A few months ago, we celebrated the top 200+, Best of the Best Restaurant General Managers and Area Coaches from around the world with a celebratory trip to Hawaii — we call it Golden Bell. This particular story is about showcasing the real experiences of those who’ve gone back to Golden Bell again and again, sharing what’s worked for them, what has changed their lives, and what it means to grow through the process.
Featuring:
Oscar B. - MAS Restaurant Group, LLC (12-time attendee)
Kelly P. - MAS Restaurant Group, LLC (six-time attendee)
Eloge C. The Peters Group / Southeast QSR, LLC (two-time attendee)
Tell me about yourselves!
Oscar: “I am a proud father of one son and two daughters. I began my career at Taco Bell as a shift lead and have been with a franchise organization, Mas Restaurant Group, for 18 years. During this time, I’ve had the opportunity to work at nine different locations, including some dual-branded restaurants (Taco Bell & KFC/Taco Bell & Pizza Hut).”
Kelly: “I’ve been with Taco Bell for 10 years! I have four daughters and seven grandchildren. I enjoy sports, mainly football (Dallas Cowboys), boxing and soccer.”
Eloge: “I started with Taco Bell as a Team Member and have grown into my current role as a General Manager. It’s been an amazing journey, one built on hard work, growth, and a deep passion for this brand. Today, I’m proud to say I’m living the Golden Bell dream, a goal I set my sights on years ago and worked tirelessly to achieve.”
How did you find out about Golden Bell and what was it like to attend?
Oscar: “When I first heard about Golden Bell in 2011, I thought it was just a training class held in another location. It wasn't until later when I received a call from the office telling me I got selected for Golden Bell that I truly understood what the event represented. Attending Golden Bell is a truly special experience. The event itself is elegant and exciting, but what’s most impressive is that it represents a unique accomplishment—something that doesn’t come around often or by chance.”
Kelly: “I learned about Golden Bell when I first started working at Taco Bell, and the experiences when attending Golden Bell have been phenomenal. Each year that my team and I have won Golden Bell, we’ve learned even more by attending the workshops at the event, which I’ve been able to implement to build a stronger team each year. I love going to Hawaii; it’s such a beautiful place. But what keeps me going back is my team.”
Eloge: “I learned about Golden Bell early in my Taco Bell career. It was always described as one of the highest honors a General Manager could earn, something that reflects not just strong performance, but exceptional leadership. From that moment, I knew I wanted to be a part of it. Attending Golden Bell has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. It’s about more than recognition, it’s about being surrounded by the best, celebrating excellence, and feeling inspired by others who share the same passion. Every time I attend, I leave with a renewed sense of purpose and pride.”
You have all been able to attend multiple times! Could you tell us more about your journey?
Oscar: “I’ve attended 12 times. Let me put it this way; Golden Bell is the result of team development. Every winning team in any sport has a coach. That coach is persistent—but more importantly, someone who has trained first and prepared themselves. They took time to develop personally, and only then did they give everything they had to their team. The goal is to do our best today, and if we lose, we still celebrate—because we learned something valuable. We grow from our mistakes.”
Kelly: “I’ve gone six times! Without focusing on day-to-day performance, meeting metrics for our restaurant, and most importantly, treating our customers as family, I would not be able to have return six times.”
Eloge: “I made Golden Bell my goal from day one, and so far, I’ve been two times. Every challenge faced was a step toward greatness, and I surrounded myself with the right people and leaned on those who wanted me to succeed. So, I want to express my deepest gratitude to my incredible managers, including my Area Coach Jesse W., who’s been the greatest advisor I’ve had, and Taco Bell Team Members. Their dedication, teamwork, and commitment to coaching one another have played a huge role in our success.”
Any other advice for those looking to go to Golden Bell?
Oscar: “What makes Golden Bell even more meaningful to me is that I don’t work for the award. To me, it’s secondary. The most fulfilling part of my job is enjoying what I do every day with the people around me. There’s real power in the knowledge and training we apply every day, and the most gratifying part is not keeping that knowledge to yourself but sharing it and growing with your team. You empower them to make the right decisions by giving them the best training and knowledge possible. It also means giving your best, every day, and building a culture where doing the right thing every time is the standard. So, here are some quick tips:
Monday morning or Sunday night at closing is the best time to teach your team.
Don’t wait to train. Train all the time.
Practice doing things the right way and teach your team to do the same.
Don’t do it for recognition. Do it because everyone deserves it.”
Kelly: “My advice for General Managers is to build a great culture so that your team will deliver. I always tell my team, we’re one voice, one mission, one standard. General Managers should know their daily metrics and be aware of their rankings so that they can know areas of improvement. It’s also important to discuss the Golden Bell frequently is case some people don’t know what it is. My last piece of advice is that when hiring new people, definitely get feedback from the team to see if they will be a good fit. Because, the Taco Bell family is what takes us to another level. Be selective and it will pay off on your results for your store and most definitely to be a Golden Bell winner.”
Eloge: “My advice is simple. Lead your team with purpose, know your numbers, run a flawless operation, and most importantly, build a strong culture. Consistency, accountability, and passion are key. Never stop learning or growing.”