Join us at 9 Mile Garden for a Happy Hour event. Besides a complimentary drink on us, learn the innovative approaches three different mobile and outdoor focused businesses have used social media to drive revenue and clients to their locations day after day.

About Our Panelists

Iris Green

Iris, a St. Louis native and wife of a St. Louis City firefighter, is the owner of Scoops & More Italian Ice Truck. The company, which has been in business for six years, has their products on Schnucks shelves in the metro area.

Brian Hardesty

Brian is a restaurateur and consultant in the St. Louis area with 25 years of hospitality experience, and over 15 years of social media experience. Currently, he’s the managing partner of 9 Mile Garden and Frankie Martin’s Garden as well as co-owner of Guerrilla Street Food. His businesses have a collective social media following of over 70,000.

Don Marler

In 2018, Don was laid off at Walmart. With extra time on his hands, Don’s friend ceased the opportunity and asked if he’d like to buy a hot dog cart. The business didn’t start off great (some days he didn’t earn $50). However, he didn’t give up and through the use of social media his business began to take off.

Today Don’s company, Daddy O’s Cheesesteaks, has two food trucks and a storefront in Villa Ridge.

About our Host

Charles Whitt, Natoli Engineering

Charles has always was an early adopter and pushed the use social media in the different verticals in which he has worked. The goal was to tailor to the audience and each company’s brand approach. He is an avid personal user who made it a goal to post something every day beginning in January of 2020, something personal, whimsical or topical. But, he might try a new approach for 2022 and beyond. Today, Charles is the Sales and Marketing Director of Natoli Engineering.