Portillo’s, a fast-food restaurant chain, has been maintaining steady growth with a focus on employee development and guest satisfaction. The People & Learning department, under Maria Reichl's leadership, has been instrumental in driving this growth. The team has implemented effective training programs and fostered a positive work culture, leading to increased employee satisfaction and retention. The next phase will involve expanding these initiatives to new locations and integrating technology to streamline operations and enhance learning experiences. The primary challenge lies in maintaining the quality of training and culture during expansion. However, with strategic planning and continuous improvement, Maria and her team are well-equipped to tackle these challenges and drive Portillo's towards greater success. Over the course of 2023, Maria has also lead Portillo's Team Member & labor Relations teams and Compliance programs. Maria has been a part of the Portillo’s family for 29 years and spent the majority of her tenure leading restaurant operations as Director of Operations and VP, Field Operations and also lead Portillo’s culinary team for 2 years. Maria has a proven history of exceptional performance in the following skills: Communication, Organizational Development, Employee Engagement, Cross-Functional Team Leadership, Revenue Management, Teamwork, People Management, Relationship Building, Business Acumen, Change Initiatives, Training and Development, Project Management, Strategic Thinking, Performance Management, Employee Engagement, Multi-Unit Leadership and Strategic leadership that have all played a part in Maria's ongoing success at Portillo's during her 29 year tenure.More...