At DRG, it’s go BIG or go home. In April, we proudly vocalized our commitment to making more room for women at the leadership table, where their voices and ideas can be prominently heard, shared and valued. With this, we launched our new Women in Leadership (WIL) Initiative and announced our first class of WIL honorees as just one of many moves in the right direction.

These trailblazers are special people in their own right who are at the forefront of changing company culture, just by being who they are, and confidently leading and inspiring the next generation of young women. And we haven’t stopped there! This month, we’re thrilled to have

new Senior Vice President of Human Resources Deb Wendorf and Director of Operations for Kansas City Christie Glasear join the team.

Without further ado, meet our newest female Senior Area Coaches:

Dion McKinnon, Senior Area Coach, Taco Bell – Reno

Dion joined DRG four years ago, right before the start of the pandemic. She started as Area Coach in our Las Vegas Taco Bell market, and now leads in Reno. She strives to be a role model to others, “helping people grow and achieve whatever their future goals may be.” 

“I feel so honored to be a part of an organization that has made women in leadership such a huge priority.” – Dion McKinnon, Sr. Area Coach – Taco Bell

Debbie King, Senior Area Coach, Taco Bell – Las Vegas

Debbie has been with DRG for seven years and Taco Bell for 25! That’s a long time to be trying to secure a seat in a male-dominant upper management setting.

When DRG acquired her former employer, Debbie says she became the first Restaurant General Manager to be promoted to AC. Now, she’s enjoying another first as one of the first females to rise above that title at DRG. To show the significance, Debbie is now responsible for 17 restaurants and more than 450 team members!

“I believe that every company should be run this way. We all bring something different and valuable to the table … I feel blessed to be a part of Diversified Restaurant Group.” – Debbie King, Sr. Area Coach, Taco Bell

Debbie, also an immigrant, credits her all-male mentors at DRG for making her feel valued and supported every step of the way.

Laura Fuentes, Senior Area Coach, Las Vegas

Laura assumes the Senior Area Coach position on the Arby’s side of our business. She’s been with DRG since 2019 and dedicated to the Arby’s brand for 20 years.

Laura says she takes great pride in DRG where she’s seen male leadership remain consistent in their assurances that being a woman will not be an obstacle. And so far, that’s true! According to her, DRG has offered ample opportunity and avenues for growth so long as she’s put in the effort.

“DRG showed me that I have more potential than I thought.” – Laura Fuentes, Sr. Area Coach

Responsible for more than 20 restaurants, Laura empowers others to reach their full potential too. She says that she appreciates working in an environment where other women make her feel welcome and valued.

At DRG, we want to change culture at every level. And we’re doing it!

To you, well-deserving women, thank you for paving the way for future female leaders and for proving that yes, you CAN do it. We salute you!

It’s a season of growth for DRG, and we knew the perfect person to help manage the job. He just had to be lured out of retirement first. Bob Schalow is a 21-year Taco Bell veteran who held 14 different titles during his tenure with the brand. Which makes him the perfect choice to lead DRG’s continued expansion into the SoCal market as our Senior Vice President of Operations in Southern California. Bob was recently brought in to manage a large acquisition and offer support to the team. “It’s a really exciting time,” he shares.

Bob believes an important part of his job is to make the new team members “feel welcome in our family.” Bringing on new restaurants, and the accompanying teams, is all about stabilizing, hiring and training. “Now, we are focused on taking it to the next level,” Bob says.

Competitive Spirit 

A father of two soon-to-be college athlete daughters, Bob took a sabbatical from a travel-heavy work schedule to be able to focus on his daughters and their athletic careers as a competitive swimmer and field hockey player, respectively. Perhaps being around the competition inspired him, because Bob soon found himself itching for a new challenge. And that’s where DRG came in. “I would have said ‘no’ to anybody else,” Bob shares.

“We want DRG to be the top of five stars across the country and in Taco Bell.”

DRG’s Southern California Market surrounds the heart of Taco Bell (founded in Downey, CA). So it’s more important than ever to operate at a higher level. And who would know better than Bob? He joined Taco Bell on the corporate side in 1995 and even met his wife while working for the brand. “I started with Taco Bell. I am going to finish with Taco Bell,” he asserts.

 

Growth Mindset

Bob understands that an expansion of 100 restaurants represents thousands of employees and lots of opportunity for growth. “We’re making an impact in people’s lives every day,” he says.

Which is why Bob’s focus is on continuing to make the DRG culture a winning culture, and one that people want to be part of. His favorite part of the job is interviewing the next generation of DRG leaders and promoting them “from a team member, all the way up.”

“I am having the time of my life. I love this brand,” Bob shares. A living example of DRG’s mission to positively impact the lives of our team and the communities in which we serve.

“We are looking to lead the way.”

Karlo Koska started working for DRG as a cashier at age 17 (a job that also included toilet cleaning duties), which is what makes his swift rise through the ranks to Senior Financial Analyst all the more impressive! Karlo excelled in his role so much, he was named the Top RSC Employee Of the Year and was one of the lucky attendees on a recent Champions’ Club reward trip to San José del Cabo where we caught up with him. 

“My Mom’s gonna be proud that I’m here,” were the first words out of his mouth.

Karlo started as cashier … and now he’s Senior Financial Analyst!

So what does a financial analyst do?  “I support the field with all their data needs,” Karlo shares. “I take all that admin work away from them so they can focus on … running the restaurant.” It’s a job that keeps him so busy, “everyone’s got me on speed dial.”

DRG’s Prodigal Son

Before Karlo became an analyst, he stepped away from DRG for what he calls “a nine–month vacation.” During that time, DRG continued to grow and there was an increase in opportunities in the analytics field. This sparked Karlo’s interest. Karlo was in the process of buying a house when DRG came calling. The timing seemed perfect! 

“They’ve shown up. Every time,” he shares.

Now Karlo is very happy in his role and enjoys going into the office every day. “Everybody’s pretty much family there,” he says. “I love having these guys around.”

Karlo says his job is all about helping people out, a dedication which earned him a place in the coveted Champions’ Club. 

“I think that’s what really got me here,” he says. “Being selfless in what I do.” 

Upon arriving in San José del Cabo, Karlo says he realized, “These guys really DO appreciate me …I appreciate them appreciating me!”

“These guys really do appreciate me.” -Karlo Koska, Senior Financial Analyst

 

For anyone looking for advice on how to achieve their own career success, Karlo says, “Always try to add value to the challenge we’re trying to solve. Being helpful and working as a team will bring everybody up!”

As for the future with DRG, “I definitely see an upward trajectory in the growth here,” Karlo says. A promising prediction coming from a financial analyst!

Hearing, “Good morning beautiful people!” takes on a whole new meaning when said from the sandy beaches of San José del Cabo, Mexico.

Last time we caught up with Pearly, she was working in her position as a Market Training Manager for DRG in (perhaps equally sunny) Fontana, CA. A restaurant veteran of 32 years, Pearly is known for being reliable and putting her heart into her work. Which explains why we most recently found her at DRG’s Champions’ Club reward trip.

Each year we welcome a new group of top performing leaders into DRG’s esteemed Champions’ Club and reward them with a special retreat away from the restaurant scene. This year, Pearly was able to bring her husband along to join in on the rest and relaxation. Although, adventure might be the name of the game, with Pearly citing camel riding, ATV rides and sailing as her favorite activities! “We made great memories,” she shares.

After eight years with DRG, Pearly still confidently declares her love for her job and for taking care of the guests as well as her team. THIS is how you become the best of the best.

“I am very grateful I am a part of this dynamic company,” she says.

The feeling is mutual!

If you want to be part of a company that rewards your hard work and dedication, consider joining the DRG team today!

Nothing makes a large scholarship check look better than a photo op with a football star! In a unique twist for this year’s celebrations, we were thrilled to surprise our 2023 Live Más Scholarship winners at wide receiver Davante Adams’ Youth Football Training Camp in Las Vegas (Adams and Taco Bell have an active partnership). 

Each year, the Taco Bell Foundation generously awards scholarships toward higher education to ambitious youth and Taco Bell team members all over the country. This year, the Foundation awarded $2.5 million to Taco Bell‘s own alone. We’re proud to have awarded $100,000 to our employees in addition to the consumer scholarships. 

Congratulations to these DRG Restaurant winners!

$10,000

Amadeo Guerra, Menifee

Anthony Mele, Las Vegas

Arnold Mendoza, Santa Clarita

Austin Tollenaar, Wildomar

Daisy Garcia Soto, Long Beach

Kristen Juarez, Los Angeles

Maria Palafox Gonzalez, La Palma

Melody Silva Gutierrez, Jurupa Valley

Yohanese Yilma, Las Vegas

$5,000

Evan Mertz, Henderson, Las Vegas

Francisco Romero, Indio

 

More About Live Más Scholarships

The application phase typically begins in November. Deadline for submissions is January 2024. For more information about the Live Más Scholarships for Restaurant Employees, click here. This could be YOU!

 

At DRG, we’ve devoted this year to a race to the top. But equally important is how we get there. We can’t be No. 1 without our people. And high performers need a little recharge before the next victory lap! 

Each year we welcome a new group of top performing leaders into DRG’s esteemed Champions’ Club and reward them with a special retreat away from the restaurant scene. Here’s who made the list for 2023. We lured these champions off the beaten track and into paradise for a few days in May!

 

Champions’ Club Trip to San José del Cabo

DRG CAN’T STOP, WON’T STOP: ONE TEAM. ONE DREAM. ONE DRG!

Meet the lovely Sarita Singh, an RGM who’s devoted her entire career to Taco Bell. And boy is it showing! Sarita is a two-time Golden Bell winner who also recently helped her Pittsburg, CA Taco Bell achieve Signature Restaurant status. Now, she’s the latest manager to be named Taco Bell’s GM of the Year, the top performing GM for the brand’s entire system! We’re beyond proud to see her in the spotlight!

For Sarita Singh, being named GM of the Year was a really proud moment.

Sarita says this is her life. “This” refers to her role at Taco Bell, regular night shifts and beloved chosen family away from home. She’s been with Taco Bell for 26 years and calls Store 30937 her “first house” because of how much time she spends in the workplace where she is loved and supported by her team and other restaurant leaders.

“I love my job.” – Sarita Singh, RGM

Surprise, Surprise!

For Sarita, this latest accolade was a total surprise. She didn’t find out she was GM of the Year until she was already in Hawaii, enjoying her much-deserved “top GM” spot on the annual Golden Bell reward trip. 

“Even my kids didn’t tell me!” she says (Sarita’s son and daughter were made aware of the forthcoming announcement). “It was really amazing. It was a proud moment.”

Sarita brought her daughter as her “plus one” on the trip. She was in for yet another surprise when she showed up to the airport and found out her son had booked a plane ticket to join them! You see, both children have seen Sarita work really hard over the years, especially as their father’s employment had highs and lows, and were involved in paying tribute to her (her son is featured in the video that was played during the presentation in Hawaii). 

For Sarita, an escape to Hawaii was amazing on so many levels. Other than when DRG whisked her away to Cabo last year for another reward trip, she’s not had a vacation away from Taco Bell in her two-plus decades of service.

“I’m really grateful for DRG,” she continues. “And my kids were more happy than me!”  

Sarita couldn’t believe the event setup in Hawaii. “Wow, that was for us!” she says, recalling how she felt in the moment, as she was excitedly taking photos of the tables and decor.

Sarita, at DRG, we think you’re worth all that fuss and more! Congratulations on this incredible achievement. We appreciate how you lead and inspire others around you!

 

Striving to be the best never gets old around here. We’re delighted to announce this year’s premier Taco Bells and good as gold general managers (aka Golden Bell winners). Congratulations to the following DRG restaurants and leaders for their well deserved recognition throughout the Taco Bell system and the DRG family.

Signature Restaurants

CALIFORNIA Store 30740, Santa Cruz, CA GM: Luis Romero AC: Mike Scheidegger Store 30752, Benecia, CA GM: Sara Trejo AC: Angelica Chavez Store 30754, Pacifica, CA GM: Janet Amador AC: James Aman Store 30757, Hayward, CA GM: Stephanie Howard AC: Diana Flores Store 30764, Freedom, CA GM: Teresa Marin AC: Mike Scheidegger Store 30766, Livermore, CA GM: Zafia Begum AC: Griselda Godinez Store 30774, San Leandro, CA GM: Maria Briseno Bernal AC: Diana Flores Store 30784, San Leandro, CA GM: Denia Pena Paez AC: Diana Flores Store 30785, South San Francisco, CA GM: Yessica Nieto AC: Chris Castellanos Store 30787, Redwood City, CA GM: Araceli Madrigal AC: Chris Castellanos Store 30788, Foster City, CA GM: Soledad Nestoso AC: Chris Castellanos Store 30795, Hayward, CA GM: Concepcion Avina Lopez AC: Diana Flores Store 30796, San Carlos, CA GM: Bryan Hermoza AC: Chris Castellanos Store 30807, Danville, CA GM: Mir Alam AC: Yiovani Rodriguez Store 30808, Alamo, CA GM: Zulaikha Ali AC: Yiovani Rodriguez Store 30810, Tracy, CA GM: Guadalupe Martinez AC: Griselda Godinez

Store 30937, Pittsburg, CA GM: Sarita Singh AC: Dolores Gonzales Store 32289, San Leandro, CA GM: Erick Ortiz AC: Diana Flores Store 37320, Danville, CA GM: Pedro Favela AC: James Aman Store 39790, Sylmar, CA GM: Olga L Mata Romero AC: Maria Villicano Store 39791, San Fernando, CA GM: Francisco Pina Romero AC: Maria Villicano Store 39799, San Fernando, CA GM: Gloria Valencia AC: Martha Medina Store 39810, Lancaster, CA GM: Juanita Zermeno AC: Teresa Jimenez KANSAS Store 34404, Overland Park, KS GM: Jennifer Guthrie AC: Albert Green MISSOURI Store 35243, Independence, MO GM: None AC: Layla Awo NEVADA Store 31896, North Las Vegas, NV GM: Alejandra Bonilla Mendoza AC: Connie Bejar Store 31915, Las Vegas, NV GM: Jesus Salazar Morales AC: Ali Orduno Store 32366, Las Vegas, NV GM: Darren Espy AC: Debbie King Store 34080, Las Vegas, NV GM: Christina Oconnor AC: Ali Orduno Store 34350, Las Vegas, NV GM: Allison Warner AC: Mark Peck

2023 Signature and Golden Bell Metrics

Signature Restaurants are restaurants that deliver best-in-class service, people and unrivaled culture, and have the fundamentals in place to serve delicious Taco Bell faves from open to close! 

To become a Signature Restaurant, strive to be a five-star restaurant all year long with a clear focus on people, customers, fundamentals and sales. Most importantly, strive to be a five-star restaurant all year long: 

By meeting the above requirements, the top 100 general managers and area coaches have a chance at Golden Bell status and a spot for the annual reward trip (most often in Hawaii!) based on:

• Average star standing for the year, rounded to the nearest half star;      
• Less than two integrity letters;
• Highest number of five-star periods;
• Best of the best ACs must have at least one restaurant in top 200 and an overall grade “A” for area span; and
• The top 25 ACs are determined based on the highest number of “A” periods.

Bryan Hermoza, General Manager
Store 030796, San Carlos, CA
Area Coach: Chris Castellanos

Gloria Valencia, General Manager
Store 039799, San Fernando, CA
Area Coach: Martha Medina

Janet Amador, General Manager
Store 030754, Pacifica, CA
Area Coach: James Aman

Luis Romero, General Manager
Store 030740, Santa Cruz, CA
Area Coach: Mike Scheidegger

Maria Briseno Bernal, General Manager
Store 030774, San Leandro, CA
Area Coach: Diana Flores

Sarita Singh, General Manager
Store 030937, Pittsburg, CA
Area Coach: Dolores Gonzales

Teresa Marin, General Manager
Store 030764, Freedom, CA
Area Coach: Mike Scheidegger

Zulaikha Ali, General Manager
Store 030808, Alamo, CA
Area Coach: Yiovani Rodriguez