I joined the Whataburger family in September 2018 after five years of active duty in the U.S. Army and currently serve in the Army Reserves. While on active duty, I served as a human resources officer with combat and special operations units. Through my time with those units and my experiences on two deployments to the Middle East, I realized that I have a passion for building relationships, helping people and problem solving.

Once I transitioned out of active military service, I was able to bring my skills and experiences from the Army to Whataburger as part of the Field Talent Acquisition Team. Finding a company that I can call home was very important to me during my transition out of active duty, and I couldn’t have found a better fit than Whataburger. Ashley Vinson

_________________________

I joined the Whataburger family after serving 20 years in the Marines as an infantryman before retiring in 2017. After retirement, I served as an operations manager for an auto sales company, but never really felt at home there. My uncle, who is also a veteran, had previously worked for Whataburger and loved it, so I decided to give it a shot and apply.

I believe my skills and experiences from my time in the military helped make the transition to Whataburger really easy. My time spent running a dining facility overseas gave me a basic knowledge of the food service industry, and my experience maintaining a supply and arms room gave me a great understanding of inventory, supply management, cleanliness and organization. Holding leadership positions within the military, including years spent as a First Sergeant, have prepared me to lead and manage teams.

I’m really excited to learn and grown with Whataburger, and I’m honored to be part of the family. Jake Singleton

_________________________

As a Battle Captain in the U.S. Army, I was responsible for the oversight of all operations in my area, actively gathering information to help Company Commanders in the field. In this role, I addressed enemy activity, coordinated resources and support for all forces, and was responsible for communicating and overseeing major operations. Now, I serve on the Incident Management Team at Whataburger as a Command Center Professional, where I’m tasked with assisting in the resolution of incidents, supporting our Business Continuity Plan and developing plans and courses of action for re-opening restaurants after the resolution of a business disruption.

There are several similarities in the responsibilities within my current role within Incident Management for Whataburger and my previous role as a Battle Captain in the Army. Through my day-to-day work, I’m able to use the skills I honed through military service to provide recommendations to prevent major incidents and identify the root causes of problems to better mitigate issues in the future. Rudy Saenz

_________________________

I joined Whataburger in 2016 after retiring from the Air Force with 20 years of service. During that time, I learned things that I've been able to use and share in my current role as a Field Organization and Talent Development Manager.

While assigned to the Air Force Honor Guard, I learned that perfection is the standard and there's always room to grow. My next role was as a 4-Star General's IT support where I inspired and empowered my team and depended on them to develop solutions. I then transitioned into an instructor role, where I taught advanced leadership concepts and learned to ask probing questions. My final position in the military was as First Sergeant. In this role, I coordinated with various departments around our base to ensure that our military and families were taken care of, and that our performance management system was efficient.

I use these skills and many others which I learned in the military when coaching and developing restaurant leaders at Whataburger. I can't believe I found another organization as focused on people's development and with such a caring culture. I am proud to be part of the Orange family! Stephen Sunstrom

_________________________

As an Air Force Veteran with experience in Aircraft Mechanics, I never thought that I would be able to transfer my skills to a corporate environment. To my surprise, my military experience helped me develop leadership skills which transferred easily to my current role as an Organization and Talent Development Manager at Whataburger.

Helping others develop themselves to not only to meet the needs of Whataburger, but to meet their personal needs as well, springs from solid coaching in the Air Force. My experience working on A-10 Warthog Aircrafts, and constantly turning wrenches for the cause was just the beginning of learning the importance of PRIDE in my work, CARE for my fellow Airmen, and the LOVE for my country.

Pride, Care, and Love are fundamental at Whataburger, which has made it possible for me to seamlessly transfer my skills, attitudes, and values from Air Force Blue to Whataburger Orange. I was inspired to be my best self by my military leaders, and I enjoy the opportunity to inspire Family Members to reach for what makes them their best in my current role. At Whataburger, I feel valued as a veteran and I continue to connect the past with the present while looking forward to what the company has to offer for veterans like me. Vaundee Arnold

_________________________

I joined Whataburger in 2012 as a Business Manager. The environment and culture of Whataburger matched my passion for learning, and my desire to apply those learnings to being of maximum service to individuals and teams here at our corporate office.

As an Officer in the U.S. Navy, my positions varied widely, but all of them required me to learn quickly so I could help those who relied on me. I worked for my superiors, but I served those in my charge. It was the passion for learning and the desire to serve, along with understanding who my customers really were, that I applied to all my positions in the military and still applies to my work today.

Here at Whataburger, we take Pride in our work, we Care about each other and we LOVE serving our customers. This is personally meaningful to me. The military set the foundations of learning and service for me, and I’m able to build on it here at Whataburger. Mark Kreipe

_________________________

Instead, each wished on a single Whataburger-branded candle while family, friends and Whataburger Family Members cheered.

Both the World War II veterans love them some Whataburger, so their families arranged parties to mark the milestones at their local Whataburger restaurants.

Wallace partied down on his big day – April 13 – at Whataburger in Malakoff, Texas. Palmer celebrated on April 15, and even Whataguy came out to the store in Lufkin, Texas, to join the fun.

Each party was filled with sage advice from the guests of honor and plenty of orange.

April 13: Honoring C.J. “Red” Wallace

Wallace stepped out of a stretch limo and onto a red carpet rolled out in his honor at the Malakoff Whataburger. “If you want to live a long life, you’d better get plenty of exercise,” he says.

Wallace’s grandchildren, great-grandchildren and Whataburger family fulfilled the WWII veteran’s wish of receiving 100 cards on his 100^th birthday.

After serving with the Air Force in North Africa, Italy, France and Germany during WWII, Wallace worked for General Motors for 27 years.

Wallace’s great-grandaughters were among the guests marking the milestone at one of their great-grandfather’s favorite places.

He says the bun is one of the best parts of his usual order: a #1 Whataburger with mayo added, minus onions and pickles.

“It’s special that he let Whataburger share his milestone,” says Shelly Lipe, the marketing director for Hablinski Investments, a Whataburger franchise.

April 15: Celebrating Wayne Palmer

Palmer, being greeted here by friends, agrees with Wallace about the key to a long life. “You gotta stay active, otherwise you’re not going to go very long.”

During steamy East Texas summers, Palmer keeps a half-dozen lawns mowed. Each of those takes about two hours. Whew!

Balloons, cards and banners marked Palmer’s big day.

He credits his faith for getting him through tight spots in life. One of those tight spots was D-Day on Normandy Beach in France.

At the Lufkin restaurant, the Whataburger Family knows Palmer’s breakfast order as the “Palmer Special.” That’s one scrambled egg, one pancake and two pieces of bacon. Other customers ask for it by name too!

Palmer’s cake was 100 percent Whataburger, even orange on the inside, and topped with a Whataburger French fry candle.

“We know how much Mr. Palmer enjoys coming to our restaurant,” says Maci Dover from the G.V.C.S. Whataburger franchise. “This celebration is just one way for all of us at Whataburger to show how much he means to us.”