Texas Business Minds

In his 56-year career in commercial real estate, Lou Cushman has seen and done it all- nationally and internationally. While technology has transformed many industries, it's still hard work and good old fashioned customer service in commercial real estate, and nobody exemplifies that more than Cushman. In this episode, he sits down with HBJ Reporter Jeff Jeffrey to share his forecast for the...

Former Texas Congressman and CIA Agent Will Hurd connects with SABJ Managing Editor Ed Arnold to offer his insight for business leaders looking to grown the next generation of talent. Straight from the pages of his new book "American Reboot", Hurd shares from his expertise in cybersecurity and technology, providing fresh ideas for our audience.

Environmental, Social and Governance Investing, or ESG, is top of mind. But how do investors and their clients realize the value and return of their investment? In this episode, ABJ Managing Editor Will Anderson invites Longevity Partners Founder & CEO Etienne Cadestin to share how he and his global team are providing transparency and accuracy on assets.

Customers are clearly in charge in today's marketplace, and retailers must recognize and embrace this fact in order to survive. In this episode, DBJ Managing Editor Rob Schneider welcomes Joel Bines, Managing Director at AlixPartners, and author of "The Metail Economy" to share his 6 C's, and why a small diner in Dallas is his favorite restaurant in America.

University of Texas San Antonio didn't have to look far to find a national expert to fill their new role as VP of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Dr. Chiquita Collins, nationally recognized for her work in health disparities driven by underlying social and economic inequities, was already serving a part-time role at the school. In this episode, SABJ Managing Editor Ed Arnold invites Dr. Coll...

In spite of significant venture capital flowing into Austin, women entrepreneurs and founders are still drastically underserved. That's where Beam Founders Network and Beam Angel Network step in.  In this episode, ABJ Managing Editor Will Anderson invites CEO and Executive Director Leigh Christie to share what Beam is doing in Austin and San Antonio, and share her own professional journey as...

The YMCA of Greater Houston is much more than just a "gym & swim". The organization is the third largest Y in the country, serving  almost 177,000 families.  In this episode, HBJ Managing Editor Jonathan Adams invites CEO Stephen Ives to share how he and his team navigated the pandemic, innovated, and are setting an example for other YMCA's across the nation. 

This iconic American brand is based in Plano and well known for its stuffed crust pizza & wings. But it's people that COO Chequan Lewis is focused on- delivering an exceptional experience for his franchise owners and they, in turn, for customers across the nation. In this episode, DBJ Managing Editor Rob Schneider invites Lewis, who grew up in Watauga, to share his homegrown success story...

He was the first kid in his family to go to college, and his parents wouldn't let him take on debt to finance his education. Dr. Abel Chavez has first-hand, real life experience navigating the challenges many of his students and their families face as he takes over as President at Our Lady of the Lake University. From a business perspective, Dr. Chavez is keenly aware of the role OLLU plays i...

Jevon McCormick literally wrote the book on success, overcoming personal obstacles he gladly shares to inspire his tribe, and others. In this episode, ABJ Managing Editor Will Anderson invites McCormick to narrate his winning strategy, revealing how and why Scribe Media has grown when the literary industry at-large faces challenges.

Left for dead in the early days of the pandemic retail has bounced back in a big way, particularly in Houston, due to specifics about the city and its growth. In our 100th episode, HBJ Managing Editor Jonathan Adams invites Jason Baker of Baker Katz to explain what makes Houston unique, what's driving the robust retail sector, and the outlook for 2022 and beyond.

Texas is THE place to be and there's plenty of competition within our state for convention and tourism dollars. In this episode, SABJ Reporter Karly Williams connects with Visit San Antonio President & CEO Marc Anderson. The new leader shares what he and his team are doing to lure conventions and tourists back as the city looks to move past the pandemic and welcome visitors from around th...

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said "The world is plentiful with honey, but only the humble bee can collect it".  Nothing could be more true when recounting the story of Nathan Sheets, who humbly helped a local honey producer as a side gig, then bought the small company for $10,000. That was 1997, and in this episode DBJ Managing Editor Rob Schneider invites Sheets to share the remarkable stor...

With health & wellness top of mind in the new year, ABJ Managing Editor Will Anderson welcomes Restore Hyper Wellness Co-Founder & CEO Jim Donnelly to share the growth and vision of his Austin-based company. Restore provides proactive wellness solutions, including cryotherapy,  IV drip and red light therapy in an accessible, affordable franchise model. Donnelly retraces the path that led h...

He built an internet e-commerce juggernaut that sold to The Home Depot, but Jay Steinfeld isn't kicking back on the beach.  He's doubling down, sharing his insight, advice and inspiration in his book which features "The 4 Principles for Profit and Prosperity". In this episode, Jay's enthusiasm is contagious, as he joins HBJ Managing Editor Jonathan Adams to relate success...

TaskUs provides customer support services to fast-growing tech companies including Uber, Netflix, Coinbase and Zoom. Led by childhood friends Bryce Maddock and Jaspar Weir, the company went public in June, one of the few tech IPO's to actually show a profit. So how did they do it? In this episode, Weir joins SABJ Innovation Reporter Donna Provencher to share how and why they bootstrapped earl...

You gonna EAT your cornbread? That line from the movie "Life" provided the inspiration for the name Cornbread Hustle, Cheri Garcia's staffing agency offering background-friendly jobs to people with a criminal history and those in recovery. EAT stands for Empowerment, Accountability & Transparency, and no one knows this, or lives it, better than Garcia. In this inspirational conv...

Just when things seemingly couldn't get any hotter in the Central Texas Tech Hub, Samsung selected tiny Taylor for it's new semiconductor manufacturing facility. Samsung's $17 billion investment is its largest ever in the US, and solidifies the Silicon Hills as the home of American tech manufacturing. In this episode, Austin Business Journal Managing Editor Will Anderson invites Aus...

For years Heather Houston has had to explain that her name isn't pronounced "Houston" like the city--- it's How-ston. Having a familiar surname in this city hasn't hurt, no matter how you say it. Heather and her team at Scenic Houston are making an impact on the city's skyline. In this episode, she shares her career journey and goals with Houston Business Journal Mana...

You can't miss their bright, fresh products in your neighborhood produce section and for many, a trip to the grocery store isn't complete without NatureSweet tomatoes in the bag. In this episode, NatureSweet President & CEO Rodolfo Spielmann joins SABJ Producer Karly Williams to share how this homegrown company continues to deliver quality products while avoiding the impact of labor...

Pediatric mental health was a top concern for many professionals, even prior to the pandemic. COVID-19 underscored that, and Dr. Baruch Williams seized the moment to leverage her passion for helping young people. In this episode, HBJ Managing Editor Jonathan Adams profiles Dr. Williams, one of our 2021 Women Who Mean Business honorees.

Whether you're ordering a Super Monster Burrito,, a fresh salad, or a WeeBird quesadilla for your kiddo, Freebirds World Burrito aims to please and has ambitious plans to expand beyond brick & mortar. What's old is new again, as the fast-casual chain looks to add robotic burrito bowl vending machines in apartment & office buildings, and potentially airports and hotels as well. In...

If you're looking for words of wisdom from a  young CEO, you're downloading the right podcast. W. Joe DeMiero shares leadership takeaways that any business owner or executive, from a small business to a multi-national corporations can implement. Joe's worked with the best and brightest business leaders in America. In this episode with DBJ Managing Editor Rob Schneider, Joe compares...

With lessons learned from Plano, Frisco and McKinney, Anna is next in line for explosive growth along the I-75 corridor. Mayor Nate Pike is juggling his day job, a young family, and the demands of leading what was once a small town into thriving community with infrastructure to support thousands of new residents. In this episode, DBJ Managing Editor Rob Schneider invites Pike to share how he'...

Tech talent from across America is pouring into Texas. And while Austin grabs headlines thanks to Elon Musk and other Silicon Valley transplants, San Antonio boasts its own impressive tech lineup and offers more bang for the buck. In this episode, SABJ Tech Reporter Jeannette Garcia checks in with Pathwire CEO Will Conway, who reflects on the growth of his group, it's recent sale, and shares...