About
My name is Mark E. Keele.
I grew up fast. I learned about work young.
From age 8, I helped my Dad with custodial jobs before school. At 14, I started washing dishes at the Sambo’s restaurant on 4th Street and Keystone in Reno, Nevada.
I’d spend most of the next decade working for, and advancing with, Sambo’s. From dishwasher, I was covering Manager vacations by 16, while attending the University of Nevada, Reno. Higher education wasn’t for me. Restaurants were.
At 18, I landed a position that was rare then and unlikely now — I spent the next two-plus years traveling the country helping open new restaurants. Florida one week, California the next. New York, then Texas. All expenses paid. Crazy lucky. The people I met along the way were as varied as the parts of America I got to see — good times, good people, and a few characters I’ll never forget.
At 21, finally old enough to sign a contract, I opened a Sambo’s in Merritt Island, Florida as Partner/Manager. That kicked off a rapid rise. By 23, I was the youngest District Manager in the company — until I decided to leave over name, compensation, and leadership issues.
On a mentor’s recommendation, I joined Golden Corral. At the time, they had about 20 units, and I’d never set foot in one. I moved from Tacoma, Washington back to Florida, leaving Sambo’s at $45,000+ a year (1978 dollars) to go through training at Golden Corral for $2.65 an hour.
Insane? Maybe. But I was promoted to Vice President by 28, and left the company at 34.
I share this not to impress you, but to impress upon you: I lived a lot of life early.
I’m in my seventies now, and recently went through a triple bypass. Sometimes it takes something like that to kick you in the rear and finally get done what you’ve been putting off.
If you want the fuller story — the why behind formerdishwasher.com — read the Welcome letter next.
Thanks for stopping by.
— Mark