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Austin EDUCATION SCHEDULE
August 4-5, 2o26
EMPOWER. EQUIP. CONNECT.
Marketing Strategies: How to promote your business through social media, community and raising brand awareness
Profit Maximizer: Check out these classes for tips on saving money, expanding menus and efficiencies
Mastering Permits & Compliance: Industry experts will help you navigate through permitting, legal issues and health issues to ensure your truck’s compliance
From the Exhibit Floor: Learn directly from exhibitors about their products and services before you hit the exhibit floor.
Talks, Trends & Tips: Hear from your peers about how they succeeded (and how they failed) and take these experiences for your own journey
Operators Masters Track: High-level classes designed for expert owners with multiple years of experience.
¿Habla español? ¡Tendremos traducción al español en tiempo real disponible para TODAS las sesiones educativas!
Filter by Track
Tuesday
9:00 AM
Profit Maximizer
Introduction
Sucess is Not A Guessing Game
Starting and operating a food truck takes more than just having great food! In this class, you will learn how to properly assess how your business is performing and correct it on the fly. Gain tools that will dramatically increase your chances of success and allow you to constantly improve and grow your business
Justin Prestidge
Custom Trailer Pros
Tuesday
9:00 AM
101's
Introduction
Developing A Menu That Makes Sense
A successful food truck menu is not just a list of items. It is a business tool. In this class, Bill Moore will teach the basics of menu engineering, showing how to evaluate menu items by popularity, profitability, food cost, contribution margin, and operational capacity. You will learn how to identify which items to promote, adjust, simplify, or remove, so the menu is easier to execute, more profitable, and better aligned with real guest demand.
Bill Moore
NSFVA
Tuesday
9:55 AM
101's
Introduction
Start It Up! Building the Successful Truck from the Beginning Copy
Start building your food truck business the right way. This session will help you avoid costly mistakes for permitting, licensing, inspections and commissary requirement compliance. Join the Q & A after for a wide range of subjects.
Mizrah Sharp
Dreams Gone Mobile
Tuesday
10:50 AM
Marketing Strategies
Knowledgeable
Amplify Your Outreach
Feel as if you've saturated the market share in your community? Learn to leverage your truck in PR and social channels outside your current area. Find out how to leverage food delivery platforms, regional food blogs and micro-influencers to generate buzz. Discover how pop-ups, partnerships with local businesses and event organizers can raise your truck's profile. Leave this session ready to look for cross-promotions that will expand your business reach.
Javi Maggiolo
HaveATacoTX
Tuesday
11:45 AM
Talks, Trends, & Tips
Introduction
Food Safety From the Food Truck Up: The Next Generation of Certification, Tony Dean
The food truck industry has changed how America eats—bringing creativity, mobility, and entrepreneurship to the food service world. With that growth comes the responsibility to maintain strong food safety practices that protect customers and support successful businesses. This session explores **a new generation of food safety certification** designed for today’s food operators. While traditional programs were built around large restaurant kitchens, food trucks and small food businesses face unique challenges that require practical, flexible training. Learn how EduClasses® and FMC® Food Managers Certification are helping modernize food safety education with nationally accredited certification, accessible training, and programs built with mobile food operators in mind.
Tony Dean
EduClasses
Tuesday
11:45 AM
Marketing Strategies
Introduction
Who Cares If No One Knows You
In today's market, having great food is no longer enough. If people don't know you exist, they can't become your customers. Social media gives every food truck owner the opportunity to compete with larger businesses, build a recognizable brand, and create lasting relationships with customers. Learn how to use Social Media, not just to sell meals- but to build trust, build community and build a brand that can grow far beyond a single truck. Discover how to make Social Media work for you – secure catering events, corporate partnerships, sponsorships, media coverage and collaborations with other businesses. Learn from an established truck owner how authentic videos outperformed highly produced content in building the business. This session will put you on the path to harnessing Social Media Tools as your most powerful tool for growth.
Rodrigo Lira-Rivero
The Food Truck Formula
Tuesday
2:30 PM
Operators Masters Track
Master
One State, One Permit: How You can begin the process to Statewide Mobile Food Vendor Permits
Want food truck owners to move from burdensome city-by-city and county-by-county health permits to a single statewide mobile food vendor permit? Drawing on Colorado’s successful model — where one permit now covers the entire state — attendees will learn the policy basics, coalition-building tactics, messaging for legislators and regulators, and a practical 30-day launch checklist to begin a campaign in their state while maintaining public-health protections.
Maximo Valdez
MAXIM Trailers Inc.
Wednesday
9:55 AM
101's
Introduction
Avoid the Mistakes a First Time Food Truck Owner can make
This session will help new food truck owners avoid common pitfalls—poor location choice, underestimating startup and operating costs, and neglecting permits, staffing, or food safety. Attendees will learn practical strategies for site selection, pricing, compliance, and consistent marketing to build a profitable, reliable operation.
Mark Holland
The Kitchen Incubator
Wednesday
10:50 AM
Talks, Trends, & Tips
Knowledgeable
Elevated Street Food: How to Turn Simple Dishes Into Premium Experiences
Great food trucks don’t just serve food—they create experiences. In this session, Chef Mariah Scott shares how to take simple, familiar dishes and elevate them through flavor layering, presentation, and storytelling. Participants will learn how to increase perceived value, stand out in a crowded market, and build a menu that feels intentional, memorable and worth a higher price point.
Mariah Scott
Geneva Blu
Wednesday
11:45 AM
Profit Maximizer
Introduction
Full Menu Profits: How Food Truck Owners Can Earn More without Working More, Davy Tyburski
Food truck owners work incredibly hard, but many are stuck in a cycle of long hours, inconsistent revenue, and tight margins. In this high-impact session, Davy Tyburski, America’s Chief Profit Officer®, shares proven strategies used across more than 15 industries and adapts them specifically for food truck operators. Attendees will learn how to increase daily revenue, improve cash flow, simplify their menu for higher margins, and create repeat customers, without adding more hours to their day. This session gives you practical, real-world strategies you can put into action right away to drive measurable results.
https://chiefprofitofficer.com/input
Davy Tyburski
ChiefProfitOfficer.com
Wednesday
1:30 PM
Operators Masters Track
Master
Marketing in the Off Season
As a food truck owner, navigating the slower months will be challenging, but with the right strategies, you can keep your business thriving year-round. This presentation will equip you with creative marketing tactics, from leveraging social media and partnerships to offering seasonal specials and catering services, ensuring a steady stream of opportunities even during the "slow" season. Leave with an actionable plan to maintain brand visibility, cultivate guest loyalty, and maximize revenue throughout the entire year.
Bill Moore
NSFVA
Tuesday
9:00 AM
Talks, Trends, & Tips
Master
Systems Beat Talent, Rusty Monson
Working 80 hours a Week? Work smarter not harder using tips from a past restaurant trainer who now owns several trucks and implements the same techniques with his truck employees. Discover how to take the playbook you'll receive in this session to your employees and develop consistency, transparency and an SOP that will save time and money.
Rusty Monson
Salt City Barbeque
Tuesday
9:55 AM
Marketing Strategies
Introduction
Customer Experience Is Everything: How Food Truck Brands Win Loyalty, Lines, and Long-Term Growth
In an increasingly competitive food-truck landscape, great food alone is no longer enough. The brands that win are the ones that deliver memorable, repeatable customer experiences at every touchpoint, from the first social post to the final bite. Discover how Frylicious grew from an idea into a well-known and respected food-truck brand across Orange County, California by putting customer experience at the center of every decision. Attendees will learn the real-world strategies Frylicious used to build trust, create buzz, earn five-star reviews, and turn first-time guests into loyal brand advocates. Get actionable takeaways that operators can immediately apply to elevate their own customer experience and grow their business, without adding unnecessary complexity or cost.
Eric Vonheim
Frylicious
Tuesday
9:55 AM
Profit Maximizer
Master
From Beyond the Truck to CEO - Building a Business That Runs without you driving every mile
Many food truck owners start their business because they love food, hospitality, and the excitement of serving customers directly. But what happens when the owner becomes the bottleneck? If you're still making every decision, working every shift, and solving every problem, you've built a job-not a scalable business.
In this engaging and practical session, entrepreneur, business coach, and culinary industry veteran Debra Oxman shares the mindset shifts, systems, and leadership strategies that helped her transition from working in the business to leading the business. Drawing on over two decades of experience building and scaling culinary ventures, Deb will show food truck operators how to move beyond daily operations and step into the role of CEO.
Attendees will learn how to create systems that drive consistency, build teams that take ownership, identify the key metrics that fuel growth, and develop a business model that creates freedom, profitability,
Deb Oxman
Savor Culinary/ Chef Deb Coaching
Tuesday
10:50 AM
Profit Maximizer
Introduction
Risks On & Off the Road...
Let's discuss the best practices in protecting your business and your personal assets when setting up your business and getting it insured. What are the types of risks and exposures present in the hospitality space more specifically mobile food truck business? Get suggestions on how to reduce those risks and exposures as you prepare your business plan and budgets.
Adam Miller
Aegis Insurance & Financial Services
Tuesday
11:45 AM
Profit Maximizer
Introduction
Your Food Truck Investment: How to Protect It
Catch the common red flags and scams before you lose your investment. Find out what to look for before investing, learn the due diligence steps before signing contracts or sending deposits and how to properly evaluate builders, vendors and service providers.
Miguel Pastrana
NEC LLC
Tuesday
1:30 PM
From the Exhibit Floor
Introduction
Use Wagyu Beef on Your Truck and be profitable
Watch a live demonstration of American Wagyu beef products and how you can use different cuts on your truck. Learn how you can cook up menu items that are profitable while adding to your marketability.
Michael Scott
Wagyu-x
Tuesday
3:30 PM
Operators Masters Track
Master
Refresh Your Food Truck without Losing your Core Identity
Dive into practical strategies for rotating menus, refreshing branding, and streamlining operations to keep loyal customers excited and attract new crowds. Learn how to test bold menu tweaks, use seasonal and local ingredients for buzzworthy specials, and apply low-cost visual and social updates that amplify your story. Walk away with an action plan for efficient menu cycles, pop-up collaborations, and operational tweaks that boost speed and consistency while keeping service fresh and memorable.
Daniel Shemtob
The Lime Truck
Wednesday
9:55 AM
Profit Maximizer
Knowledgeable
Faster Lines, Bigger Profits - Tech, Prep & Automation Strategies
Learn practical strategies to speed your service and boost your margins by designing efficient service lines, implementing apps for pre-orders and drive-through-style pickup, optimizing prep workflows, and selectively using time-saving equipment and automation to reduce labor costs. Attendees will see real-world examples, quick wins for menu and station layout, guidance on choosing affordable tech tools and machinery, and best practices to maintain food safety, quality, and customer experience while maximizing profitability.
Andres Echavarria
Takitos Con Sabor
Wednesday
10:50 AM
101's
Introduction
Start It Up! Building the Successful Truck from the Beginning
Start building your food truck business the right way. This session will help you avoid costly mistakes for permitting, licensing, inspections and commissary requirement compliance. Join the Q & A after for a wide range of subjects.
Mizrah Sharp
Dreams Gone Mobile
Wednesday
11:45 AM
Marketing Strategies
Knowledgeable
TV Segments Do's & Don'ts - The Food Truck Owners Guidebook
Learn how to turn a TV segment into a customer-driving moment from a Great Food Truck Race winner and former talk show host. Master the on-camera do’s and don’ts, craft a punchy script and hero shot, and stage your truck for maximum visual impact. Learn exactly what to highlight live, how to deliver a memorable call-to-action, and how to repurpose the clip into high-performing Instagram and Facebook reels. Walk away with tips for a ready-to-use script, caption sets, and simple production tips to attract more customers.
Misti Buard
Brand Appétit LLC
Wednesday
11:45 AM
101's
Introduction
The Pitmaster's Playbook for Food Truck Survival
The Pitmaster's Playbook for Food Truck Survival is a no-fluff, real-world masterclass designed for anyone wanting to launch, streamline, or level up their food truck operation. Taught by a working pitmaster and mobile-unit operator, this course digs into the systems, workflow, and decision-making that separate profitable food trucks from struggling ones.
Ben Hooper
Ben's Backdraft Barbecue
Tuesday
9:00 AM
Marketing Strategies
Knowledgeable
Camera Techniques and More for Food Truck Owners - Make Your Truck Stand Out
Up your photo game. Learn from a master photographer what drives traffic to your site, and your truck. Learn simple techniques for your cellphone or discover why you may want a professional photographer for dramatic presentations. Should there be photos of just food or food and truck or your staff at work? Hands-on demonstrations in the session will give you instant techniques to implement the next day. Then stop by the FTO studio to work directly with David with photos you have and get hands on advice right there and then.
David Schub
1676 Studios
Tuesday
10:50 AM
Talks, Trends, & Tips
Knowledgeable
What Sells Right Now. Food Trends That Actually Makes Money in 2026, Mariah Scott
In a fast-moving food landscape, not every trend is worth your time—or your money. In this session, Chef Mariah Scott breaks down the food trends that are actually driving sales in 2026 and shows how to adapt them to your concept without losing your identity. Come away being able to identify profitable trends, how to test new ideas efficiently and turn trending flavors into high-performing menu items.
Mariah Scott
Geneva Blu
Tuesday
1:30 PM
Operators Masters Track
Knowledgeable
Why Food Vendors Can’t Afford to Stand Alone Anymore
Food trucks, trailers, carts, tents, and mobile food vendors face confusing regulations, rising costs, inconsistent permitting, event risks, supplier decisions, and business mistakes that can get expensive fast. This session explains why food vendors don't have to operate as isolated businesses trying to figure everything out alone. The National Street Food Vendors Association was created to bring vendors and industry partners together through advocacy, community, education, and standards. Learn how the association helps operators speak with one stronger voice, access practical training and real-world resources, build better industry relationships, and support common-sense improvements that benefit vendors, communities, and the future of the street food industry.
Bill Moore
NSFVA
Wednesday
9:55 AM
Talks, Trends, & Tips
Introduction
Beyond the Permit: Turning Your Shared Kitchen into a Growth Partner
For most food truck owners, the commissary is a box to check — a permit requirement, a grey water stop, a monthly bill. But the operators who build the most durable businesses treat their shared kitchen like a business partner, not a pit stop.
In this session, Max Kunik (CEO, Wingman Kitchens), Bill Moore (Executive Director, National Street Food Vendors Association), and Ashley Colpaart (Founder & CEO, The Kitchen Door) walk through the full arc of the commissary kitchen relationship — from finding the right kitchen and knowing what to ask before you sign, to showing up as the renter kitchens want to keep around and tapping into resources most trucks never think to ask about.
You'll leave with a practical commissary-ready checklist and a clear picture of how to turn a required agreement into one of your most valuable business assets.
Ashley Colpaart, Max Kunik, Bill Moore
The Kitchen Door, Wingman Kitchens, NFSVA
Wednesday
9:55 AM
Marketing Strategies
Introduction
Community is Your Secret Sauce: Turning Local Love into Loyal Customers
Your biggest marketing asset isn’t a billboard — it’s your community. In this energetic and insightful session, Daniel Shemtob shares how food truck operators can harness the power of local connection to build brand loyalty, boost word-of-mouth, and drive real results. From cultivating superfans and making sure they are return customers to activating local partnerships and pop-ups, you’ll learn how to turn every city block into your billboard. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to deepen your roots, this talk delivers tangible tips and real-life tactics to help your community fuel your growth.
Daniel Shemtob
The Lime Truck
Wednesday
10:50 AM
Marketing Strategies
Introduction
How to Get More Food Truck Bookings
This course covers the essential building blocks of a strong online presence and the most common mistakes that prevent food trucks from getting booked.
You'll learn practical, proven ways to improve your visibility, build trust with potential customers, and increase the number of booking inquiries you receive. We'll review real world examples, success stories, and case studies from food trucks that are consistently winning more business online.
We'll also discuss how partnering with Food Truck Club can help food truck owners reach more customers, generate additional catering opportunities, and create a reliable stream of revenue without adding more work to their plate.
Whether you're just getting started or looking to grow an established food truck business, you'll leave with actionable strategies you can implement immediately to drive more bookings, strengthen your online presence, and build a more profitable food truck business.
Cody Lee
Food Truck Club
Wednesday
11:45 AM
Talks, Trends, & Tips
Introduction
Open Q & A with Bill Moore & Justin Prestidge
This open Q&A session gives you the chance to learn from industry experts Bill Moore and Justin Prestidge. Bill has over 40 years of experience in the food service industry, has authored several books, and now leads a non-profit organization created to help food truck operators succeed - the National Street Food Vendors Association (NSFVA). Some call Bill the Godfather of food truck operations.
Justin is the founder of Custom Trailer Pros, which he started in 2012 with a desire to help those looking to get into the exciting food truck industry. His company has helped countless food entrepreneurs get rolling with their dreams! Justin has also been a small business coach since 2018, which has allowed him to partner with startups to dramatically increasing their likelihood of success.
Bill and Justin have worked closely together to create a library of resources designed to help those in this industry succeed, and they are very excited to answer any questions that come up in this session.
Justin Prestidge
Custom Trailer Pros
Wednesday
12:30 PM
Operators Masters Track
Master
Brand Yourself, not Just Your Truck
Brand Yourself, not just Your Truck
This session follows Chef Javi's journey from truck owner to personal brand, showing how he becomes the face of events and a go-to culinary personality at stadiums, concerts and festivals. Discover strategies for leveraging non-food activations, sponsorship and experiential moments to amplify your visibility beyond the truck. Lean into Chef Javi's social media playbook and use it to turn on-site buzz into followers, bookings and media opportunities. Create your own recognizable brand to command premium events and partnerships.
Javi Maggiolo
HaveATacoTX
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