Wheels, Deals and Meals

S4: EP 14 Jennifer Bielstein - Alley Theatre

Hook: What does it take to manage a full-scale creative manufacturing empire behind the curtain? This week on Wheels, Deals, and Meals, we sit down on the stage of the Alley Theatre with its powerhouse new managing director, Jennifer Bielstein. With eight months under her belt leading one of America’s most historic regional theaters, Jennifer’s homecoming is a full-circle moment for a Texas girl who first found her theatrical calling during her high school days in Houston.Jennifer shares a spectacular masterclass on the operational grit required to keep a major regional theater thriving. Whether she was searching for restaurant work on her bicycle in Chicago after a sudden layoff, managing the marketing machinery at Steppenwolf, throwing outdoor concerts at the Lincoln Park Zoo, or handling elite leadership roles in Louisville, Minneapolis, and San Francisco—Jennifer has seen it all. Tune in as she and Arnold break down the creative logistics of set building, the magic of a resident acting company, testing cell phone sections in a live audience, and the profound civic value of sharing stories in person.Don’t forget to Like, Comment, and Subscribe for more Good Food, Good Business, and Good Cars!#WheelsDealsAndMeals #JenniferBilstein #AlleyTheatre #ArtsAdministration #RegionalTheater #HoustonArts #TheaterBusiness #SteppenwolfAlumni #StrategicPlanning #HoustonTexMex

S4: EP 13 Sol Scott - The Blend

What does a global logistics strategy manager do when he buys the world’s number-one rated cigar lounge? This week on Wheels, Deals, and Meals, we set up shop in one of our absolute favorite places on the planet: Blend Bar in The Woodlands. But this isn't just another look inside the humidors—today’s show is special because we are sitting down with Blend's new owner, Sol Scott. Sol’s story is a masterclass in combining high-level corporate precision with authentic hospitality. Named after the Spanish word for the sun, Sol spent over two decades navigating global logistics and supply chain strategies for ExxonMobil. In February, he took the ultimate entrepreneurial leap by acquiring Blend Bar—a world-renowned venue previously crowned the #1 cigar lounge in the world. Sol sits down to discuss the meticulous "white-glove" process of charring and lighting a perfect stick, the unmatched power of professional networking, and his vision for creating a premium sanctuary where every guest can completely disconnect from the noise and feel instantly known. Don’t forget to Like, Comment, and Subscribe for more Good Food, Good Business, and Good Cars! #WheelsDealsAndMeals #SolScott #BlendBar #CigarLounge #ExxonMobilAlumni #SupplyChainStrategy #WoodlandsBusiness #PetraAutomotive #WDM

S4: EP 12 Laura Murillo - Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

This week we sit down with the ultimate powerhouse of the Houston business community, Dr. Laura Murillo, President and CEO of the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Under her leadership, the Chamber has smashed membership records and become one of the most influential institutions in the country.But today, we are diving behind the scenes of her critical role on the board of the Houston-Harris County Sports Authority. Dr. Murillo opens up about the massive five-year collaborative effort, the strategic bidding process, and the intense economic choreography required to bring the world's biggest sporting event—the FIFA World Cup—right to Houston.Don’t forget to Like, Comment, and Subscribe for more Good Food, Good Business, and Good Cars!#WheelsDealsAndMeals #DrLauraMurillo #HoustonBusiness #FIFAWorldCup #SportsAuthority #HoustonHispanicChamber #EconomicGrowth

S4: EP 11 Ken Kades - McDonalds

How do you go from managing a single storefront to operating a massive multi-unit empire? This week, we sit down with legendary entrepreneur Ken Kades, founder of The Kades Corporation and Owner Operator at Multiple McDonalds. Ken has spent decades mastering the art of business operations, scaling his footprint to 80 highly successful locations at one point in his career. In this episode, Ken pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to scale a business. He shares his journey from an entry-level store manager to an operations director, detailing the exact systems, scaling frameworks, and cultural pivots needed to sustain a multi-unit empire. Whether you're trying to build your very first startup or figure out how to scale from 2 locations to 20, Ken’s operational blueprint is a masterclass in modern business growth. Don’t forget to Like, Comment, and Subscribe for more Good Food, Good Business, and Good Cars! #WheelsDealsAndMeals #KenKades #BusinessScaling #FranchiseOwner #OperationsManager #MultiUnitMogul #EntrepreneurLife #HoustonBusiness #McDonalds

S4: EP 10 Dan Shine - Automotive News

What does it take to lead the retail coverage at Automotive News? 📰🚗 This week, Arnold catches up with Dan Shine, a man whose blood runs with Detroit motor oil and newspaper ink. Dan takes us through his incredible career, from the fast-paced night shift at the Dallas Morning News to his current role overseeing the most critical stories in the auto industry today. Learn about the "hustle" of early journalism, the importance of industry networking, and why Dan will never look at a "harebrained" idea the same way again. Don’t forget to Like and Subscribe for more Good Food, Good Business, and Good Cars! #WheelsDealsAndMeals #DanShine #AutoNews #JournalismLife #BusinessStories #DetroitCars #PodcastLife