Speakers 2024

Sofia Arango is the co-owner of the mom-and-pop-owned Atlanta Pizza Truck, the first food truck in the world to be certified by the AVPN. A native of Caracas, Venezuela, she earned her degree in business administration to help the business […]

Erica Barrett is an accomplished restaurateur and founder/owner of Dough Boy Pizza, a “smart restaurant” concept headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama. With two locations in Birmingham and Mobile, Alabama, and one location in Decatur, Georgia, Dough Boy Pizza is a fast-casual […]

Sarah Beckett, Director of Marketing at Intouch Insight, a Customer Experience solutions company and home of the Annual Drive-Thru Study. Sarah is committed to delivering value-added insights to Intouch’s clients, as well as broader CX communities. Sarah leads the team […]

Alexandra Castro is an AVPN-certified pizza chef, pop-up pizzaiola, caterer, private instructor, recipe developer and food content creator in Stamford, Conn. She has nearly 26,000 followers on Instagram (@pizzawithale) and 10,000 followers on TikTok (alecontilde).

Bruce Hershey, owner of Piper’s Scratch Pizza Shop in Palm Harbor, Fla., is a visionary chief marketing officer and restaurant consultant renowned for his strategic prowess and unparalleled marketing and brand management leadership. With a rich background in crafting and […]

Brandon Hunt is co-founder and co-owner of Via 313 Pizza, a fast-growing Detroit-style pizza chain that started as a food truck in Austin, Texas, in 2011. Brandon and his brother Zane have since grown the brand to 18 locations in […]

Zane Hunt is co-founder and co-owner of Via 313 Pizza, a fast-growing Detroit-style pizza chain that started in Austin Texas, in 2011 and has grown to include 18 locations in three states. A Motor City native and 20+ year industry […]

Joey Karvelas, founder and owner of Karvelas Pizza Company, embarked on his pizza journey at the age of 12, working at his father’s pizzeria, where his passion for the craft blossomed. Gaining valuable insights into entrepreneurship and moneymaking early on, […]

Louise Joseph was born in New Haven, Connecticut, and proudly embraces her Cape Verdean heritage. With a deep appreciation for the culinary arts, inspired by their mother’s exceptional cooking skills, Louise has developed a passion for making food—and, especially, pizza. […]

Alex Koons, a devoted husband and father, embodies the spirit of a philosopher and perpetual student, navigating a diverse 15-year career in the pizza industry. Initially propelled by a passion for music, he dedicated over a decade to his musical […]