The CBS network’s hit show, “Undercover Boss”, gives CEOs and other high ranking executives the chance to enter their company’s operation as entry-level employees in disguise. This gives these bosses the ability to experience the day-to-day operation of their company. When a CEO openly tours their company, employees are on their best behavior. The Undercover Boss of each episode gets to see what really happens when no one knows he’s watching.
The “Undercover Boss” episode on April 10th featured the Baja Fresh Mexican fast food chain and its CEO, David Kim. While Kim found many aspects of the work more challenging than he anticipated, such as making the signature Ultimo burrito, he was also pleasantly surprised at how hard local employees worked. The kitchens of the Baja Fresh chain provide unique challenges because of the lack of freezers and canned products – the chain only uses fresh ingredients.
David Kim worked with a number of Baja Fresh employees that represent the quality and care of the entire company. Some of these employees include:
Jose
Jose Manzanarez is the general manager of a Las Vegas chain location that was Kim’s first stop on the show. The CEO chose this location due to its consistently high sales despite the economic woes of the area. Jose carefully walked the new trainee “Ken” (David Kim in disguise) through food creation even as he made mistake after mistake. When Ken spilled food on his shirt, Jose had a new shirt brought in for him by a sibling.
This patient care and attention to detail landed Jose Manzanarez with his own franchise and an offer for personal mentoring from Kim. The largest gift ever made on “Undercover Boss”, Jose was chosen over other managers because of his dedication to the customers who visit his Las Vegas location. When Kim found out that Jose regularly purchased lunch from his own pocket for the most regular customers, he was impressed enough to feel that Jose could own his own franchise location, valued at more than $50,000.
Anthony
Anthony Abinuman is a cashier at the Baja Fresh location in Cypress, California, but he was assigned to train the Undercover Boss when he arrived. As the day progressed, David Kim learned that Anthony had arrived from the Philippines in 2008 with the rest of his family as an 18 year old. Now 20, he is the main breadwinner for his family as the oldest male and puts everything he has into his cashier position.
David Kim was so moved by Anthony’s drive to succeed that he rewarded him with $15,000 to help him support his family and follow his dreams. Kim grew up in South Korea himself and can sympathize with the plight of a young man coming to America to pursue a better life. Anthony’s uncle also runs a Christian ministry that received $2,500 from the Baja Fresh CEO.
Rami
The Mesa, Arizona location was Kim’s third stop and his chance to learn how to make the chain’s signature burritos. This store had struggled in the past but was reporting improvements each month, and Kim wanted to investigate first hand how the location had turned around. After initial issues with food safety of some fresh ingredients on the cold table and Kim’s struggle to properly prepare burritos, the general manager Rami Abuelhawa showed the trainee how he had turned the store around with a combination of focus on excellent service and keeping a close eye on his employees.
In exchange for his hard work, Rami was rewarded with a $5,000 golfing vacation with his father, $5,000 towards his education in business management and a year’s worth of personal mentoring with Kim. Rami was blown away by Kim’s reward for good service.
Carrie
During the last stop on the “Undercover Boss” show, Kim stopped in Boise, Idaho to train with Carrie McCharness. The district manager has over 20 years of experience running franchises like Baja Fresh, but Kim still managed to surprise her when he dropped the whisk while trying to mix fresh salsa. He was surprised himself when he went on a delivery run with Carrie because he wasn’t aware that any of the company’s chains offered delivery. Her original ideas and long experience in the field impressed him.
While Carrie didn’t win the franchise reward, she did get $5,000 to put towards her own business plans and ideas. Kim was also impressed by her dedication to her family, so he gave $7,500 towards her daughter’s education plans.
David Kim awarded plenty of money to help his best employees do even better, and made one of the most shocking and exciting reveals in the show’s history. While Kim may not be very talented at running a register or wrapping burritos, he has what it takes to encourage his employees and keep his company on the right track.
On another note, David Kim’s open demonstration of his faith was a pleasant surprise considering how television all too often mocks and ridicules such things. Kudos to CBS for not leaving these deeply personal, revealing moments on the editing room floor.
