Upcoming Events

Good Work Austin is proud to offer a series of events specifically designed for individuals working in the food and beverage industry.

Whether you're a seasoned chef, a dedicated server, or just starting your journey in the industry, Good Work Austin is here to support you. We offer a variety of events focusing on professional development, networking, and mental & physical wellbeing.

Here are some reasons why you should join us:

  • Learn from the best: Gain valuable insights through workshops and talks featuring industry experts.

  • Connect with your peers: Build lasting relationships with other food & beverage professionals at our networking events.

  • Take care of yourself: Discover tools and strategies to manage stress and maintain a healthy work-life balance.

Please note: Space is limited for all events—be sure to register early to secure your spot!

While some of our events are free and open to the public, others are exclusively for members or require a fee for non-members. To learn more about becoming a Good Work Austin member and accessing the full range of benefits, visit www.goodworkaustin.org/membership.

  • Profit, Costs, and Cash Flow: Demystifying Finances for Restaurants

    📅 When: Wednesday, May 7, 2025 | 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
    📍 Where: 1609 Shoal Creek Blvd, Austin, Texas 78701

    Ever feel confused when looking at your P&L? Are you ready to confidently read a financial statement and make data-driven decisions? Join us and learn how to understand what the numbers are telling you. All levels of comfort with finances are welcome!


    In this 4-hour, hands-on session explicitly designed for food and beverage businesses, we’ll break down the profit & loss statement and dig into the basics of budgeting using You Need A Budget (YNAB), a tool that makes managing money actually make sense.


    We’ll start with a big-picture look at financial statements—why they matter and how to use them. From there, we’ll get personal—literally—with an exercise where you’ll build your own personal P&L. It’s a powerful way to learn the concepts and walk away with a tool you can use with your team. Then we’ll zoom in on real-world examples, including both a simplified and a full version of the P&L from Casey’s Snowballs.


    Together, we’ll explore:
    - How to use a P&L to find profitability drivers in your business.
    - How to track key drivers of profitability, like COGs and labor margin.
    - Margin models, like 30/30/30/10, and how they fit or don't fit for your business.
    - How to categorize tricky expenses.
    - What happens to profit after the P&L.


    A high-level intro to building a budget that actually works.


    This 4-hour session includes complimentary food and beverages will be provided, plenty of time for questions and breaks, and space to connect with others who are building their financial muscles, too. You’ll leave with practical tools, real-world examples, and maybe even a little more clarity—for your business and yourself.

    Spots are limited—reserve yours today! We’re keeping this event intimate to ensure a great experience for all attendees. Don’t miss your chance to join us!

    RSVP

  • ZingTrain: Living Servant Leadership

    📅 Date: Wednesday, May 21st, 2025
    🕛 Time: 12:00–2:30 PM CST / 11:00–1:30 PM MT
    📍 Location: Online (Zoom link will be provided upon registration)

    🎟️ RSVP is required and spots are limited!

    Presented by Good Work Austin in partnership EatDenver and ZingTrain

    🍽️ Food & Beverage Leaders — This One’s for You!

    In an industry where burnout is common and turnover is high, strong, values-driven leadership is more important than ever. What if your leadership style could increase staff retention, improve communication, and build a culture where your team feels respected, supported, and motivated?

    Join Good Work Austin and EatDenver for Living Servant Leadership, a hands-on virtual workshop created specifically for the hospitality industry. This session will introduce you to Zingerman’s people-first leadership model—a powerful, practical approach based on the principles of Servant Leadership. You’ll leave with actionable tools to lead with purpose, improve team dynamics, and create a workplace where people want to work.

    This workshop is ideal for owners, managers, and team leads in food and beverage businesses who are ready to shift their leadership style and invest in long-term culture-building.

    About Zingtrain

    ZingTrain shares the “Zingerman’s experience” with forward-thinking organizations from around the world. Founded in 1994 by Maggie Bayless, and now run by managing partner Katie Frank, the ZingTrain team uses their experience in training and organizational change to help clients understand and apply the real-life systems, tools, and techniques used at Zingerman’s. We are thrilled to offer in-person seminars and workshops, virtual workshops, customized training classes (tailored to your business, virtually, here at our office or at your business), books and pamphlets and a variety of exciting and engaging eLearning offerings, all carefully designed to help businesses do meaningful work that drives positive bottom-line results.

    RSVP