I AM YOU / YOU ARE ME
Restaurant Associates’ VP of DEIB & Culture, Courtney Willis, on the launch of new stories about Connection, Inclusion, and Belonging.
Today, with our culture of CARE always top of mind, I am excited to share stories about career journeys within our company.
I AM YOU / YOU ARE ME is the extension of our prevailing culture, built from the intention that we all have more in common than we might think. IAY/YAM harnesses the power of storytelling and amplifies R/A’s expansive talent across our family of companies. This is a celebration of these heartwarming shared experiences – and a reminder that no matter where you are in your growth journey today, there’s a path forward. Our showcased stories will inspire you.
As of this year, R/A is 15,000 associates strong, which is a tremendous increase from just four years ago, when we were just over 5,000. Through our growth, we consistently fill over 50% of our management openings from within and seek to increase that number each year. We are so proud of our retention rate of 86%. Whether an associate is just starting or has been with us for years, their growth matters. Their journey matters. And we are committed to creating spaces, tools, and opportunities that help each of our associates thrive professionally and personally. As our CEO, Chef Ed Brown, says, “when we create space where individuals feel valued, respected, and have a sense of belonging, we all thrive.”
We have countless examples of success stories through connection. You will be moved by Maurice Campbell’s story, today a general manager who started as an hourly catering waiter, and Pamela Brunson, who, after graduating from college and starting her first job as Wolfgang Puck’s assistant, is now President of Wolfgang Puck Catering. These are just a couple of stories of today’s leaders who have had the opportunity to build their careers through hard work, passion, and most importantly, connection and support of others. They took every opportunity to learn from those around them. Today, they are People Leaders who continue to develop professionally, and what’s more, they pay it back by encouraging others to lean in and do the same. This positively influences the lives of those in our R/A community. This is our culture of CARE.
You’ll see Maurice and Pamela’s stories – along with several others – across our social media channels.
Thank you for joining us on this journey.
With gratitude,
Courtney Willis
Vice President, DEIB & Culture
For more information, please contact Jessie Kinney, Director of Marketing and Communications
