Today we’d like to introduce you to Melinda Wood.
Hi Melinda, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hi, and thanks for the opportunity to introduce Tap Truck of Northeast Florida. I am the Owner & Director of Happiness. I am happily married (29+ years) to my husband, Greg. I wasn’t really looking for a change at the time. Like most, I was forced to work from home during the pandemic. Something shifted within me in that six months. The job that once excited me no longer held my interest. I struggled to find my purpose with the firm. I felt stuck climbing the corporate ladder. All moves were lateral – there was no upward movement. I felt that I had officially hit a glass ceiling.
It took a few more sleepless nights and a couple of long looks in the mirror before I was finally ready to take a leap of faith in myself. I turned in my resignation and left Corporate America for the final time. I began searching for something that would bring the passion back to my profession. All of my searches kept leading me back to Tap Truck USA. I immediately fell in love with the concept. Two months later, I signed the licensing agreement with Tap Truck USA, and Lou-Lou, our beautiful 1946 Ford, was reborn.
This path makes sense because I have successfully coordinated and hosted more than 150 events for friends, family, corporations, and non-profit organizations throughout my life. People come to me for their party plans, why not make it official? Having a passion for people and helping them create memorable moments truly feeds my soul. We are honored to be part of the Tap Truck Family and look forward to this new journey.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Yes, looking in the rearview, but there have been bumps in the road. Let’s begin with not knowing anything about beer, beer systems, or the laws surrounding them.
Beer: Did you know that beer is a science? Yep, that’s right! Zymology is an applied science that studies the biochemical process of fermentation and its practical uses. Long story short, understanding the process of making beer allows us to handle it properly once it is in our possession. I KNEW NOTHING when I purchased this business, and it was scary. Today, I can tap a keg, troubleshoot the system, pour an ice-cold beer, and clean the lines when the party is over! The lesson I learned here is to do your homework and ask many questions!
Liquor Laws: Learning the laws around alcohol is more confusing than understanding the science. Science is data and facts. Laws can be tricky. Therefore, we enlisted the advice of an alcohol attorney to advise us on how to run our beverage catering service properly. Abiding by the laws and maintaining proper documentation is key to successfully running a mobile bar business.
Geography and Schedule: This was, by far, the most frustrating challenge. Lou-Lou was purchased in San Diego, California, where she underwent her transformation. The distance between us instantly became an issue as it prohibited me from staying on top of the renovation’s progress. As I previously stated, I have a construction background that has taught me to run every project task as a project manager. I believe in creating a schedule and doing anything short of killing myself to meet it. It is challenging to manage a project where you are on site every day; managing a project from the other side of the country is not impossible, but it is frustrating. Lou-Lou ultimately made it safely home to Jacksonville just in time for her NYE party debut. I try to operate with the mentality that all dreams have challenges while reminding myself how I navigate through them will determine the success of my business.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Tap Truck of Northeast Florida was born from a passion and love for people and events.
We empower our hosts with the freedom to enjoy their events by redefining how we celebrate. Invite Lou-Lou (our 1946 Ford) to “tap-in” as your co-host allowing you to enjoy your guests. She adds a unique sense of style to your event while serving happiness one pour at a time. The truck is designed to serve any celebration. Her customized taps are ready to pour your favorite craft beer, wine, champagne, specialty cocktails, coffee, tea, and more.
Celebrate with us, and we will provide everything you need to enjoy the celebration with your guests. We service all of Northeast Florida and are looking forward to tapping into your next celebration.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
That I have secretly dreamed of owning my own event business my whole life. Those that know me, know that I love to entertain but, I am not sure if they are aware of the joy it brings to me. Seeing people smile and hearing their laughter and knowing I had something to do with it, makes my heart smile and my soul happy. Even if just in that moment, I was able to contribute to their happiness. It just doesn’t get any better than that for me. I heard someone say one day, “people will never remember what you did, they will always remember how you made them feel.” That one gave me the “feels”.
Services:
Any Beverage: Beer, Wine, Cider, Cocktails, Champagne, Juices, Coffee & Cold Brew
Any Place: Weddings, Corporate Parties, Concerts, Festivals, Private Events, Non-Profit Gatherings
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: taptrucknefl.com
- Instagram: @taptrucknefl
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/taptrucknefl
