Dynamic Duos of Pizza

How partners thrive in life and in business

If I had a dime for every time someone asked, “Isn’t it hard working with your husband?” or “Don’t you get sick of each other?” I’d be a wealthy woman. Sure, working with your spouse can be tough for some, but in the pizza world, there are partners I’d call power couples – true Dynamic Duos of Pizza – who’ve cracked the code. These are the folks who not only work together but thrive together. They build empires, complement each other’s strengths, cover each other’s blind spots and model what it means to be real partners in both life and business.

Eric and I are often complimented on how well we get along – or how obvious it is that we love each other – and while that’s true, love alone doesn’t make a successful business partnership. What really sets strong couples apart is the ability to have the hard conversations – the ones most people avoid. We push each other in ways no one else could – or would dare to. Let’s be honest: We all need someone who will call us on our BS sometimes. And who better than the person who has seen every version of you – flawed, fearless, tired, fired up and everything in between?

Even if your spouse isn’t part of your pizzeria’s daily operations, they’re still part of the team. I’m reminded of Pizza Expo 2025, when the World Pizza Champions were visiting sponsor booths and handing out plaques and shirts. That year’s retreat was hosted by Sammy Mandell of Greenville Avenue Pizza Co. (GAPCo), and as a thank-you, we made the rounds to show love to the sponsors. I’ll never forget seeing his wife, Molly Mandell, pushing an office chair piled high with sweatshirts across the show floor. She’s not involved in day-to-day operations at GAPCo, but you could see her support in every step. That’s what a dynamic duo looks like: two people showing up for the mission, in whatever role they play.

Being a true partner isn’t just about what happens inside the four walls of your business. Managing a household and a family while your spouse tackles the business is a wildly underrated form of partnership. And let’s be real – being married to a World Pizza Champion is a lot (or so I’ve been told). If you’ve ever heard the phrase “herding cats” … yeah , that’s us. It takes a village to keep a crew of entrepreneurial, social-butterfly, pizza-obsessed personalities on time, on point and in the right place.

So, here’s to the behind-the-scenes badasses – the Eric Rickmans of the world. And a massive thank you to every husband and wife out there who supports us, puts up with us and stands by us – not for the spotlight, but because they believe in us and the mission we’re pursuing together.

I know what Eric and I would say if someone asked us, “What’s your secret sauce?” We’ve done the work, and we’ve figured out what makes us tick. But it got me thinking … what about the other power couples in our industry? What would they say drives their success?

So, I reached out to a few of my favorite Dynamic Duos – people like Tony and Julie Gemignani, Nick and Angie Bogacz and Nicole and Brad Bean. From the outside, it’s clear we’re all wired a little differently, but the deeper I dug, the more I saw the same core truths. We may run different shops and play different roles, but at the heart of it, we share the same operating system: hustle, respect, vision and the unshakable bond of partnership.

Nick and Angie Bogacz | Caliente Pizza & Draft House, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Nick and Angie say their secret starts with playing to their strengths. They divide roles and responsibilities based on their individual talents, then stick to them.

“We stay in our lanes!” Nick says. When things get stressful, or one of them starts burning out, he says, “We give each other space – or companionship, whatever’s needed in the moment. A good vacation heals us both.”

Pizza was a part of Nick’s life long before Angie came into the picture, but she knew exactly what she was signing up for. “I always told Angie she was going to be a Pizza Wife for Life,” Nick says.

When I asked Nick what he admires most about Angie, he didn’t hesitate: “Failure isn’t in her DNA, she simply doesn’t give up. No matter the challenge, she finds a way to push through and win.”

Asked who’s more competitive between the two, Nick didn’t miss a beat: “Oh, Angie – by far. Don’t ever play UNO with her!” he adds with a laugh.

Tony and Julie Gemignani | Tony’s Pizza Napoletana and over 40 concepts, San Francisco, California

Tony and Julie – whose names need no introduction – have built an undeniable pizza empire, side by side. They’ve been partners in life for most of their adult years, with pizza always front and center.

“Julie’s biggest strengths are her compassion and her patience,” Tony shares. “She believed in me back when all I had were big dreams of owning my own shop, and she’s been by my side for every step.”

Asked how they navigate the intensity of a busy, travel-heavy lifestyle, Tony says: “Honestly, the times we spend apart are opportunities for personal growth. We each learn more about ourselves, and that makes the time we do get together even more meaningful.”

Julie genuinely loves the pizza industry. When it comes to being married to the original World Pizza Champion, she says, “I’m happy supporting from the sidelines. I don’t need the spotlight.”

In Italy, they have a nickname for her:
La Gemignana.

Nicole and Brad Bean | Pizaro’s Pizza Napoletana, Houston, Texas

Nicole and Brad came into the pizza world side by side. “We entered the industry at the same time,” Nicole shares. “Each of us learned different parts of the business, then ended up flipping roles entirely. That cross-training helped us develop a lot more compassion for each other and the stress that comes with every role.”

Eventually, they found a rhythm and structure that worked: “We adopted a three-part system,” Nicole explains. “I handle marketing, budgeting and planning and weigh in on big decisions like new menu items or company policies. Brad leads daily operations, and my brother rounds it out as the third spoke in the wheel: He’s in charge of all things beer and wine. We stay in our lanes, and it works.”

Asked who’s more likely to throw caution to the wind and just go for it, Brad says: “Definitely, Nicole. She keeps pulling me out of my comfort zone – and it’s 100% a good thing.”

Melissa and Eric Rickman | Wholly Stromboli, Fort Lupton, Colorado

As for Eric and me, we’re still learning and growing together, side by side. We give each other the space to evolve, pick up new skills and become better every day – not just as business partners, but as people.

We’re big believers in clearly defined roles. Like Nicole, I handle marketing, budgeting and planning – and also weigh in on big-picture decisions such as new menu items or company policies. Eric is the CFO – the analytical genius, the tech guru and (bonus!) my biggest cheerleader.

And to answer my own questions? Eric and I are equally competitive. But when it comes to throwing caution to the wind and just doing the damn thing, that’s me all day. Though I have to admit, he’s starting to come around.

MELISSA RICKMAN is co-founder of Wholly Stromboli in Fort Lupton, Colorado, and member of the World Pizza Champions.

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