad with Giardiniera added!
- What do you enjoy most about working at Fazoli´s?
- In all honesty, my absolute favorite thing about the Fazoli's I work at HAS to be working with such an awesome and fun team. Every day is like a new adventure. It’s been a long time since I’ve worked somewhere and looked forward to going to work.
June 2024 - Jason Plewinski
- How long have you been employed at Fazoli´s?:
- 10 months
- Favorite Dish:
- Pizza Bake with sausage
- What do you enjoy most about working at Fazoli´s?
- Its a good pace for me since my cancer recovery. Alicia is a great manager.
June 2024 - Cyndi Newman
- How long have you been employed at Fazoli´s?:
- 2 years
- Favorite Dish:
- Chicken Bacon Ranch Salad
- What do you enjoy most about working at Fazoli´s?
- The co workers
June 2024 - Myra Clark
- How long have you been employed at Fazoli´s?:
- 3+ years
- Favorite Dish:
- Baked lasagna
- What do you enjoy most about working at Fazoli´s?
- I enjoy the people that I work with. I enjoy the customers. It keeps me active. I also enjoy fixing treats for my co-workers and bringing them in.
June 2024 - Jessica Fumelle
- How long have you been employed at Fazoli´s?:
- 1+ year
- Favorite Dish:
- Baked Penne Alfredo
- What do you enjoy most about working at Fazoli´s?
- Getting to know the regular guests
June 2024 - Betty Ashley
- How long have you been employed at Fazoli´s?:
- 1+ years
- Favorite Dish:
- Lasagna
- What do you enjoy most about working at Fazoli´s?
- The Team Work
May 2024 - Stephen Buday
- How long have you been employed at Fazoli´s?:
- Favorite Dish:
- Chicken Carbonara
- What do you enjoy most about working at Fazoli´s?
- I enjoy working all of the different positions Fazoli's has to offer. There is always room for growth. Fazoli's is a very hands-on experience.
- My Story:
- Being a General Manager at 4 different stores throughout my 20 years with the company is one thing that I treasure. I enjoy teaching the employees the Fazoli's Fundamentals. I take pride in watching the employees learn the procedures and progress. There are so many learning opportunities that Fazoli's has to offer. I enjoy the stores and employees growth and creating a positive work atmosphere.
May 2024 - Patty Hinkle
- How long have you been employed at Fazoli´s?:
- Favorite Dish:
- Fettuccine Alfredo
- What do you enjoy most about working at Fazoli´s?
- The regular guests that come to see me, my coworkers and managers are like family, and knowing good days or bad days we all are all in it together. They are super people and have huge hearts.
- My Story:
- I have had knee replacement surgery and have to limit my schedule, which they always have been flexible with. They are understanding with doctor appointments and the fact that my memory and speed aren't what they were when I was younger. They include me in updates about their kids and their lives which helps me stay younger and younger. Rarely am I considered a senior but I am a proud grandma of grown kids! Watching the regulars age with me and being there with them as they meet obstacles that come with aging makes it less lonely and less difficult when I have hurdles. I can't think of a better, more accepting place to spend my golden years.
May 2024 - Karen Campbell
- How long have you been employed at Fazoli´s?:
- Favorite Dish:
- Spaghetti w/meat sauce
- What do you enjoy most about working at Fazoli´s?
- Working with the staff all this time has made it feel like family. I have enjoyed working with my managers who are wonderful at helping to accommodate my needs. I enjoy waiting on guests and developing friendships some. Some relationships have lasted 20 years.
- My Story:
- I started at Fazoli's in Wyoming. Mi, when it was under a franchise back in 2000 and then transferred to the Jenison location 6 years later. Now it has been 24 years later and the Fazoli's team has always worked with me through all my ups and downs, including health issues that have risen over the years. I deal with Rheumatoid Arthritis and my very bad vision in my right eye makes it a little more difficult to do certain things. Interacting with the guests and bringing them their food brings a smile to my face every day I work. If I see older people come into the restaurant, and I am always happy to assist and help them with wheelchairs, getting the door, and whatever need they may have. Seniors are so nice and fun to be around and they always are willing to strike up a conversation with me. We love to share stories about our families, and what's going on in our lives. It's about making memories. I love when seniors bring their children/grandchildren in to experience the restaurant, and some of which have been coming for over 20 years. It's nice seeing them and getting a hug. I have enjoyed my time with Fazoli's very much. It's a great company to work for.
May 2024 – Boonliam Itschner
- How long have you been employed at Fazoli´s?:
- Favorite Dish:
- The Breadsticks!!
- What do you enjoy most about working at Fazoli´s?
- The Guests
- My Story:
- Boon has worked for Fazoli's almost 25 years. She is a hard worker who loves to make everyone laugh. She keeps our dining room looking great. Boon has so many guests that know her & have become her friend over the years. We actually have some guests that only come here to see Boon. When you meet Boon you will definitely leave our restaurant with a smile. Boon helps us out in different ways from prepping to even some of our gardening. Boon loves to be outside. Sometimes Boon will even randomly clean our parking lot without us having to ask. This year she even helped us plant new flowers in the front of our restaurant. Boon is just an overall joy to work with. Boon understands the flow of business & loves to work when it's busy. At Boon's young age of 77, she surely knows how to keep up with the crowd.
April 2024 - Ronald Moore
- How long have you been employed at Fazoli´s?:
- 26+ years
- Favorite Dish:
- Old School Baked Spaghetti with Meatballs
- What do you enjoy most about working at Fazoli´s?
- It's become my second family!
- My Story:
- On a cold and rainy Tuesday evening, I met Mike Schenato for my first interview. Little did I know that he would be my supervisor for the next 25+ years! I was hired as an AGM/GMT and trained at Chippewa. After training, I was located at Dunn Road. Spent a short time there and was promoted to GM! Woo Hoo for me!!!! Taking over St. Ann, was the GM there for about 3 years. Great News for me! I was then offered to participate in the Managing Partner program and transferred back to Chippewa! Several managers, GM's and even supervisors that are currently still with us trained in my restaurant and I take great pride in that! Well guess what, more great news was given to me and I was offered to become the managing partner at one of the busiest locations we have! BOOM SHAKA LAKA! Bridgeton, here I come! My last move as a GM, I relocated to Festus and that became my new home. After a couple of years there, I was offered a spot as a Market Supervisor (Tim Kimmel) took a chance on me and I thank him to this day! Well, as most things in life, change happened on 3/1/2018 and UPII entered my career path and I was promoted to full fledged Area Supervisor (District Manager). Over the last "almost 6 years", the number and locations that I have been overseeing has changed a couple times, making sure every day was a new challenge! Who knew that this ride would be so fulfilling and challenging for this long! 27 years and counting!
April 2024 - Thomas Dilts
- How long have you been employed at Fazoli´s?:
- 9+ Years
- Favorite Dish:
- Always favorite: Chicken Broc Penne with EXTRA cheese! (discontinued favorite: Asian Chili Boneless Wings)
- What do you enjoy most about working at Fazoli´s?
- My managers have always referred to our team as a 'deranged family' and without giving them too much credit.. I think they may be right. They unknowingly inspire me to do better every day, and without them I couldn't say for certain if I would be in my position.
- My Story:
- A wise person once told me “Never forget the spirit of first beginning” and it took me quite a while to understand what that truly meant. I can still remember the strange, mixed feeling I had that first day when I came in for my interview; the sweet smell of Fazoli’s breadsticks and pasta combined with the death stare of the scary manager lady across the table. What a day. But little did I realize the snowball of events that that day would initialize in my life. I started as just a BOH associate for the first two years that I worked for the company, and then the following years I would take on all matters of Guest Service, become a Certified Trainer, and by the end of 2016 become an “Associate Manager”. I learned a lot in the position, but I always wanted to do what I could to make more of a difference in my restaurant and in the company. In 2018 I was offered and took on the promotion to Asst. General Manager at the St Charles location, in which I would be at for about a year before returning back to my home store in Arnold. In the years from my first day up to date, I have completed more than 300 assignments on NoodleU, traveled and assisted with 16 different restaurants, met countless outstanding managers and team leaders, and have made my best effort to make a positive impact on thousands of guest’s lives. I couldn’t tell you where this journey will lead in the next so many years, but I can promise you that I am only just getting started. Stay tuned for more! One lesson I have learned and I will always try to remind my team of is the ‘first impression’ impact that you can make on a guest. You may not know their story; maybe how great or awful their day was before walking in our doors or maybe where they’re dreading going after they leave, but you certainly can guarantee that they will have an extraordinary experience during their time in our restaurant. And the memory of that first visit for them will become the catalyst for the many, many more visits to come.
March 2024 - Kim Gonzales
- How long have you been employed at Fazoli´s?:
- <1 Year
- Favorite Dish:
- Pizza and breadsticks!
- What do you enjoy most about working at Fazoli´s?
- I really like the environment. Especially my teammates and customers.
- My Story:
- First and foremost I'm a proud mother of 3 young kids. Fazoli's has been very flexible with my schedule by allowing me time to be with my kids when needed. I'm constantly learning new things and my general manager, Michael, is great at developing people. I especially enjoy the relationships I've created with my peers and the customers are so nice. I take great pride in my work and I believe in being a team player wherever I'm asked to work. Most of my training has been involved with serving guests or prep. Recently I took on the challenge of working the steam line and also enjoy serving great quality food to our guests. I love the fact that Fazoli's takes care of employees and promotes from within. Everyone including corporate supervisors have been super nice to me during my employment. I feel valued as an employee and look forward to a long rewarding career with Fazoli's.
March 2024 - Sierra Deaton
- How long have you been employed at Fazoli´s?:
- 1-3 years
- Favorite Dish:
- Cheese pizza
- What do you enjoy most about working at Fazoli´s?
- We are like a family here. Everyone works as a team. They work well with my schedule with my daughters.
- My Story:
- I am a single mother of two young girls, ages 5 and 7. When I started working here, I was in the middle of a very long drawn out nasty custody battle with my children’s father. Everyone here has always been so supportive of me and my girls from the very beginning. It has been in many ways that I could've never imagined being supported by anyone, let alone my employer. My children’s father was very mentally and physically abusive during and after our relationship ended and the support that I needed to keep me strong came from my co-workers and management. I started out as front cashier and worked my way up to management. Fazoli's has given me the best guidance to excel in not only my position but life as well. So much so that I have actually been employed twice here. I left after being employed here for almost 2 years to try another postition with a different employer and I just felt out of place. Right then I knew Fazoli's was where I was meant to be. Once returning I felt at home and it was like I had never even left. Just one big happy family.
March 2024 - Cassidy Rector
- How long have you been employed at Fazoli´s?:
- 10 – 15 years
- Favorite Dish:
- Four Cheese Stuffed Shells
- What do you enjoy most about working at Fazoli´s?
- By far the people I've met and relationships I have built along the way.
- My Story:
- I started at Fazoli's over ten years ago at the age of 17 not thinking at the time It would continue into a career. I got promoted to a manager shortly after I turned 18 and since then I have worked my way up to an AGM. I have learned so much in my time here and have grown in so many ways. Everyone I have met and had the pleasure to work with have all impacted my life and my decisions. I have learned so much from my managers and am so proud to share that to my employees in hopes I can impact their lives like my managers did mine.
February 2024 - Abigayle Varner
- How long have you been employed at Fazoli´s?:
- 1-3 years
- Favorite Dish:
- Crispy Chicken Bacon Ranch Salad
- What do you enjoy most about working at Fazoli´s?
- I enjoy the Fazoli's spirit, my friendly coworkers, and the sense of community. We are like a big family. We come from different places, but have the same name. I have made friends and made good tips over time, but I’m glad I am one of the many to have applied to Fazoli's. It is an adventurous experience.
- My Story:
- I am currently the only African American at work, and I am proud. My coworkers love what I have to bring, and even love my natural hairstyles (although some force me to wear hairnets haha...)They support and congratulate me for my accomplishments and speeches regarding MLK's message and Black Pride. It's not that bad being the only different one. Standing out just makes me outstanding, and everyone should love the skin they are in, despite their complexion. Being imperfect is what makes me perfect, and Im so in love with it.
February 2024 - Nakyra Smith
- How long have you been employed at Fazoli´s?:
- Less than one year
- Favorite Dish:
- Parmesan garlic flat bread with bbq sauce, and of course love the boneless/bone in wings.
- What do you enjoy most about working at Fazoli´s?
- I enjoy the people I work with and the regulars I get to see daily.
- My Story:
- Well i've always tried to be involved with anything having to do with black history month for example, being apart of the Martin Luther King march in the bitter cold, or when i was in middle school i got together with the NAACP and did a black history celebration at my middle school, showed black art work, showed some cool black owned spots in Springfield, and even showed some popular hair styles. Being a black girl in Springfield is never easy but no matter how dark you are or light skinned you are, your black and gorgeous and i always try make my friends and coworkers aware of that. Thank you.
January 2024 - Heather Rehbein
- How long have you been employed at Fazoli´s?:
- 15-20 years
- Favorite Dish:
- Boneless wings with blue cheese dressing!
- My Story:
- I started at Fazoli's in 2006. At that time I had a toddler (Daphne) and within a year an infant (Xander.) Fast forward many years and my daughter Daphne was hired at 16 years old and worked primarily as a cashier. Eventually she was crossed trained throughout the restaurant and became a trainer. Daphne was promoted to Assistant Manager this past summer. She has referred three new employees since starting here. My son Xander started at Fazoli's within a few weeks of turning 16. He too followed the FOH learning path and then was cross trained in all positions. He is currently working on becoming a certified trainer. He has referred 2 new employees since working here.
January 2024 - Hannah, Megann, Aubryann Bertke
- How long have you been employed at Fazoli´s?:
- 7+ years
- My Story:
- The Bertke sisters have been a long standing sister bunch at Fazoli's Moraine. Aubryann has been working at Moraine since 2017, and Hannah and Megann joined the Fazoli's team in 2019 at the Dayton Mall location. In 2020 when the Dayton Mall location closed down, Hannah and Megann joined the crew at Moraine, joining all of the sisters together at one location. It has been a fun journey working together for all of these years and has has not only brought us closer as sisters, but has given us all an opportunity to grow as leaders by joining management.