Multi-Unit Franchisee Magazine Issue III, 2014 | Page 17

2014 MVP AWARDS

“I believe that it is our responsibility to reach out
and help those around us in need.”
and the Uganda “Bosco Ministries” Children’s Orphanage,
among others.
Anabi’s people-first focus also plays out in his relationships
with his employees. “I truly believe in treating all employees
as owners and empowering them to succeed. We promote
from within, which shows them that we want them to stay
with our company for a long time.”

MANAGEMENT
Business philosophy: Work hard and dedicate yourself. You truly get out
what you put in.
Management method or style: I truly believe in treating all employees
as owners and empowering them to succeed.
Greatest challenge: Making sure my employees constantly know they are
valued so they will be with Anabi Oil for an extended time.
How do others describe you? As a fast-paced, passionate person who
is very driven.
How do you hire and fire, train and retain? I hire from each community where my stores are located. I have a full human resources department that has ongoing training. I also have an internal training department
that stays ahead of the game by being proactive in regard to promoting from
within, taking pride in assisting our entry-level employees to move up toward
managerial positions.

BOTTOM LINE
Annual revenue: Would rather not disclose.
2014 goals: Continue to grow and make acquisitions with the goal of
becoming one of the largest restaurant franchisees in the country, specifically
through growth with the Del Taco brand.
Growth meter: How do you measure your growth? Through additional stores and the number of employees we are able to hire.
Vision meter: Where do you want to be in 5 years? In 10
years? In 5 years, I would like to add an additional 50 to 60 restaurants to
our portfolio. In 10 years, I would like to see that number grow to 100 new
restaurants, with a majority of those being Del Tacos.
What are you doing to take care of your employees? Taking care
of our employees is a huge priority for us. Along with ongoing positive feedback, we offer quarterly bonuses, holiday parties, picnics, paid vacation, and
our Fourth of July company celebration. We also offer ongoing professional
training so our employees can be upwardly mobile.
What kind of exit strategy do you have in place? None right now.
We are in growth mode and look forward to continuing our growth and expansion. However, we do evaluate our existing portfolio with a dedicated business
manager and my real estate team. We continuously strategize to see if any
sites need to be divested.

PERSONAL
Formative influences/events: My father always taught me to treat
people as you would want to be treated.
Key accomplishments: Becoming a father, growing Anabi Oil, and helping people in need through my golf charity event for the past 7 years have all
been incredible accomplishments.
Work week: Every day.
What are you reading? Every Day a Friday by Joel Osteen.
Best advice you ever got: Never give up and always follow your
dreams.
What’s your passion in business? Leading Anabi Oil and its employees to a higher level of success and integrity every day.

2014 MVP

Noble Cause Award
FOR PASSIONATE, UNWAVERING SUPPORT
FOR THOSE IN NEED
Why do you think you were recognized with this award? For
always giving back. I passionately believe it is our responsibility to help those
in need. I have been so blessed that it is with great joy and love that I help
those in need. I currently assist orphans and children from all over the world,
from Uganda and Nigeria to those in need throughout Southern California.
How have you raised the bar in your own company? Striving to
always deliver the best customer service for our guests, along with making
sure our work environment is one that empowers and is enjoyable for our
employees. Also, it is important that our service level is consistent at each of
our restaurants.
What innovations have you created and used to build your
company? It’s not so much about innovation as it is hard work and having
strong partners who have the same work ethic and tenacity.
What core values do you think helped you win this award? Being fair and honest and always treating others with respect—and, of course,
hard work and dedication.
How important is community involvement to you and your
company? Community involvement is crucial for Anabi Oil. Our company is
involved with many charities, and we always hire from within the community and promote from within our company. In fact, all of our managers were
promoted from within. We’re also proud to host a golf tournament every year
that has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for local organizations.
What leadership qualities are important to you and to your
team? Honesty, forward thinking, and having the ability to inspire and motivate those around you. I started as a cashier, so my employees know that I
was not handed anything. I worked for it, and they know there is not any job
I would ask them to do that I have not done myself.

MULTI-UNIT FRANCHISEE IS S U E III, 2014



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