Chamber Spotlight - Brian Moreno

Name: Brian Moreno
Company Name: McDonald’s of Othello
Title: Owner
Years at Company: 9

What inspired you to pursue a career in this field?
Being a second generation restaurateur, joining the hospitality industry was an easy decision having grown up in the business.

What are three things you use at work every day?
Slack (mobile app), my Surface laptop and a pen. Pens are like gold in restaurants and you’re somehow always losing yours.

What was your first job?
The Tri-City Americans was my first job outside of the restaurant. I loved my time there, the people and the connections, it’s an immensely positive chapter in my life.

How do you spend your free time? There is no free time. I just finished my master’s program, I serve on several boards including as chair of the Washington State Commission on Hispanic Affairs. Somewhere in there is time for local hockey and being with my family and our many dogs a la Mikey’s Chance Canine Rescue.

What did you want to become as kid?
A marine biologist

Would you prefer to travel back in time or into the future?
I’ll go with future. It would be interesting to see the effects of our decisions today at a later time.

How long have you lived in the Tri-Cities? 
Roughly 14 years.

Where is your hometown?
Born in Denver but raised in Othello.

Do you have any special talents?
I’ve been told I ask great questions, we’ll go with that.

One piece of advice you’d give a young person that wants to get into your field?
Don’t be like me and avoid others who tell you to do what they did. We all have very unique conditions ranging from the genetic lottery to who our parents were, where we were born and so on. Do what’s best for you, learn from others but be sure you’re solving for your problems and not someone else’s.

What was the first concert you attended?
Weezer. My sister brought me to their show at WSU during her undergrad and it was amazing.

What excites you the most about the direction of the Tri-City Regional Chamber?
​That they’re solving for community problems and not getting stuck in the weeds. We need to take that broader perspective and recruit the skills, resources, and experiences of others to provide innovative solutions back to our community.