Tag: Success Story

From Model to Chef Extraordinaire with Chef Bob Haney (Ep. 21)

From Model to Chef Extraordinaire with Chef Bob Haney (Ep. 21)

Could childhood memories and family recipes shape a successful business venture? 

In this episode, Jon Schuetz and Brent Connelly welcome Chef Bob Haney as their guest. He shares his journey from being a former model to pursuing his passion for cooking and starting his company, Heavenly Waffles®. 

Chef Bob talks about the inspiration behind the waffles, the unique ingredients used, and how they differ from regular pancakes and waffles. Bob also shares his story of being in the modeling industry, his encounters with famous personalities, his struggles with addiction, and ultimately finding a turning point in his life. 

Bob discusses:

  • The birth of his brand “Heavenly Waffles®” and how it is a game changer for professional athletes across America
  • His broad career journey: Modeling, bartending, and now a chef! 
  • The turning point within his career after having a dark patch
  • What’s next for Heavenly Waffles® and where you might find them in the future
  • And more

Resources: 

Connect With Bob Haney:

Connect With Jon Schuetz and Brent Connelly:

About Our Guest:

Chef Bob Haney is a chef instructor, and menu development consultant, now Founder and Executive Chef, of Heavenly Waffles®.

Haney started cooking with his grandma Glady when he was 4 years old.

Glady taught Chef Bob, or Bobby, as she called him, how to develop flavors, and taught him about flavor profiles. Glady was a meat and potatoes kind of cook, basics, with outstanding flavor, while Bob’s mom, Joanne, who also helped cultivate Chef Bob’s taste buds, was also an amazing cook. Mom Joanne, was more creative, and took more risks in the kitchen, helping Chef Bob think more outside the box.

Chef Bob cooked for friends and family but didn’t start working in restaurants until his early 20’s in Kansas City, then in Chicago.

While modeling all over the world, Chef Bob would always cook for people he met, giving away recipes he had created over the years, but never gave out his pancake recipe he had created, combining 3 ingredients of a recipe Glady made, and 2 ingredients of a recipe Joanne made. One morning, in Glady’s kitchen, making his famous pancakes there wasn’t enough of one of the ingredients, which was sour cream, but there was yogurt in the fridge, Haney though, “oh that will work” and years later Heavenly Waffles® were born.

The Sweet Success Story of Shandy Thorell’s “Shandy’s Swedish Bakery” (Ep. 20)

The Sweet Success Story of Shandy Thorell’s “Shandy’s Swedish Bakery” (Ep. 20)

Who doesn’t love a good business success story?

In this podcast episode, Jon Schuetz and Brent Connelly invite Shandy Thorell, owner of Shandy’s Swedish Bakery onto the show. Shandy shares her journey of starting her bakery business, facing financial hardships, and finding success through determination and unique offerings. 

They even discuss Shandy’s popular Scandinavian almond cake and caramel pecan rolls! She also highlights her active presence on social media and describes how it influences her business!

Shandy discusses:

  • Her story of being a small town girl with big dreams: The journey to “Shandy’s Swedish Bakery”!
  • The story of how the Covid lockdowns generated immense growth at the bakery
  • The journey of overcoming financial hardships: Her story of being a single mom with 4 kids and a precarious work position
  • How she stands out from competitors–both qualitatively and digitally!
  • And more

Resources: 

Connect With Shandy Thorell:

Connect With Jon Schuetz and Brent Connelly:

About Our Guest:

Shandy Thorell is the Owner of Shandy’s Swedish Bakery. According to the People’s Choice Omaha World Herald Award, Shandy’s Bakery is the #1 Omaha Bakery in 2021!

Shandy’s Swedish Bakery uses heritage recipes that wake up your taste buds with old fashion love. Shandy Thorell is also an author and wrote “Surviving Life: How To Turn Nightmares Into Dreams” which you can find on Google Books and Amazon!

Shandy shares her story of starting her business including her struggles, her triumphs, and the times she thought she couldn’t go any further. Shandy also entered the public speaking realm for quite some time and enjoys engaging in livestreams on social media to tap into this interest.