Each year, Senator Mike Morrell of California’s 23rd District showcases 44 women for their service throughout his District in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. This year Senator Morrell’s ‘Woman of the Year’ from Riverside County is Sally A. Myers.
Sally Myers and her husband, Gary, have resided in Temecula since 1983 with their three children and now four grandchildren. The Myers are franchisees of Sizzler restaurants in California with locations spanning from San Diego to Sacramento. They are Joint Venture partners in Texas Roadhouse Restaurants in Menifee and Corona, a concept they fell in love with while their children attended Baylor University in Texas. They also own and operate the Richie’s Real American Diner Restaurants in Rancho Cucamonga and Palm Desert—a concept which was founded by Sally’s parents, Jack and Linda Williams. Sally’s parents have operated the Richie’s Diner restaurants in Temecula and Murrieta for over 24 years. The Myers are committed to their family business and are passionate about the hospitality industry.
Gary and Sally have re-vitalized and re-energized their Sizzler locations to the “New Generation Sizzler” through extreme and innovative remodels, in addition to their new Sizzler built from the ground up in West Hemet that opened in June 2015. The Myers’s generosity at their Grand Opening Ceremonies truly personifies a time of giving back by celebrating those communities who have supported them over the years. Their enthusiasm and dedication to their vision and turn-around of the Sizzler brand was noticed in 2013 when they were awarded the Spirit of the Entrepreneur “Best of the Best” Award by the Inland Empire Center for Entrepreneurship at Cal State San Bernardino, which recognizes the top businesses in the Inland Empire.
Sally Myers has also invested in several communities in Riverside County with her non-profit organization called Student of the Month Program, Inc. Myers founded the High School Student of the Month Program in Temecula in 1992 and has expanded the program to include Murrieta, Lake Elsinore, and Perris/Menifee. Sally works closely with the Chambers of Commerce and School Districts to coordinate the recognition programs each month. The program has become so popular that the Vista Chamber of Commerce, and the Hemet and San Jacinto Chamber of Commerce/School Districts under the direction of Karena Chum, have modeled her program. The program recognizes high school, college-bound seniors for their character, love of learning, and community service, or students who have persevered through challenging life circumstances without compromising their education. Myers shared, “the students and their families are a great testimony of how families work together through real life situations to make a difference. There is hardly a dry eye after each event.”
Students are selected from local public, private, and charter schools, and attend a breakfast or lunch in their honor. The highlights of the 9 monthly events during the school year are hearing the students share their personal stories to sponsors and community leaders. The Students of the Month in each respective community compete for a generous scholarship donated by numerous community donors, which is awarded each May. Myers’s Student of the Month program brings together a great cross-section of these communities to encourage and support youth for having a heart of service, going the extra-mile, and proving that good old-fashioned hard work and ethics is still what gets you ahead in life. Myers closes each of her events with a quote from author, John C. Maxwell about leadership and Influence.
In 24 years, Myers has recognized over 8,000 students. Those students today are Doctors, Lawyers, Nurses, Engineers, Teachers, First Responders, Military, Business professionals, International Leaders, Athletes, Non-profit organizers, Mom’s, Dad’s and so much more.
Senator Morrells’ awardees are nominated by members of the public from business leaders to colleagues and friends. Finalists are selected by a panel of previous Women of Distinction honorees. This year’s ceremony will held at the Orton Center on the University of Redlands Campus on Friday, October 16th at 5pm.