‘A constant and caring presence’: Dion’s celebrates longtime employee ahead of move to Colorado

Dion’s co-founder Jon Patten remembers the day that Chris Wright started working at the pizza chain like it was yesterday.

It was October 1990 when Patten was told that Wright, an individual with intellectual disabilities and a high school student at the time, would be stopping by the restaurant with someone from an organization that helps connect people with disabilities with jobs. They were going to help Wright get acclimated and go through training during his first few days of work.

To Patten’s surprise, Wright arrived early and by himself, so Patten went ahead and set him up with a trainer. Everything went well, Patten said. That is, until he got a call saying that Wright’s parents were concerned and looking for him.

“What had happened is that Chris woke up with his parents, had breakfast, and then he had a bus pass, and he knew he was supposed to be at Dion’s... so he didn’t tell his parents. He just walked to the bus stop, got on the bus and came and worked for us,” Patten said.

“The lady that was supposed to train him... she came in the next day and said, ‘Oh, well, he’s already got it, so I hardly need to be here,’” he added.

Nearly 35 years later, Wright is still working at Dion’s and wowing people with his commitment to the job.

“In the 35 years Chris has worked for Dion’s, he’s called in sick maybe five times,” said Dion’s Chief of Staff Deena Crawley, citing one of Wright’s former managers.

After three decades with the company, Wright’s time serving customers in Albuquerque is coming to a close. Wright and his father will be moving to Colorado Springs this week to be closer to family.

Dion’s officials and staff members gathered on Tuesday at the Wyoming and Paseo del Norte store where Wright works to celebrate his tenure as one of the longest-serving Dion’s employees, prompting bittersweet goodbyes, laughter and tears at the early morning send-off.

“Chris, just truly, thank you so much for being an inspiration, for being consistent every single day. You really brighten up this whole dining room,” John Nuñez, general manager of the Wyoming location, told Wright during a speech. “Your impact has been everlasting and definitely something we won’t forget.”

Wright’s departure from the Duke City isn’t the end of his journey with Dion’s. He will continue to work with the pizza chain at its Colorado Springs location, where he will reunite with a former manager who also transferred to the location.

“It’s sad for me, mostly to leave, but moving on to better things,” Wright told everyone at the gathering.

Wright’s father, Donald Wright, joked that his son set up the Colorado job the same way he started the Albuquerque one — on his own and without parental opinion.

Wright, now 53, joined Dion’s through a work-study program a teacher introduced him to as a student at La Cueva High School, his father said. The program was the first of its kind at the school, and Wright was one of the first special needs employees Dion’s ever hired.

Wright started at a former Dion’s location on Academy but transferred to his current store in 2001, where he’s been ever since. Wright has been at Dion’s so long that in 1992 he worked at the former Academy store alongside current CEO Mark Herman, who was then the general manager.

“Chris has been a constant and caring presence at (Dion’s),” Herman said. “Whenever he’s working, customers are greeted with a big smile. For the many who know him, that greeting often comes with a conversation about football and whichever team he’s rooting for that day.”

Wright’s first few months on the job were a bit of an adjustment, but today he’s known as the “king of the dining room,” Crawley said. Wright handles everything from dish washing to cleaning the dining room and assisting customers with refills or to-go boxes.

“Chris has the most consistent work ethic I have ever seen. He is ambitious to do more than the job requires. He always wants to clock in early, leave late, and do more,” said another one of Wright’s former managers, Shane Carmer.

Crawley estimates that Wright has served over 500,000 customers throughout his 35 years at Dion’s, many of whom, Donald Wright said, regularly recognize him when they’re out and about.

“He’s a very social person, and that has grown,” Donald Wright said.

Crawley said Wright, in return, gave Dion’s loyalty, consistency, humor, and, most of all, joy.

“His presence has strengthened our culture... and shown that the best teams are made up of people with diverse talents and experiences,” Crawley said.

Nuñez added in his speech, “Colorado is getting an amazing employee, and I’m so excited to see what you’re able to create and build out there.”

Co-worker Fey Forestt said he will miss the jokes that Wright leaves on the kitchen whiteboard every day, while co-worker Patricia Chavez said she will miss her conversations with Wright about Gordon Ramsay and his TV series “Hell’s Kitchen.”

“Chris is a great person,” Chavez said. “He’s definitely going to make an impact on Colorado.”

Wright and his father said the next chapter includes continuing to compete in the Special Olympics and maybe catching a Denver Broncos or Colorado Rockies game.

“It’s been fun getting to know new people,” Wright said of his time in Albuquerque.