Build relationships with colleagues and industry partners from across Texas who are committed to strengthening school nutrition programs statewide.

Discover practical sessions, innovative ideas, and meaningful takeaways you can bring back to your team, campus, and district.

Gain fresh momentum, trusted connections, and real-world insight to help move your program forward with confidence.

The Gaylord Texan Resort & Conference Center will host the TASN 2026 Annual Conference. Learning sessions, meals, and the exhibit hall will all take place at the Gaylord, which will also serve as the conference host hotel.

With sweeping atriums, Texas-inspired architecture, and standout amenities, the Gaylord offers an energizing setting to connect, learn, and recharge. It is a natural fit for Ignite the Light and gives attendees one central place to experience the full conference.

Hotel reservations: The hotel reservation link will be provided after conference registration. Please book only through the official link provided. Emails from third parties about hotel reservations should be disregarded.

When he was 18, Michael dropped his speech class in college and swore he would never speak on stage again after a humiliating presentation. Today, he is a game-changing speaker and best-selling author who has impacted millions with his message of resilience.

Born in Kiev, Ukraine, and raised in the shadow of his family’s survival through the Siege of Leningrad and Dachau, Michael brings masterful storytelling that energizes audiences and drives action.

Lena Wilson is the assistant commissioner for the Food and Nutrition Division at the Texas Department of Agriculture. She oversees all activities related to compliance with regulations for the 12 federal nutrition programs administered by the agency.

Lena, a registered dietitian, has more than 20 years of experience with federal nutrition programs and offers a practical look at operations from both the state and local level.

Get practical guidance on procurement, audits, administrative reviews, local procurement, meal appeal, kitchen efficiency, and cafeteria register best practices.

• Procurement Pitfalls: Lessons You Can’t Ignore
• Thresholds & Tactics: School Nutrition Purchasing in 2026
• Ready, Set, Review! Navigating TDA’s Kitchen Administrative Review
• Mastering Food Product Labeling & Kitchen Efficiency

Select sessions will be offered in Spanish or bilingual formats to support more members of the school nutrition team.

• Como Identificar Comidas Reembolsables / How to Identify Reimbursable Meals
• Pautas Dietéticas / Dietary Guidelines
• Enciende la Luz en Tu Cocina / Ignite the Light in Your Kitchen
• Trabajando en Equipo / Working as a Team
• Comunicaciones Exitosas / Successful Communications

• Catering to the Community
• Exploring Southern Cuisine
• Chef Panel: The K-12 Chef Experience
• Back to Scratch Cooking
• Meal Appeal = Increased Participation

• Seal the Value: Vacuum Technology
• Flexible Serving Beyond the Cafeteria
• Designing Efficient K-12 Foodservice Kitchens
• Empowering Equipment Decisions
• A Director’s Guide to Equipment Procurement

• Emotional Intelligence: Your Secret Sauce
• Let Your Light Shine: Self-Development
• More Than a Meal: The Culinary Professionals of Your ISD
• Cafeteria Culture: Starting in the Kitchen
• Leadership & Self-Awareness

• Marketing Beyond the Lunch Line
• What Parents Think About Your Program is Probably Wrong
• From Universal Meals to Ultra-Processed Foods
• Rural Non-Congregate Summer Meals
• Building a TASN Chapter