Wendi Boutwell couldn’t stop smiling.

The Onycha resident and general manager at Taco Bell in Andalusia looked right at home as she made her way around her new store Wednesday.

“I love Taco Bell for one thing,” Boutwell said. “This company has good franchises and is a great company to work for. They take care of their people, and give you the tools to be successful. I’ve got all of these people here giving me support. I just really like that.”

As the general manager, Boutwell is responsible for the operation of the restaurant and building a team that provides customers with a good food and friendly experience.

Prior to working at Taco Bell, Boutwell was the store manager at the Burger King in Andalusia. At 16, she started her professional career as a cashier at Hardee’s. Then, she ran a place in Montgomery called Gorin’s Homemade Ice-cream, where she worked to become store manager.

After fulfilling her working sweet tooth, Boutwell worked for a hair salon company for 17 years as a manager and district manager. She then went to work a little closer to home at Bondy’s Enterprise Toyota as a salesperson and service writer.

Before working at Burger King, Boutwell worked at Pizza Hut in Enterprise.

Boutwell said it took a lot of hard work to advance in her work.

“It’s about showing initiative and thinking outside the box,” she said. “The little cliches, those are things that you do. You work hard, do the job when it needs to be done and how it needs to be done.”

As the manager here, Boutwell said she has plans to become involved in the community.

“Taco Bell works with Boys and Girls Clubs,” she said. “We raise money for them. There’s a lot of programs for teenagers. I do intend to be a visible face in the high schools, and whatever things we can participate in, we will. We definitely plan on being a big part of the community.”

Boutwell called her working life a success story because right after high school, she went straight to work.

The most important things in her life are her husband, Junior, and her son, Tony, she said.

Taco Bell in Andalusia opens tomorrow, Thurs., April 2. The store will be open from 7 a.m. until 1 a.m., Sunday through Thursday, and 7 a.m. until 2 a.m., on Friday and Saturday.