Qdoba Rapid City Strives to Create Inclusive Employee-Centered Work Environment

A Workplace for Everyone

BY MICHELLE PAWELSKI // PHOTOS BY SHILOH FRANCIS

MARK DOERING LOVES HIS JOB– AND IT’S NOT BECAUSE OF THE FREE BURRITOS AND DR. PEPPER. ALTHOUGH, HE DOES LOVE THAT TOO.

HE LOVES HIS SUPERVISORS JEREMY AND ANDREW.

HE LOVES THAT HIS COWORKERS VISITED HIM AT THE HOSPITAL WHEN HE HAD KNEE SURGERY.

HE LOVES THAT HE IS TREATED JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.

AND MOST OF ALL, MARK LOVES THAT HE IS PART OF A FAMILY.

Mark is a dishwasher at the Qdoba Mexican Eats’ Baken Park location. Qdoba hires several workers from Black Hills Works, a nonprofit organization that provides support and services to adults with disabilities, including Mark.

“We have always tried to be a place for anybody to work at,” said Stew Mehlhaff, operating partner for the Rapid City Qdobas. “We don’t care who you are or where you come from. You can come in with green hair or red hair as long as you are a hard worker…our goal is just to do what we do best and serve a great product with great customer service and a clean restaurant.”

Stew said it is his staff that makes that possible.

Elevate Rapid City recently honored Qdoba with the Diversity and Inclusion award during its first business award celebration.

Qdoba truly values their employees and works with them in all aspects of their lives, listens to their struggles and helps them achieve success, Stew said.

“One of the coolest things that I have experienced in my 43 years in the business is when an employee comes up to me and says they bought a car or house. That is so gratifying.”

Aside from an inclusive environment, Qdoba offers flexible scheduling, paid time off, competitive wages, and recently implemented mental health counseling for all employees.

The company pays for four visits to the Christian Life Ministries for any employee who may need it. The idea came from a manager retreat. “My managing team came up to me and part of our discussion was the mental health of our employees. That was a whole different ball game that I didn’t realize.”

A few employees have already used the added service.

It is all about taking care of your employees, Stew said.

Summer Hight has been an employee at Qdoba since she was a sophomore in high school. She just graduated this past May and has worked her way up to shift manager at the Rushmore Crossing location. “It is so nice to have flexibility with a job, and they really work on putting the employee in an area where they will thrive.”

Qdoba’s focus on creating an employeecentered workplace makes workers feel valued and motivates them to achieve both personal and professional goals, Stew said.

“I really found my flow here. At first it was a struggle; I am a teenager. But I realized these people actually care. They gave me the flexibility that I need, and if I wanted to move up, they would help me get there. And that’s what happened.”