Ford The Rock

Hosted by Edward McCullough

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Episodes

Latest episode

May 2026

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EN-US

About the show

Ford The Rock Podcast is brought to you by The Element of Rockford. Join us as we talk to Community Leaders, Artists, Entrepreneurs, and people in the know about what it takes to develop a thriving community.

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33 recent

May 8, 20261 hr 1 min

Bobby Walsh

Born and raised in Wellesley, Massachusetts, today’s guest has never been afraid to bet on himself. After a few years at the University of New Hampshire, he made a life-changing move at just 20 years old—heading to Chicago to work on the legendary futures trading floor at the Chicago Board of Trade, right in the middle of one of the most intense, high-pressure environments in the country.In 2008, he pivoted and opened his first restaurant back in Wellesley. Like many business owners during the recession, he faced enormous challenges and ultimately sold the restaurant in 2010. Instead of slowing down, he pivoted again.Bobby jumped into real estate and started building an entirely new career from the ground up. Then, in 2016, he and his family relocated to Rockford to raise their young children, which opened the door to the next chapter of his story.In 2017, Bobby joined SupplyCore as their in-house real estate broker. He was in charge of all their local real estate, logistics, warehousing, and property management. He spent three years there and departed in 2020.In 2020, he partnered with Chris Manuel to expand real estate development into residential rehabbing and also took over all property management for CMM & Associates. He spent two years there, leaving in 2022.In the fall of 2022, he decided to go back to selling real estate full-time and joined Dickerson Nieman.And now he has two major projects on North Main Street on Rockford's Northwest side.

April 1, 202642 min

Josiah Vander Hayden

Today on the podcast, we’re joined by Josiah Vander Heyden, a realtor, entrepreneur, and builder with a vision for what’s next. He’s been hard at work developing the Union event space and its bar, helping create a destination that’s bringing new energy to the community. But that’s just one piece of the story. Josiah has also launched a new company focused on prefab homes, tapping into a growing market and rethinking how housing can be built more efficiently and affordably. In this episode, he shares insights into the prefab housing industry and talks about his plans to scale the business across the region.

December 9, 202554 min

Paul Sletten

Paul Sletten knew early on that the restaurant business was where he belonged. He began his culinary journey as a young apprentice at Café Patou, learning the art of fine dining under Chef Philippe Forcioli, and eventually rising to the role of sous chef. Building on that foundation, Paul took the leap into ownership with Brio, which would later become Abreo, his signature restaurant and a cornerstone of Rockford’s dining scene. From there, he expanded his creative reach with Social Urban Bar, ventured into the food truck scene with Disco Chicken, and added a sweet twist with his ice cream truck, Bad Humor. Most recently, Paul opened Harvey Wallbangers in the former Irish Rose location—continuing his commitment to bringing fresh, inspired food experiences to his favorite part of the city: historic downtown Rockford.

July 31, 20251 hr 1 min

Amy Chatfield, Ad Vice Marketing

Welcome back to the Ford the Rock podcast by The Element of Rockford. Today, I’m catching up with someone who’s been on the show before, and since then, a lot has changed.Last time we talked, she was the VP at Ad Vice Marketing. Now? She’s running the whole show as President.She’s also a mom to an 18-year-old son, leads a small but mighty team of nine—all women—and she’s making some waves in the digital marketing world.We get into what it’s really like running your own company, the pressure that comes with it, and how she’s navigating it all with honesty, humor, and hustle.

July 31, 202551 min

Kate Wirth, Autism & Advocacy

Welcome to Ford the Rock, presented by The Element of Rockford. Today's guest is Kate Wirth. Kate is a business owner, professional, and advocate. At 40 years old, she was also diagnosed with Autism. In this episode, Kate guides us through her journey of understanding herself, redefining her strengths, and advocating for awareness and acceptance.

May 1, 202550 min

Dave Pedersen, Maze Books

This episode's guest is a truly unique individual with a diverse background. Dave Pedersen served in the U.S. Army as both a Military Police officer and a Public Relations specialist. Now, he’s the proud owner of Maze Books, located on East State Street in downtown Rockford. Dave is passionate about doing everything right here in Rockford, including publishingbooks. Maze Books has also become a vibrant “third space” for the community, hosting a variety of special events. Take a listen as Dave shares his fascinating journey from soldier to bookseller.

March 21, 20251 hr 2 min

Eric Wilson

Eric Wilson of the Crusader Clinic Foundation joins us for this episode. Eric is a longtime Rockford resident with a diverse background, including acting alongside his daughter at the Rock Valley College’s Starlight Theatre. Before becoming the head of the Crusader Clinic Foundation, he was a news anchor at a local TV station. Join us as we explore Eric's experiences in Rockford and delve into the workings of one of the city's leading health service providers.

March 10, 20251 hr 1 min

Brent Scott and Ita Reilly, Rockford Community Bank

Today's Ford the Rock podcast episode features Brent Scott and Ita Reilly. Brent is the President of Rockford Community Bank, and Ita is a Vice President and Regional Branch Manager. Both have a long history in the banking industry. This episode highlights the only bank in Rockford that includes "Rockford" in its name. Please enjoy this entertaining and informative episode.

December 21, 202442 min

Pat Alberto of 27Aluna

Today's guest is Pat Alberto, the owner of 27Aluna in downtown Rockford. He grew up in the Philippines and moved here when he was 18. His is an interesting background story. Pat began his career journey at fast food joints before landing a job at Octane restaurant, the predecessor to 27Aluna in the space on N.Main St. He started as a dishwasher and part-time cook and then moved on to Abreo, where he connected with and learned from Paul Sletten, Abreo’s owner. Paul mentored Pat until he became Abreo’s sous chef, and once he’d spent several years there, he was ready to go out on his own. When Dan and Michelle, owners of Octane, offered him a position, Pat jumped at the opportunity. He became head chef and then later purchased the restaurant. With dedication and hard work, Pat managed to survive through COVID and ultimately created 27Aluna.

October 17, 202451 min

Jen Spencer, Principal, Studio GWA

Our guest for this episode of Ford the Rock is Jennifer Spencer, a principal at Studio GWA. Jennifer grew up just outside of Madison, WI. She completed her undergraduate work at the University of Minnesota and received her graduate degree from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. Upon graduation, Jen accepted a position working for Rockford architect Gary Anderson. We’ll discuss her love of Rockford and GWA’s current work, including the Rockford Public Library.