Cultivating Culture: Why Taziki’s executive leadership team is Stepping into the field

At Taziki’s, our culture isn't just something we talk about—it’s something we live every day. To keep our standards high and our connection to the frontline strong, our Executive Leadership Team recently traded their desks for the dining rooms.

This week, leadership members like CEO Dan Simpson, CMO Patty Trevino, CFO Billy Magruder as well as Sr. Directors Alex Garmezy, Jesse Deshield, and Drew Moore hit the field to conduct hands-on CFPs (Customer Focus Points) and QIDs (Quality Identifier Checks).

Our Chief People Officer, Lynn Edwards, shared the deeper purpose behind this initiative and how "sharpening the saw" ensures we are always delivering the best for our guests.

Members of Taziki’s Executive Leadership Team meet with market leaders and members of the Training Team. (Left to Right: Dre Anderson, Jesse Deshield, Jose Cantu, Armando Perez, Dan Simpson, Heather Archer, Lynn Edwards)

our Philosophy: Trust but Verify

An organization's culture is only as strong as its daily execution. For Taziki's, maintaining a guest-first environment requires both faith in our teams and a structured method of accountability.

"If we are an organization that's very mindful of our culture, and we are, it's important to have systems and processes in place that say we trust but we verify," Edwards explains. "QIDs and CFPs are the way we verify that our stores are providing guests the best experience they can. We are sharpening the saw by constantly trusting and verifying.

Decoding the Blueprint: What are CFPs and QIDs?

While they might sound like corporate acronyms, CFPs and QIDs are actually practical tools designed to look at our restaurants through two critical lenses: the guest experience and operational safety.

1. CFPs: Customer Focus Points

The Goal: To see the restaurant exactly how a guest sees it.

It’s easy for leadership to look at a restaurant from an executive, macro perspective. CFPs force a shift in focus to the micro-details that define hospitality. Lynn breaks it down simply:

“What do they see? CFPs look at the environment entirely from a customer-facing perspective. If a customer walks in and sees dirty tables and trash on the floor, we're not giving them a hospitable experience," says Edwards. "So with CFPs, we are tending to the restaurant from a customer’s point of view."

Chief People Officer Lynn Edwards samples Taziki sauce to ensure its freshness as Field Training Specialist Dre Anderson assists. General Manager Rigoberto Balthazar works hard in the background.

2. QIDs: Quality Identifier Checks

The Goal: To guarantee safety, freshness, and absolute cleanliness.

Behind the scenes, hospitality means nothing if it isn't backed by safety. QIDs are our strict checks to ensure every ingredient meets Taziki's premium standards.

Food & Cleanliness: QIDs ensure health codes are flawlessly followed and that no outdated food ever makes it to a plate.

The Safety Guarantee: As Edwards notes, "It's one thing to say we're being safe, but it's essential to go in and verify it."

Why Consistency is Our Secret Ingredient

Stepping into the field isn’t a one-time event or a reaction to a problem; it’s a preventative habit. Perfection isn't a permanent state—it's a daily practice. Lynn points out that even the best teams need consistent feedback to stay at the top of their game.

"It’s critical that we verify consistently to keep ourselves honest. It’s foolish to believe that we only need feedback once, or that we're going to be perfect every single time without effort."

To drive the point home, Lynn looks to the world of sports:

"If the greatest athletes practice every single day, why shouldn’t we have to do that? This process gives us the ability to do that consistently."

By routinely putting our leadership team in the field, Taziki’s ensures that our standards remain uncompromised, our teams remain supported, and our guests always receive the fresh, hospitable experience they love and expect.

Our ELT and Co. break down their findings from the day.