Pathway to success

La Fiesta owners help employees get education

Roy Bara and his family have seen lots of success stories, each a little different and each just as important as the last.

The Baras own two La Fiesta Grande Mexican restaurants in Amarillo and have helped nurture their employees down the path to success in different ways.

"We give away two $1,000 scholarships every year. We actually try to encourage kids who are going to school, high school kids. We do employ high school kids at both of our locations," said Bara, co-chair of a recent Panhandle Twenty/20 study that examined the issue of educational attainment in the region.

Bara said many student employees work at La Fiesta for a while, pursue their studies and eventually leave the La Fiesta nest for other opportunities.

One La Fiesta employee eventually left to attend South Plains College and went on to Kent State University in Ohio.

"Every now and then she comes back to visit, but she's not coming back to Amarillo," Bara said. "That's one of the problems that we do have, the kids who do graduate, go on to college, they don't come back to Amarillo."

Daughters Jennifer, 27, and Ashley, 24, recite a long list of employees who got their start at La Fiesta, hit the books and moved on to new careers.

One employee, Cynthia Saiz, has worked for La Fiesta for five years and just graduated with her nursing degree in December. Now, she's going to be a registered nurse at Baptist St. Anthony's Hospital.

Losing employees is difficult, but the Baras see long-term rewards when one of their own moves on to tackle a new career or pursue their studies.

"We're very excited for her, too. In a way, it's kind of sad. She's like our daughter," said Betty Bara, dabbing a tear from her eye.

Another worker is pursuing a degree in radiology, and a cashier also is going to school at West Texas A & M University.

"We've got a lot of college kids here. I can't think of everybody right now," Jennifer Bara said.

Jennifer Bara said the restaurant works closely with its student employees to ensure work schedules don't interfere with important studies and school activities like athletics.

"Pretty much, our rule is if it's school-related, you get it off automatically," she said.

Betty Bara said college isn't for everyone but noted that there are other career opportunities available. One worker struggled with his studies but later pursued a successful welding career.

Ashley Bara said seeing employees grow is a blessing in and of itself.

"It's more rewarding than anything to have somebody who uses this job as a stepping stone to achieve a greater success in their life," she said.

This is the first in a yearlong Celebrate Education series of monthly articles about Amarillo employers who are helping others receive an education or advanced training. Articles will appear the last Sunday of the month in the Amarillo Globe-News. To submit a business or employer for consideration, e-mail citydesk@amarillo.com.