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.

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.

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.