Over the past year, millions of women have continued the march toward equality in their workplaces, schools, and communities – both online and off. The energy coming from this movement can be summed up best in one word: ELECTRIFYING.
MOD women are no exception. For International Women’s Day, we’re sharing stories from some of our amazing female squad members who inspire us every day with their fierce commitment to MOD and unique personal journeys.
The contribution of women at MOD cannot be understated. Nearly half of the MOD Squad is female, and 56 percent of company executives are women. Because of our commitment to inclusive hiring practices, MOD was named a Best Workplace for Diversity by Fortune.
We also know supporting women doesn’t mean supporting a singular type of woman. It means celebrating women of all races, of all ages, LGBT women, formerly incarcerated women, women with disabilities, women from all walks of life and from every community we touch.
Their stories are what inspire us every day to create a more welcoming, inclusive environment at MOD. In short, MOD women ROCK!
And we know you’ll think so too…
Laura Ybarra
District Manager in Arizona
Laura was born and raised in the border town of Brownsville, TX where she grew up on a family ranch raising goats and rabbits. Cooking was a tradition passed down by her grandmother, so Laura has always had a passion for food and serving others.
She came to MOD in July of 2014 as the General Manager of Metrocenter in Phoenix. Laura worked her way up to be the very first District Manager of Arizona. During her time here, Laura has seen MOD grow from less than 20 locations to the over 300 we have now.
Outside of MOD, Laura is a volunteer program coordinator for one.n.ten, a local organization that supports LGBT youth. In her downtime, Laura enjoys going to see musicals with her wife and watching Star Trek on the couch with their dog Phoebe Buffay.
Almah Johnson
Squad member in Washington
When Almah isn’t busing folding MOD’s iconic pizza boxes or making sure the condiments are ready to go, she’s greeting customers with her unforgettable smile and positive attitude.
Almah’s journey with MOD started in August 2014 after graduating from Lake Washington School District’s Transition Academy, a community-based program for young adults with developmental disabilities. A frequent contributor to our MOD Squad Facebook conversations, Almah is known as a positive force of encouragement and shining example of what it means to be MOD through and through.
After interviewing for her position at MOD, Almah said she knew this was the right place for her because of the high energy environment she enjoys. “Great food, too!” she added.
Keishah Tate
Regional Training Leader in Arizona
Keishah grew up the youngest of four girls, and says she was always known as the “wild child” and star athlete of the family. Her adventurous spirit took her around the world to places like Italy and Australia as a softball player during college.
Her MOD journey started about three and a half years ago when she joined the squad at Metrocenter in Phoenix and then moved to Seattle to become a training specialist. After opening the MOD in Woodinville, WA, Keishah journeyed back to the land she loves as a Regional Training Leader in Arizona.
But her adventures are only beginning. Keishah hopes to one day own her own food truck and travel the world.
Lori Reinisch
Regional Director of Operations in Oregon
Lori has been in the food industry for 37 years, starting with her high school job and then finding a home in the business during college. She had originally wanted to become a teacher but realized she didn’t need a traditional classroom. “I simply needed students who were seeking knowledge. I found them in my restaurants and got to work serving as trainer, manager, mentor and coach,” Lori said.
She joined MOD in November 2014 as a District Manager in Oregon, describing herself as a “raving, craving MOD fan.” Lori is now the Regional Director of Operations in Oregon, and is excited to open six more stores in 2018.
Lori and her husband are proud to have raised three awesome children that have blessed them with five grandchildren.