Matthew Tack (‘14) has always been the entrepreneurial type. He has a knack for figuring out things work and getting them done. Among the many other roles he plays professionally and personally – he’s a husband, father of four, and a veteran – Tack’s added usual credential to his resume: custom food truck builder.
Tack and his brother, Jeff, built their own lunch truck over 10 years ago, before he began studying at LBC. “We bought an old step van for $500 and spent nights and weekends for the next 18 months transforming it into a mobile kitchen,” he explained. The two used the truck to cater events, took it to auctions and fairs. Tack, who was also working as a steel fabricator at the time, eventually decided his scheduled was too packed and dropped his side hustle. But he discovered something important during the process: there was an opportunity in the market for custom food trucks. And he was good at making them. Others saw the food truck they designed and wanted in.
The owners of local Lancaster eatery Souvlaki Boys, which serves up fast casual Greek food, approached Tack and his brother about building them a truck and they took it on. That was all it took to launch their side business which became Tack’s Truck & Trailer. To date, they’ve designed over 10 food trucks for an array of business, including Lancaster Burger Co., Sugar Whipped Bakery, Lickity Split and more.
So why did Tack, who clearly had more than enough going on, decide to earn his degree in Bible? “I knew earning a degree in Bible would be a good use of time and effort spent,” he explained. “So when I was looking at colleges, I took in to account what I wanted and needed out of a degree. I already had a workable understanding of business and entrepreneurship from my previous experiences. I wanted to make use my GI Bill® and I learned that LBC participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program, which was a huge benefit. After looking into the biblical studies program, it seemed like good fit for me as I looked to develop myself spiritually and professionally. I was right!”
Tack says his experiences at LBC have shaped his understanding of God’s word and helped to prepare him for his unexpected career in the mobile food industry. “My entire education at LBC was exceptional,” he said. “I learned so much from all of my classes – especially public speaking! The skills I learned there helped me to be more comfortable talking to people I don’t know, which is so essential to sales. I graduated with my degree in Bible, feeling much more confident and grounded in what I believe the Scriptures say.” He continued on, saying, “I was a firm believer before I attended LBC, and perhaps more firm after completing. I believe all Christians are to be witnesses where they are and I don’t think a preacher is any more called than a carpenter.”
One of the things Tack said he most valued about his education at LBC was learning from the different views of his fellow students. “I loved the immense diversity I found at LBC,” he noted. “It is a beautiful thing that our God draws men and women from all walks of life in all stages of life to come to Him. The most impactful part of my education did not come from a syllabus. It came from rubbing shoulders with my brothers and sisters from varying traditions and setting aside our nonessential differences to focus on what we do agree on: the message of the Gospel and its power to change lives.”
Today, you can find Tack hard at work on his many custom food truck projects at his growing business. “I am proud of each build I have done,” he said. “I put my heart into them and do my best to set my clients up for success. We have been blessed with many outstanding clients, and I’m excited to see how this business will grow.” So if you find yourself in need a retrofitted lunch truck – or spirited discussion about the word of God – you know who to call: Tack’s Truck & Trailer.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.