Arnold Gacita of Petra Auto Products brings you Wheels, Deals & Meals, a new podcast that promises to dish on how to find the best food in the world with suggestions from business icons. With an exciting business leader in every episode, Arnold will get the inside scoop on their favorite places to eat, and places to see, as well as how they run successful companies and stay ahead of the competition. Tune in every Wednesday and subscribe to make sure you never miss an episode. Wheels, Deals & Meals – your source for all things good food, good business, and living the good life.
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September 3, 2026Episode 1846 min
S4: EP 18 Tim Rogers - Founder and CEO of The Thermal Club
This week on Wheels, Deals, and Meals, host Arnold Gacita talks to self made King of the Desert Tim Rogers. The founder and CEO of The Thermal Club in Southern California. Tim explained how he ran water utilities in Anchorage, blended crude oil in the California desert, supplied gasoline to more than 11,000 7-Eleven stores, and built a 487-acre racetrack that Ferrari and BMW now call home. He’ll tell you, without much prompting, that none of it was easy, and that the hardest one taught him the most.
August 19, 2026Episode 1733 min
S4: EP 17 Janel Baez - Publicist, Wealth Management, & Chief Correspondent for United World Leaders
What happens when a high-earning healthcare director walks away from security to follow a divine media calling? This week on Wheels, Deals, and Meals, host Arnold Garcia turns the tables on Miami media personality Janel Baez. Raised in Miami by Cuban immigrant parents, Janel spent years climbing the corporate ladder in healthcare sales and communications before making a high-stakes leap of faith. She shares her journey of going back to school for broadcast journalism, landing a vice president of operations role right out of college, anchoring political news, and stepping into finance. Now serving as chief correspondent for United World Leaders, Janel breaks down the power of listening to inner guidance, overcoming myopic expectations, and staying open to life's unconventional paths.Don’t forget to Like, Comment, and Subscribe for more Good Food, Good Business, and Good Cars!#WheelsDealsAndMeals #JanelBaez #Journalism #UnitedWorldLeaders #Broadcasting #LeapOfFaith #CubanAmerican #MiamiMedia #CareerTransition #FaithAndBusinessja
August 5, 2026Episode 1655 min
S4: EP 16 Gregg Reyes - Reytec Construction Resources
What does it take to grow a home office startup into one of Houston’s largest minority-owned heavy civil construction empires? This week on Wheels, Deals, and Meals, we sit down with Gregg Reyes, President and CEO of Reytec Construction Resources, Inc. Growing up as number eight of ten children in Denver Harbor with three brothers serving in Vietnam simultaneously, Gregg’s relentless work ethic was forged early on. From selling Christmas trees across 29 retail lots to managing massive marine steel logistics, Gregg eventually founded Reytec in 1996, transforming it into a powerhouse with 550 workers that has delivered over $1.5 billion in public infrastructure. Tune in as Gregg shares his journey from building his first taqueria to managing a $105 million pump station, leading with humility, and out-hustling the competition. You will love it!Don’t forget to Like, Comment, and Subscribe for more Good Food, Good Business, and Good Cars!#WheelsDealsAndMeals #GreggReyes #ReytecConstruction #HoustonInfrastructure #CivilEngineering #Entrepreneurship #MinorityBusiness #TexMex #HeavyCivil #HoustonContractors reytec.com @ReytecConstruction
July 22, 2026Episode 1537 min
S4: EP 15 Rob Melrose - Alley Theatre
What happens when a high-level math student reads an absurdist French play and decides to ditch business school for the stage? This week on Wheels, Deals, and Meals, we sit down on stage at the historic Alley Theatre with its visionary Artistic Director, Rob Melrose. Drawing from nearly 38 years of theatrical mastery, Rob opens up about how reading Jean-Paul Sartre’s No Exit completely redirected his life away from business school and toward a passion for directing, translating, and writing. Tune in as he details his creative process of selecting plays, stretching a European study grant to its absolute limits, and leading the Alley Theatre out of pandemic recovery into a triumphant new era of excellence. Don’t forget to Like, Comment, and Subscribe for more Good Food, Good Business, and Good Cars!#WheelsDealsAndMeals #RobMelrose #AlleyTheatre #ArtisticDirector #SartreNoExit #YaleSchoolOfDrama #TheatricalExcellence #GuthrieTheater #SienaFerrari #CreativeDirecting
July 8, 2026Episode 1439 min
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
June 24, 2026Episode 1348 min
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
June 10, 2026Episode 1234 min
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
May 27, 2026Episode 1049 min
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
May 13, 2026Episode 1037 min
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
April 29, 2026Episode 931 min
S4: EP 9 Manuel Leyshon - Loco Tequila
Welcome back to Wheels, Deals and Meals ! This week, we sit down at Amalfi Restaurant with Manuel Leyshon, the driving force behind Loco Tequila . From his early days in Mexico City to navigating the global spirits market, Manuel shares the story of how he helped build a brand that defies the status quo. In this episode, we dive into the "Loco" philosophy—a commitment to quality, pure agave, and a process that respects the land (terruño) above all else. Video Timestamps: 00:00:00 – Intro: Great food, great company, and the "Loco" spirit. 00:01:36 – Origins: Growing up in Mexico City, León, and Guadalajara. 00:06:33 – Career Path: From Pernod Ricard to the Automotive Industry. 00:09:31 – The "Loco" Adventure: Building a brand from ground zero in Monterrey. 00:12:07 – Strategic Growth: Why Texas and California are the keys to the U.S. market. 00:14:55 – The Truth About Tequila: Additive-free trends and why quality matters. 00:18:25 – Exploring Expressions: Blanco, Reposado, and Puro Corazón. 00:24:20 – Fun Stuff: "The Jalapeño" (his first car), Porsche dreams, and his love for Mexico. 00:30:20 – How to get Loco Tequila: Online and retail. Find Loco Tequila: Ready to taste the difference? Visit locotequila.com to find a retailer or order online. Don’t forget to check out their unique expressions, including the Blanco de Abolengo and the ultra-limited "Puro Corazón." #LocoTequila #WheelsDealsAndMeals #AdditiveFreeTequila #Entrepreneurship #MexicoToTheWorld #PremiumTequila #ArnoldGarcia #BusinessStories Subscribe for more conversations about good food, good business, and good cars!
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