Restrocast

Rusty Bills, COO of Galardi Group (Wienerschnitzel, Tastee Freez), joins Ashish Tulsian, Co-founder and CEO of Restroworks, on Restrocast to share his path from busboy to the C-suite in the franchise restaurant business. He opens up about his early days in the kitchen, how hands-on leadership shaped his career, and why building strong relationships with franchisees is the foundation of long-term success.

Rusty discusses the realities of running a franchise in today's environment, from navigating California's $20/hour wage law to leveraging technology for operational efficiency. 

He also touches on how franchisee trust led to the creation of his leadership role, and why there's no substitute for learning every part of the business from scrubbing floors to managing store tech stacks.


Find us online: 
Ashish Tulsian- https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashishtulsian/
Rusty Bills- https://www.linkedin.com/in/rusty-bills-64b92998/

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In this episode of Restrocast, Ashish Tulsian, Co-founder and CEO of Restroworks, sits down with Chris Incorvati, CTO at Jack's Family Restaurants, to explore one of the most unconventional paths in multi-location restaurant technology. From a journalism graduate and restaurant GM to leading tech across 270+ QSR locations, Chris shares how curiosity, hands-on learning, and deep operational empathy shaped his rise.

The conversation spans pivotal roles at Legal Seafoods, Au Bon Pain, and Panera, where Chris helped roll out early POS innovations, in-house delivery platforms, and guest care systems. He also shares the origins of Panera's "friction team," built to eliminate recurring pain points and drive operational efficiency.

Now at Jack's, Chris is focused on drive-thru speed, kiosk pilots, and maturing the brand's tech stack, while remaining grounded in real-world needs. He talks openly about evaluating AI, learning from failure, and his evolution into a servant leader who believes in empowering teams, not micromanaging them.

Find us online: 
Ashish Tulsian- https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashishtulsian/
Chris Incorvati- https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-incorvati-7172968/

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Ashish Tulsian, Co-founder and CEO of Restroworks, welcomes Kyle Mark, restaurant tech leader and current head of technology at WOWorks, to Restrocast to discuss his career across enterprise restaurant operations. Kyle shares how his path started at Apple's flagship store, led through roles at Standard Market, Datum Technologies, and Fresh Kitchen, and brought him to WOWorks, where he now leads tech across a multi-brand portfolio.

Kyle reflects on transitioning from Apple to the foodservice world through roles at Standard Market, Datum Technologies, and Fresh Kitchen, where he helped lead a rapid digital transformation just as the COVID-19 pandemic hit. He discusses how delivery became a lifeline, forcing restaurant tech to shift from cost center to growth engine.

Now leading tech at WOWorks, Kyle talks about fixing POS systems that weren't set up well and how poor setup, not the tools themselves, is often the real problem. He explains that many failures happen because teams aren't aligned. Kyle believes restaurant tech should work together smoothly, and that "best-in-class" means choosing tools that actually fit your business, not just the ones with the most features.

Find us online: 
Ashish Tulsian - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashishtulsian/ 
Kyle Mark- https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylemark/

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Restrocast host Ashish Tulsian, Co-founder and CEO of Restroworks, talks with Joseph Unger, President and COO of GOSH Enterprises, the multi-brand restaurant group behind Lenny's Grill & Subs and Charlie's Cheesesteaks. Joe walks through his path across the restaurant industry, from frontline operator roles to running a brand portfolio at scale.

From starting as a sandwich artist at Subway to leading 100+ corporate restaurants at Taco Bell, Joe shares how his early exposure to entrepreneurship shaped his career. He discusses the leadership lessons learned from mentors at Yum Brands and his shift to innovation-driven roles at Reef Technology during the rise of ghost kitchens.

Joe discusses the realities of aligning teams with a shared vision, building quickly in founder-led environments, and the challenges and opportunities of non-traditional restaurant formats. Now at GOSH Enterprises, Joe is focused on scaling brands like Lenny’s Grill & Subs and Charlie’s Cheesesteaks while driving tech-led personalization across the guest journey.


Find us online: 
Ashish Tulsian - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashishtulsian/
Joseph Unger- https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephunger11/

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In this episode of Restrocast, Chad Mackay, CEO of Fire & Vine Hospitality, shares his journey from growing up around restaurants run by his father to stepping away into the corporate world, only to return with renewed vision and a commitment to do things differently.

He talks candidly about the pivotal moments in his leadership journey—surviving the 2008 financial crisis while building a flagship restaurant, learning from failed concepts, and the power of integrity and honoring commitments. Chad also reflects on the importance of a people-centric culture, his evolution into a servant leader, and how empowering others became the key to scaling sustainably.

From using technology to enhance the human experience to building teams that stay longer, this episode is packed with accurate, hard-earned insights for anyone in hospitality—or any people-driven business.

Find us online: 

Ashish Tulsian - LinkedIn 

Chad Mackay- LinkedIn 

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In this episode of Restrocast, Wing Lam, co-founder of Wahoo’s Fish Tacos, shares the secrets behind building a thriving restaurant brand for over 35 years. From starting small to scaling smart, Wing reveals how his unique approach to marketing, customer engagement, and business resilience has kept Wahoo’s relevant in an ever-changing industry.

He dives into influencer marketing before social media, his strategy of partnering with athletes and musicians, and how Wahoo’s became a hotspot for action sports communities. Wing also discusses the impact of delivery and ghost kitchens, why dine-in still drives restaurant profits, and the evolving landscape of the post-pandemic restaurant business.

With humor and real-world insights, Wing shares why experience-driven dining is the future, how he balances family and business, and the importance of building relationships with vendors, employees, and customers. He also talks about his California Love Drop initiative, which is giving back to the community while strengthening brand loyalty.

Find us online: 

Ashish Tulsian - LinkedIn 

Wing Lam- LinkedIn 

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In this episode of Restrocast, Ashish Tulsian sits down with James Walker, a seasoned leader with over three decades of experience in the restaurant industry. Known for thriving in chaotic environments, James shares his journey from managing restaurants to leading transformative initiatives in hospitality. 

He recounts memorable stories, like working with Chris Elliott at Cinnabon, and highlights the importance of honesty and decisive leadership in challenging situations.

James delves into his decision to pursue an MBA at Duke, discussing how it enhanced his understanding of finance and data-driven decision-making. The conversation explores the role of private equity in shaping restaurant brands, with James offering a nuanced perspective on balancing profitability with preserving a brand’s identity. 

He emphasizes the value of collaboration, franchisee support, and maintaining respect in high-pressure environments.

Find us online: 

Ashish Tulsian - LinkedIn 

James Walker- LinkedIn 

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Samer S. Hamadeh, the entrepreneur behind hospitality concepts Akiba Dori and Stereo Arcade, stops by Restrocast for a conversation with host Ashish Tulsian, Co-founder and CEO of Restroworks, about building a multi-brand hospitality group across Dubai and Saudi Arabia. From organizing his first music festival at 15 to designing dining and nightlife venues at scale, Samer talks through the creativity and risk-taking behind his work.

Discover how Samer transitioned from nightlife to the dining scene, building Akiba Dori, a Japanese-inspired street food concept with a modern twist. He delves into the challenges of expanding into Saudi Arabia and the importance of understanding local markets. 

Samer also opens up about his love for the “zero-to-one” phase of entrepreneurship, his aversion to traditional operations, and how video games inspire his creativity.

00:00:00 Introduction
00:08:17 From Saudi Arabia to Lebanon: A Journey  
00:15:30 Exploring the Corporate Events Market
00:23:31 Launching a Subscription-Based Model for Food
00:31:05 Importance of Hotel GMs in the Hospitality Industry
00:38:57 Evolution of Nightlife Venues in Dubai
00:47:01 Challenging Traditional Design in Hospitality  
00:55:15 The Vision for a Legacy Project  
01:03:35 Leadership and Organizational Structure in Dubai  

Find us online: 
Ashish Tulsian - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashishtulsian/
Samer S. Hamadeh- https://www.linkedin.com/in/samer-s-hamadeh/

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In this episode of Restrocast, Ashish Tulsian, Co-founder and CEO of Restroworks, sits down with John Peyton, CEO of Dine Brands Global, the multi-brand restaurant group behind Applebee's and IHOP. They discuss John's path through consulting, hospitality, and franchising.

John shares how mentorship at Starwood Hotels shaped his understanding of leadership and operational excellence, highlighting pivotal moments like implementing Six Sigma and navigating the leap from operations to brand leadership.

John delves into the challenges of becoming a first-time CEO at Dine Brands Global, managing iconic restaurants like Applebee’s and IHOP, and balancing strategy with execution. He offers invaluable advice on adapting to change, fostering collaboration, and staying grounded in a fast-evolving business landscape.

Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of John Peyton’s leadership journey and the insights that have driven his transformative impact across industries.


Find us online: 
Ashish Tulsian - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashishtulsian/
John Peyton- https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-peyton-74354b3/

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In this episode of Restrocast, Eric Slaymaker, the driving force behind Wingers Alehouse, shares his journey from the world of advertising to building a successful restaurant brand. With early roots in marketing for his father’s franchises, Eric developed a unique perspective on branding, which later inspired him to create Wingers. 

Eric dives into Wingers’ evolution, explaining how he adapted the concept into the popular Alehouse model to meet changing market demands. His conversation covers the balancing act between franchisee autonomy and brand consistency, Wingers’ feedback systems, and the importance of training in ensuring quality. 

Eric also reflects on leadership, sharing his commitment to sustainable growth and the continual effort to improve communication with his team. 

Find us online: 

Ashish Tulsian - LinkedIn 

Eric Slaymaker- LinkedIn 

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