How companions thrive in life and in enterprise
If I had a dime for each time somebody requested, “Isn’t it exhausting working along with your husband?” or “Don’t you get sick of one another?” I’d be a rich lady. Positive, working along with your partner might be robust for some, however within the pizza world, there are companions I’d name energy {couples} – true Dynamic Duos of Pizza – who’ve cracked the code. These are the parents who not solely work collectively however thrive collectively. They construct empires, complement one another’s strengths, cowl one another’s blind spots and mannequin what it means to be actual companions in each life and enterprise.
Eric and I are sometimes complimented on how nicely we get alongside – or how apparent it’s that we love one another – and whereas that’s true, love alone doesn’t make a profitable enterprise partnership. What actually units sturdy {couples} aside is the power to have the exhausting conversations – those most individuals keep away from. We push one another in methods nobody else might – or would dare to. Let’s be sincere: All of us want somebody who will name us on our BS typically. And who higher than the one that has seen each model of you – flawed, fearless, drained, fired up and every part in between?
Even when your partner isn’t a part of your pizzeria’s every day operations, they’re nonetheless a part of the workforce. I’m reminded of Pizza Expo 2025, when the World Pizza Champions had been visiting sponsor cubicles and handing out plaques and shirts. That yr’s retreat was hosted by Sammy Mandell of Greenville Avenue Pizza Co. (GAPCo), and as a thank-you, we made the rounds to point out like to the sponsors. I’ll always remember seeing his spouse, Molly Mandell, pushing an workplace chair piled excessive with sweatshirts throughout the present flooring. She’s not concerned in day-to-day operations at GAPCo, however you might see her help in each step. That’s what a dynamic duo seems like: two individuals displaying up for the mission, in no matter function they play.
Being a real accomplice isn’t nearly what occurs contained in the 4 partitions of your online business. Managing a family and a household whereas your partner tackles the enterprise is a wildly underrated type of partnership. And let’s be actual – being married to a World Pizza Champion is quite a bit (or so I’ve been informed). If you happen to’ve ever heard the phrase “herding cats” … yeah , that’s us. It takes a village to maintain a crew of entrepreneurial, social-butterfly, pizza-obsessed personalities on time, on level and in the correct place.
So, right here’s to the behind-the-scenes badasses – the Eric Rickmans of the world. And a large thanks to each husband and spouse on the market who helps us, places up with us and stands by us – not for the highlight, however as a result of they consider in us and the mission we’re pursuing collectively.
I do know what Eric and I’d say if somebody requested us, “What’s your secret sauce?” We’ve executed the work, and we’ve discovered what makes us tick. But it surely acquired me considering … what concerning the different energy {couples} in our trade? What would they are saying drives their success?
So, I reached out to a couple of my favourite Dynamic Duos – individuals like Tony and Julie Gemignani, Nick and Angie Bogacz and Nicole and Brad Bean. From the surface, it’s clear we’re all wired slightly in another way, however the deeper I dug, the extra I noticed the identical core truths. We could run completely different retailers and play completely different roles, however on the coronary heart of it, we share the identical working system: hustle, respect, imaginative and prescient and the unshakable bond of partnership.
Nick and Angie Bogacz | Caliente Pizza & Draft Home, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Nick and Angie Bogacz
Picture courtesy of Nick Bogacz
Nick and Angie say their secret begins with enjoying to their strengths. They divide roles and tasks based mostly on their particular person skills, then stick with them.
“We keep in our lanes!” Nick says. When issues get nerve-racking, or one among them begins burning out, he says, “We give one another area – or companionship, no matter’s wanted within the second. trip heals us each.”
Pizza was part of Nick’s life lengthy earlier than Angie got here into the image, however she knew precisely what she was signing up for. “I all the time informed Angie she was going to be a Pizza Spouse for Life,” Nick says.
Once I requested Nick what he admires most about Angie, he didn’t hesitate: “Failure isn’t in her DNA, she merely doesn’t surrender. Irrespective of the problem, she finds a option to push via and win.”
Requested who’s extra aggressive between the 2, Nick didn’t miss a beat: “Oh, Angie – by far. Don’t ever play UNO along with her!” he provides with fun.
Tony and Julie Gemignani | Tony’s Pizza Napoletana and over 40 ideas, San Francisco, California
Tony and Julie Gemignani
Picture courtesy of Tony Gemignani
Tony and Julie – whose names want no introduction – have constructed an simple pizza empire, facet by facet. They’ve been companions in life for many of their grownup years, with pizza all the time entrance and heart.
“Julie’s largest strengths are her compassion and her endurance,” Tony shares. “She believed in me again when all I had had been massive goals of proudly owning my very own store, and she or he’s been by my facet for each step.”
Requested how they navigate the depth of a busy, travel-heavy way of life, Tony says: “Truthfully, the occasions we spend aside are alternatives for private progress. We every be taught extra about ourselves, and that makes the time we do get collectively much more significant.”
Julie genuinely loves the pizza trade. In the case of being married to the unique World Pizza Champion, she says, “I’m blissful supporting from the sidelines. I don’t want the highlight.”
In Italy, they’ve a nickname for her:
La Gemignana.
Nicole and Brad Bean | Pizaro’s Pizza Napoletana, Houston, Texas
Nicole and Brad Bean
Picture courtesy of Nicole Bean
Nicole and Brad got here into the pizza world facet by facet. “We entered the trade on the similar time,” Nicole shares. “Every of us realized completely different components of the enterprise, then ended up flipping roles fully. That cross-training helped us develop much more compassion for one another and the stress that comes with each function.”
Ultimately, they discovered a rhythm and construction that labored: “We adopted a three-part system,” Nicole explains. “I deal with advertising, budgeting and planning and weigh in on massive choices like new menu objects or firm insurance policies. Brad leads every day operations, and my brother rounds it out because the third spoke within the wheel: He’s accountable for all issues beer and wine. We keep in our lanes, and it really works.”
Requested who’s extra prone to throw warning to the wind and simply go for it, Brad says: “Positively, Nicole. She retains pulling me out of my consolation zone – and it’s 100% a very good factor.”
Melissa and Eric Rickman | Wholly Stromboli, Fort Lupton, Colorado
Melissa and Eric Rickman
Picture courtesy of Melissa Rickman
As for Eric and me, we’re nonetheless studying and rising collectively, facet by facet. We give one another the area to evolve, choose up new abilities and turn out to be higher day by day – not simply as enterprise companions, however as individuals.
We’re massive believers in clearly outlined roles. Like Nicole, I deal with advertising, budgeting and planning – and in addition weigh in on big-picture choices reminiscent of new menu objects or firm insurance policies. Eric is the CFO – the analytical genius, the tech guru and (bonus!) my largest cheerleader.
And to reply my very own questions? Eric and I are equally aggressive. However in terms of throwing warning to the wind and simply doing the rattling factor, that’s me all day. Although I’ve to confess, he’s beginning to come round.
MELISSA RICKMAN is co-founder of Wholly Stromboli in Fort Lupton, Colorado, and member of the World Pizza Champions.
