Orlando, FL

November 12th - 12th , 2024

Osceola Heritage Park

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Empower. equip. connect

2026

AUGUST 4-5

AUSTIN, TX

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WHAT IS FOOD TRUCK OWNERS EXPO?

Food Truck Owners Expo is a business conference for Food Truck Entrepreneurs! Find suppliers, connect with other owners and learn from industry experts. Food Truck Owners Expo is a MUST attend 2-day event for your food truck business!

Previous Attendees Say
"Best investment I didn't know I needed"
"I learned more in one weekend than in my first year running my truck"

"The networking alone made it worth it"

Empower.

Learn From Industry Experts

Equip.

Meet Suppliers and Manufacturers

Connect.

Community Networking Events & Opportunities

WHO SHOULD ATTEND FTO EXPO?

MOBILE FOOD VENDORS

Owners Trying to Grow or Fix Challenges

BRICK & MORTAR RESTAURANTS

Those Looking to Add a Mobile Element to their Restaurant

ESTABLISHED TRUCKS

Looking to Scale or Expand

NEW OPERATORS

Planning to Open Their First Business

Learn From Industry Experts

Food Truck Owners Expo is not just a trade show; we offer a wide range of educational classes designed to help you succeed in the food truck industry! Whether you're a new food truck owner starting your first business or a seasoned veteran looking to enhance your operations, our tailored classes are here to meet your needs. Join us at the Food Truck Owners Expo for our education classes and take your business to the next level!

Meet the experts

Andres Echavarria

Takitos Con Sabor

Started as a 14 year old, currently 14 years djing. Covid killed the busness and started selling tacos for a living. 5 years selling tacos, and also mantaining an 8-5.

Chef Mariah Scott

Geneva Blu

Chef Mariah Scott is a Culinary Professor, media personality, and Menu Architect known for transforming bold ideas into standout, profit-driven food concepts. A finalist on Gordon Ramsay’s Next Level Chef and host of Food Without Borders, she brings a globally inspired perspective shaped by travel to over 30 countries and more than a decade of experience in menu development, hospitality, and high-level culinary execution, including work with elite, high-end clientele. Blending Southern soul with international influence, Mariah creates dishes that don’t just taste good, they perform. Her work is rooted in one goal: turning flavor into an experience people are willing to pay for. From designing menus that increase profitability to elevating everyday items into premium, must-try experiences, she helps food businesses stand out in competitive markets. As the creative force behind Geneva Blu, a globally inspired culinary concept rooted in elevated experiences, Mariah helps food entrepreneurs refine their menus, sharpen their brand identity, and create offerings that stand out, sell out, and keep customers coming back.

Daniel Shemtob

The Lime Truck

Daniel Shemtob is an award-winning chef, restaurateur, and entrepreneur best known as the founder and CEO of The Lime Truck – an iconic Cali-Mex food truck that has been a Southern California staple for over 15 years. As a pioneer of the region’s gourmet food truck movement, The Lime Truck under Shemtob’s leadership has garnered a wide range of accolades, from winning Food Network’s The Great Food Truck Race (twice, including an All-Stars championship) to being named one of the top 5 food trucks in America three years in a row. It even became the first food truck ever to earn a “Best Restaurant” award in Orange County, solidifying its reputation for quality and innovation. Beyond the truck, Shemtob expanded his culinary ventures by opening Hatch Yakitori + Bar in downtown Los Angeles – a modern Japanese tapas grill – and co-founding Snibbs, a company designing comfortable non-slip footwear for industry professionals. Shemtob’s career is defined not only by culinary success, but also by a deep commitment to community service. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he provided free meals — and even free Snibbs shoes — to those in need. Even when the 2025 Palisades Fire destroyed his home, he mobilized The Lime Truck to feed evacuees and first responders in partnership with World Central Kitchen. Through these efforts, Shemtob exemplifies resilient leadership and an unwavering passion for uplifting the culinary and entrepreneurial community.

Javi Maggiolo

Black Bear Food Trucks

Chef Javi, the Food Truck Guy learned to cook on the streets, food stalls, and corners of South America at just 16 years old. What started as curiosity and hustle quickly turned into a lifelong passion. His first role as Head Chef came at the sports bar chain Soccer Bar in South America. From there, he began a long journey through the culinary scenes of the United States. Along the way he worked in well-known restaurants such as Versailles, Victor’s Cafe, Blue Martini, and Bamboo, building a reputation for bold flavors and relentless work ethic. He also worked for Chipotle, before returning to what truly defined him, the streets and the energy of the food truck world. With more than 35 years in the industry, Chef Javi is now the founder/owner of several recognized food truck brands such as Burro Grilled Cheese, Coat & Thai, and Black Bear Burgers, in addition to manufacturing food trucks. As a mentor who has helped more than 300 families launch their own food truck businesses.

John Seal

John Seal Speaks, Hangar Marketing

John Seal is a speaker, marketer, and entrepreneur who helps businesses grow smarter and faster. Drawing on experience with Fortune 500 brands and small businesses alike, he shows companies how to get more leads, boost sales, and make marketing dollars work harder. John delivers clear, actionable strategies that anyone can implement to win customers, grow revenue, and achieve real, measurable results.

Miguel Pastrana

NEC LLC

Miguel Pastrana brings over 21 years of experience in manufacturing structural equipment, ranging from trailers to complex fabricated components across multiple industries. His career has been built on hands-on expertise in fabrication, structural integrity, quality control, and operational leadership. For the past several years, Miguel has focused specifically on the food truck and trailer industry. He served as General Manager of Rent2Own Trailers, leading a flexible ownership program designed to help entrepreneurs launch their businesses with accessible financing solutions. He also managed operations at Titan Food Trailers, overseeing fabrication, maintenance, and service for food trucks and food trailers, ensuring compliance, durability, and performance. Beyond operations, Miguel has extensive experience developing and working closely with dealers and food truck manufacturers across the United States. He collaborates not only with fabrication companies and industry owners, but also with influencers from the East Coast to the West Coast who are actively shaping the future of the mobile food industry. He maintains strong relationships with professionals committed to improving standards, increasing transparency, and building a more efficient and trustworthy industry for future chefs and business owners. Miguel is passionate about helping food truck entrepreneurs protect their investment, avoid costly mistakes, and build solid foundations for long-term success. His combination of manufacturing expertise, nationwide industry relationships, and leadership experience gives him a practical, real-world perspective that resonates with both new and experienced operators.

Troy King

Louisville Food Truck Association

Troy King has operated food trucks since June 2014. He is the owner of Velvet Couch Hospitality Group, King runs many food trucks, a restaurant, and dessert kiosks in Louisville Kentucky. King is also the CEO of the Louisville Food Truck Association.

Andy Klie

Franchise Development Group

Andy holds an MBA in Finance from UNC Charlotte and a BS in Business Management from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. With over 20 years in franchising—including operations, real estate, financing, area development, and sales—he’s helped award more than 500 franchises for both emerging and established brands. Since 2008, as President of Franchise Development Group, he has guided start-up franchises through the entire process, helping launch over 200 new concepts, including franchising Cousins Maine Lobster, one of the nation’s leading food truck franchises.

Chef Michael Scott

Wagyu-x

Davy Tyburski

ChiefProfitOfficer.com

Davy Tyburski, known as America’s Chief Profit Officer®, is a business advisor and keynote speaker who has spent more than two decades helping companies and entrepreneurs increase sales, improve cash flow, and boost their bottom line. He has worked across more than 15 industries and has served companies like Microsoft, Kellogg’s, FedEx, and The Walt Disney Company, just to name a few. What makes his approach unique is his ability to take proven strategies from multiple industries and adapt them to specific business models, giving business owners practical insights they can apply immediately. Today, Davy specializes in helping service-based business owners simplify their operations, increase profitability, and build businesses that are both financially successful and personally fulfilling. His sessions are known for being engaging, actionable, and focused on results, not theory.

Joel Paprocki

Insure My Food

Joel (CIC, CRM, CPCU) is a self-proclaimed (vegetarian) foodie that has spent years learning and understanding the ins and outs of the food business, so starting Insure My Food made sense to him! He’s a passionate supporter of the eat local food movement in Austin and is a founding member of the local Austin Food Trailer Chamber, part-owner of Capital Kitchens and supporter of Texas Restaurant Association. Taking what he learned in Austin, he now shares his industry knowledge with food and craft beverage vendors across the country. Joel’s entrepreneurial spirit keeps him busy working around the clock! When he is not helping his clients, he enjoys spending time with his family, playing hockey, and visiting local food trucks and craft breweries. Cheers!

Justin Prestidge

Custom Trailer Pros

I founded Custom Trailer Pros in 2012 with a mission to help food truck entrepreneurs succeed. By partnering closely with our customers and investing in their success, we’ve become one of the most trusted food truck providers in the U.S.—and the first official food trailer provider of the National Street Food Vendors Association. Alongside leading the company, I’ve served as a business coach for startups since 2018. Outside of work, I’m a proud husband of 20 years and father of four amazing kids.

Misti Buard

Brand Appetit

My love story with food trucks began in 2013. I was leaving a Memorial Day weekend party when I met the owner of Bobby Que’s food truck. He was sampling an amazing sauce that he’d created to compliment his fried shrimp—and the shrimp and sauce were absolutely delicious! I chased Bobby Que around all summer and gained 15 lbs while doing so. At that time, I was still working as a Marketing Manager in corporate America, but I knew that I wanted to be more involved in the food truck community. Eventually, I quit my job and began working with Billy Flannagan, former owner of D’Lish Curbside food truck. Over the next few years, I learned all that I could about food trucks by interviewing them, assisting with their marketing strategy, planning community food truck festivals, entering food trucks into competitions and scheduling media interviews for owners. Since then, I’ve won $50,000 on Food Network - The Great Food Truck Race (Season 14); worked with food trucks to feed the homeless, spoken at conferences about how food trucks can boost local economies.

Bill Moore

National Street Food Vendors Association

Bill is professionally trained in food service, worked for multiple large restaurant concepts, owned both brick & mortar and street vending businesses and have been training food service professionals since 1982.

Dan Pennachietti

Endless Consulting

Dan Pennachietti knows what it takes to turn a food truck into something bigger. As an entrepreneur, consultant, and industry leader, he has spent years helping mobile food operators navigate the challenges of growth—from licensing and compliance to branding, operations, and long-term expansion. As the owner of Lil Dan’s food truck and founder of the Philadelphia Mobile Food Association, Dan has been at the forefront of building opportunity in the mobile food space. His experience spans consulting for major clients, managing multimillion-dollar restaurant operations, and mentoring businesses ready to scale. His story is about more than running a truck—it is about building a legacy from the ground up.

Eric Vonheim

Frylicious

Eric Vonheim is the Founder & CEO of Frylicious, a modern fast-casual brand redefining comfort food through elevated flavors, premium ingredients, and an unforgettable guest experience. An entrepreneur and brand builder at heart, Eric launched Frylicious with a clear vision: create a crave-worthy concept that blends culinary creativity with a scalable, future-proof business model. With a strong background in marketing, branding, and consumer experience, Eric is deeply involved in shaping every aspect of the brand, from menu innovation and operations to community engagement and franchise growth. Under his leadership, Frylicious has quickly gained momentum for its bold approach, people-first culture, and commitment to delivering five-star experiences at every touchpoint.

John Plocic

AiPower Corp

Leader in the generator and power equipment channels for over 30 years.

MAXIMO Valdez

MAXIM Trailers Inc.

Maximo Y. Valdez is the CEO of MAXIM Trailers Inc., a Colorado-based food trailer manufacturer dedicated to helping entrepreneurs launch and grow successful food businesses. MAXIM works closely with fire departments, health departments, and regulators to ensure safe and compliant mobile kitchens. Maximo has also been involved in Colorado legislative efforts impacting the food truck industry, advocating for clearer regulations that support both public safety and small business growth. His work focuses on empowering entrepreneurs and strengthening the communities they serve.

Tony Dean

EduClasses

Tony Dean is the founder and CEO of EduClasses®, a national provider of online training and certification programs for the food service and hospitality industries. He brings more than 30 years of experience in software development, web technology, and online education, along with hands-on experience in restaurant operations. Early in his career, Tony worked in the restaurant industry helping open six Luther’s BBQ restaurants in Dallas, which were later acquired by Colter's Bar-B-Q. He later worked with Furr's Cafeteria, where he helped open three Furr’s locations, gaining valuable experience in large-scale food service operations. Tony later founded EduClasses®, where he developed FMC® Food Managers Certification, an ANAB-CFP accredited food protection manager certification program, along with other industry programs including FHC® Food Handler Classes and SSC® Seller Server Classes. Through EduClasses®, his programs have helped train more than 1.5 million students across the United States. Tony’s work focuses on making food safety education more accessible, practical, and relevant for today’s food service businesses, including restaurants, hospitality groups, schools, and the rapidly growing food truck industry.