HOUSTON EDUCATION SCHEDULE
Past sessions from the July 29-30th FTO Expo in Houston.
Click Here for the Orlando schedule.
EMPOWER. EQUIP. CONNECT.
Two Days of Learning from Industry Experts, Meeting with Food Truck Suppliers and Networking with Food Truck Owners!
Explore our two-day schedule featuring expert-led sessions on Regulation & Law, Food & Truck, Business & Marketing, and Mobile Vendor 101. Gain practical insights and strategies to elevate your food truck business! Toggle through the topics below for detailed information.
​
¿Habla español? ¡Tendremos traducción al español en tiempo real disponible para TODAS las sesiones educativas!
Education Day 1
July 29
Health & regulations
9:00 AM - 9:45 AM
Tow it, Drive it, Push it? We permit It!
Presented By Christopher Lewis and Genesis Lopez of Harris County Health Department An Overview of Harris County Mobile Food Unit Permitting Requirements
10:00 AM - 10:45 AM
Insuring Your Business
Presented By Kyle Jude of Veracity Insurance Coming Soon
11:00 AM - 11:45 AM
Don't Get in Trouble!
Presented By Kim Way of University of Houston's Small Business Development Center Learn what you need to do to keep your business operation legal. This session will cover topics such as licensing and permits, sales tax compliance, and tax reporting responsibilities.
12:00 PM - 12:45 PM
Mobile Food Units Code Requirements
Presented By Eric Cooley, NICET, FEMIT, Harris County Fire Marshal's Office A must attend if you have a truck in Harris County, but even if you don't codes are very similar across the country. Don't miss your chance to learn directly from a Fire Marshal and ask your questions in person.
Education Day 2
July 30
Business & Marketing
9:00 AM - 9:45 AM
From Parked to Packed: Essential Branding and Online Tips for Food Truck Success
Presented By Mercedes Johnson of Food Magnet Unlock the secrets to transforming your food truck from unnoticed to unmissable with Mercedes Johnson from Food Magnet. This session will explore the critical branding errors that might be holding you back and the key online behaviors that attract food enthusiasts to your truck. Get actionable strategies to refine your digital presence and presentation, ensuring your food truck is the go-to destination for every street food aficionado.
10:00 AM - 10:45 AM
Marketing In the Off-Season
Presented By Bill Moore of Food Truck Training Group 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.
11:00 AM - 11:45 AM
Unlocking $10,000 Monthly Revenue with a Few Simple Steps
Presented By Misti Buard of Brand Appetit Learn a step-by-step approach to navigate the competitive industry and establish a successful business. Find out how to identify which audience desires your menu, approach a company, secure a catering opportunity and become a preferred vendor.
12:00 PM - 12:45 PM
How to Profitably Price your Menus
Presented By Ben Simmons of Table Needs Get actionable insights on how to use real data to profitably price your menu. Learn from industry best practices and discover how to use the Menu Profability calculator from Table Needs.
CAMPFIRE SESSIONS day 1
1:00 PM - 1:20 PM
Permanent Spot vs Mobile; Food Truck Parks
1:30 PM - 1:50 PM
How do you secure your truck?
2:15 PM - 2:35 PM
Pre-orders & Delivery -
to do or not to do
3:00 PM - 3:20 PM
Day to Day Obstacles
CAMPFIRE SESSIONS day 2
1:00 PM - 1:20 PM
Order Turn Around Times -
Making Them Shorter
1:30 PM - 1:50 PM
When is the right time to get a second truck? Third?
2:15 PM - 2:35 PM
