Villeda Brings More than Two Decades of HR Experience to the Role with the Fast-Casual Franchise
Farmer Boys, a popular fast-casual brand, has promoted Gisel Villeda to vice president of human resources. Having joined Farmer Boys in 2022 as a customer service representative, Villeda leverages more than two decades of HR experience in the food service and retail industries in her role as VP. She is joined on the leadership team by CMO Noah Chillingworth. Together, they are assisting Farmer Boys in achieving its goal of opening 50 locations in five years and entering three new regions.
Villeda said she loves the way the fast-casual franchise treats team members and found the opportunity to help grow the brand appealing. “It took me a short time to understand why team members are not just loyal to the brand, but to the Havadjias family founders. It is rare to see the dedication, commitment and loyalty the family has for the team members. They really do treat the team members as family.”
Joseph Ortiz, president and CEO of Farmer Boys, said Villeda and Chillingworth were the ideal candidates to help take the brand to new heights. “Strengthening our leadership team with experience in franchising and people development gives us the perfect foundation as we set out to make Farmer Boys a nationwide brand,” Ortiz said.
Villeda didn’t initially plan a career in HR. As a liberal studies undergraduate at California State University-Dominguez Hills, her goal was to become an educator. But, in choosing the HR path, she believed she could help and teach others in business, Villeda said.
“Training and development are key for every franchisor. When we look at turnover and conduct exit surveys, that is one of the main reasons someone leaves. There is a key correlation to investing in proper training that helps improve the retention within any franchisor,” she said.
Villeda’s professional background includes holding HR positions with Food4Less/FoodsCo, WinCo Foods, Vallarta Supermarkets and Fortune Fashions Ind., LLC.
About Farmer Boys
Founded in 1981 by the Havadjias family, Farmer Boys is a leading restaurant concept with more than 100 locations across California, Nevada and Arizona. The fast-casual franchise is known for its diverse menu, including burgers, breakfast options, salads, sandwiches and more.
