Ten years ago, Crystal Reed found herself at a crossroads. Her work as a correctional officer coupled with the birth of her second child led to a painful back injury — one that required major surgery to fix. And although the subsequent operation was successful, Crystal soon became addicted to the opioids she was prescribed for recovery.
Before she knew it, addiction turned Crystal’s life upside down. She lost her kids, her home and everything she owned.
The Turning Point
One day, while still deep in addiction, Crystal had a simple, clarifying thought: I just can’t do this anymore.
She reached out to her mom, who was taking care of her kids, and asked to stay at her home while she got back on her feet. Her mom was hesitant, and understandably so — if Crystal were to fail, her children would have to lose their mother all over again.
What came next was a compromise. Crystal’s mother agreed to let her stay, but on one condition: that she find a job in three weeks.
A Beacon of Hope
Finding a job quickly was a tall order: Crystal had been out of the workplace for a while. She also needed to find something with flexibility in order to coordinate her schedule with that of her children. What options did that leave her?
At the time, Crystal’s young son loved eating tacos, which meant they were regulars at the local Taco Bell. On one visit, Crystal thought, maybe I could get a job here! Crystal inquired if our Charlotte Pike Taco Bell was hiring and landed an interview.
When interview day came, she describes being in rough shape. The General Manager (GM) asked if she was absolutely sure about taking the position and encouraged her to take the weekend to think about it.
However, Crystal’s three week deadline was quickly approaching. And she really wanted to turn things around. When Monday came, she said yes to being a Team Member at Taco Bell.
Finding Meaning with MRCO
With more structure in place, Crystal got clean and never touched opioids again. In the ten years since, the fruits of her labor and sober lifestyle have been plentiful. Taking that one step to apply to an MRCO Taco Bell opened up more opportunities than she ever thought possible.
For two years, Crystal was a Team Member at our Charlotte Pike Taco Bell location. She quickly proved to be a strong leader and was promoted to Shift Manager. And after just a year of that, her leaders knew she was ready to become an Assistant General Manager (AGM).
After a few years as an AGM, Crystal was promoted to GM of our Highway 100 location — a title she still holds today.
Well-Deserved Recognition
Crystal’s hard work over the last year at Highway 100 has earned her one of the most prestigious Taco Bell distinctions around: a Golden Bell Award!
Out of 8,500 total Taco Bell GMs in the country, Crystal was in the top 150! This exclusive ranking meant that she was flown to Maui, HI with her mom to gather with other Golden Bell winners and Taco Bell corporate team members for a celebratory trip. Crystal had never been further from Tennessee than Florida or Texas, so a trip to Hawai’i was a big deal!
While the vacation itself included plenty of rest, relaxation and exploration (Crystal and her mom went snorkeling!), Golden Bell winners also gathered each night to learn from one another, discuss their achievements and eat an amazing dinner.
“They make you feel so good,” Crystal shares about the Taco Bell corporate team who puts on the event. “If you weren’t confident when you got there, by the end of the week, you felt like a rock star.”
Crystal’s favorite part of the entire excursion was meeting her fellow colleagues. Knowing that she had all those days to talk to them — without getting interrupted to go take an order, she laughs — meant the world. She even shares that she left her phone in her room every night to be as present as possible
“I will never forget it,” Crystal says.
What’s in Store
While you might expect someone as accomplished as Crystal to have some major goals for a promotion, the GM is actually perfectly happy where she is right now. She’s determined to make our Highway 100 restaurant the best it can be.
“There needs to be somebody there who really cares,” Crystal says “And I know I do.”
Crystal, we can’t wait to see all the amazing things you’ll continue to accomplish. Congratulations on your Golden Bell win and thank you for sharing your incredible story with us!
