ONTARIO – A local Red Lobster manager recently accepted the company’s top honor on behalf of the restaurant.
Paul Lust, general manager at the Ontario-based Red Lobster, was among 32 GMs selected from more than 700 Red Lobster locations to receive the “Lighthouse Award” in September.
“Paul is a true leader who is brilliant with the basics of running a successful restaurant,” said Chip Wade, Red Lobster’s executive vice president of operations. “Paul embodies Red Lobster’s core value of hospitality and makes delighting guests a number-one priority. As a result, the Mansfield Red Lobster is among the top-performing locations throughout the country.”
This Lighthouse Award, part of the company’s culture for over 20 years, is presented annually to general managers throughout North America. Award recipients are recognized for demonstrating outstanding leadership and living Red Lobster’s core values of respect, integrity, genuine caring, hospitality, teamwork, excellence and fun – while also achieving top financial performance in the company’s previous fiscal year.
Lust, a 33-year-old Marion native, started working at the seafood restaurant in his hometown as a dishwasher 16 years ago.
“It started off as a normal job in high school, I wasn’t planning for it to be a career … but after a few years there I fell in love with the place,” he said. “Every Red Lobster I’ve been to has a family atmosphere.”
He was promoted into a management position in 2009. He worked at a location in Columbus for a few years before coming to Ontario, where he was promoted to general manager about 18 months ago.
“I’ve learned so much from the different managers that I’ve worked with,” Lust said.
He’s created his own management style by taking the best from other managers’ techniques.
Last year, management at the 2322 W. 4th St. Red Lobster also won the Lighthouse Award, but because Lust was only in his position for a portion of the year, he didn’t accept that award.
“To win this award back-to-back speaks wonders about the people who work here,” he said.
Lust mentioned a dishwasher who’s worked there for more than 40 years, and servers and cooks with more than 25 years of experience.
“This award is the result of a total team effort,” Lust said. “I’m proud of the way our Mansfield team strives every day to exceed Red Lobster’s high standard for quality service.”
Lust is married to Rachael Lust, who performs and teaches hula hooping across the United States and overseas. The couple has a 7-year-old son.
The Red Lobster that Lust manages is open from 11 a.m. to 10 a.m. Sunday to Thursday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Currently, the restaurant has an endless shrimp promotion going on until mid-November.
