When R.J. Sanchez accepted a job at his local Dunkin’ in the summer of 1992, he didn’t know he was launching his career. In fact, he was really just looking for a way to pay for a broken window after a misjudged swing in a street hockey game. “I felt terrible and promised I’d make it right, so I joined Dunkin’ as a Porter, sweeping and cleaning tables. I don’t think the position even exists anymore,” laughs R.J.
It wasn’t long before he paid off the window and realized how much he enjoyed the fast-paced environment. “I was a curious kid – I wanted to know the ‘why’ behind everything,” he says. “I built great relationships with my Shift Leaders and Managers by consistently asking them to share their knowledge.” He was quickly promoted as a full-time Dunkin’ team member, working every role from Donut Finisher to Shift Leader, Assistant Manager to Key Training Professional.
“Moving through the ranks, you learn so much about the inner workings of the restaurant and how teams work together to create great guest experiences,” says R.J. “Over time, I found my niche in teaching team members and watching them succeed in their roles. I knew it was the career path for me.”
Today, R.J. is a Field Learning and Strategy Manager at Inspire, where he helps Dunkin’ franchisees across Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Upstate New York improve their operational performance and order accuracy with the aim to deliver a great guest experience, every time. “I remember reading that job description and realizing it centered on all the things I loved the most,” he says. “I felt like it was the next logical step – that I could bring so much value to the role from my experience.”
After more than 31 years with Dunkin’ and Inspire, R.J. says his inspiration continues to be the people. “I love who I work with. It’s a truly supportive team that collaborates and gets results,” he shares. “I’m proud to work for such a people-focused company that not only talks the talk, but walks the walk.”
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