Pizza Today June 2021 - 51
Marcus Medina
unique. Also our business name. We wanted to
be something that resonated with locals. We
felt like nothing says Northern California like
Hella. You can pin the region where we are
from just by that word. We are just locals cooking for locals and that authenticity brings us
more support than you can imagine.
What do you do to motivate your staff
during these challenging times?
I'm still not quite sure how to motivate
people. I'm not sure if we can. I definitely have
surrounded myself with a staff that motivates
me to be better. Constantly trying to make our
staff 's jobs easier, more efficient and comfortable. Also, being conscious of their time and
time off. Hopefully that shows my team that I
care and I'm thinking about them. If they see
that, then I think they will buy into the work.
Hella Pie Pizza Company - Tracy,
California
How did you begin working in the
pizza industry?
It was around my 30th birthday when
I felt that I wasn't happy with doing
construction my whole life. I decided that
I wanted to start a
mobile wood-fired pizzeria after cooking
in my backyard for friends and family. We
were mobile for about 2.5 years. We did
farmer's markets, breweries, weddings and
pretty much any type of party you'd want
to get catered. Then the pandemic hit and
all the parties stopped. An opportunity
came to take over an existing bakery in
our hometown and we jumped on it.
What's been your biggest challenge in the pizza business?
My biggest challenge has been how to
make sure that we're achieving our most
consistent product. Every day I feel like
we are going to war with constant changes
and obstacles. How we navigate ourselves
as a unit to overcome them is truly the
challenge. Overcoming those obstacles as
a team is also one of the most rewarding
things though - family, friends and staff.
It takes us all so I'm very thankful for our
support system. We couldn't do this alone.
What is something uniquely you
that you have brought to the pizza
industry?
When I was a kid growing up in the
90s pizza was so cool and fun. Branding
was on point. I've kind of brought that
type of nostalgia back for both adults
and children. We were all kids at some
point and so making pizza is fun, but also
simple and beautiful at the same time.
That is what I think makes my business
What is something you've learned at
Pizza Expo that has helped guide your
business?
I feel blessed to have started this career in my
30s. Starting a new career you have to swallow
your pride or ego. Not that we should have one
anyway. For a while I felt alone. I hadn't grown
up in the industry so I was very unsure about
everything. I booked my first Pizza Expo in
2019. After that trip I didn't feel so alone anymore. I felt like I was embraced with love and
support. I started building on those relationships made in Las Vegas and eventually found
that my pizza naturally got better from all of
the knowledge shared through the conversations with mentors that I look up to.
What area do you feel like you currently
need to improve upon to continue taking
your pizza business to the next level?
Being a self-taught pizza maker/entrepreneur, I guess you could say that I'm Hella
insecure. It's a blessing and a curse. Everything
that I do probably takes me a little longer because I want to figure it out. I definitely try and
keep things simple but I feel like I need to get
out of my comfort zone and get around people
with more knowledge. I try to fill my time with
podcasts, audio books or videos. I'm looking forward to taking some hands-on classes
though so that I can start taking my chef skills
to a higher level.
J U N E 2 0 2 1 / P I Z Z AT O D AY. C O M / 5 1
048_PIZ_0621_FTrisingstars.indd 51
5/11/21 1:19 PM
http://www.PIZZATODAY.COM
Pizza Today June 2021
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pizza Today June 2021
Pizza Today June 2021 - CT1
Pizza Today June 2021 - CT2
Pizza Today June 2021 - Cover1
Pizza Today June 2021 - Cover2
Pizza Today June 2021 - 3
Pizza Today June 2021 - 4
Pizza Today June 2021 - 5
Pizza Today June 2021 - 6
Pizza Today June 2021 - 7
Pizza Today June 2021 - 8
Pizza Today June 2021 - 9
Pizza Today June 2021 - 10
Pizza Today June 2021 - 11
Pizza Today June 2021 - 12
Pizza Today June 2021 - 13
Pizza Today June 2021 - 14
Pizza Today June 2021 - 15
Pizza Today June 2021 - 16
Pizza Today June 2021 - 17
Pizza Today June 2021 - 18
Pizza Today June 2021 - 19
Pizza Today June 2021 - 20
Pizza Today June 2021 - 21
Pizza Today June 2021 - 22
Pizza Today June 2021 - 23
Pizza Today June 2021 - 24
Pizza Today June 2021 - 25
Pizza Today June 2021 - 26
Pizza Today June 2021 - 27
Pizza Today June 2021 - 28
Pizza Today June 2021 - 29
Pizza Today June 2021 - 30
Pizza Today June 2021 - 31
Pizza Today June 2021 - 32
Pizza Today June 2021 - 33
Pizza Today June 2021 - 34
Pizza Today June 2021 - 34A
Pizza Today June 2021 - 34B
Pizza Today June 2021 - 35
Pizza Today June 2021 - 36
Pizza Today June 2021 - 37
Pizza Today June 2021 - 38
Pizza Today June 2021 - 39
Pizza Today June 2021 - 40
Pizza Today June 2021 - 41
Pizza Today June 2021 - 42
Pizza Today June 2021 - 43
Pizza Today June 2021 - 44
Pizza Today June 2021 - 45
Pizza Today June 2021 - 46
Pizza Today June 2021 - 47
Pizza Today June 2021 - 48
Pizza Today June 2021 - 49
Pizza Today June 2021 - 50
Pizza Today June 2021 - 51
Pizza Today June 2021 - 52
Pizza Today June 2021 - 53
Pizza Today June 2021 - 54
Pizza Today June 2021 - 55
Pizza Today June 2021 - 56
Pizza Today June 2021 - 57
Pizza Today June 2021 - 58
Pizza Today June 2021 - 59
Pizza Today June 2021 - 60
Pizza Today June 2021 - 61
Pizza Today June 2021 - 62
Pizza Today June 2021 - 63
Pizza Today June 2021 - 64
Pizza Today June 2021 - 65
Pizza Today June 2021 - 66
Pizza Today June 2021 - 67
Pizza Today June 2021 - 68
Pizza Today June 2021 - 69
Pizza Today June 2021 - 70
Pizza Today June 2021 - 71
Pizza Today June 2021 - 72
Pizza Today June 2021 - 73
Pizza Today June 2021 - 74
Pizza Today June 2021 - 75
Pizza Today June 2021 - 76
Pizza Today June 2021 - 77
Pizza Today June 2021 - 78
Pizza Today June 2021 - 79
Pizza Today June 2021 - 80
Pizza Today June 2021 - 81
Pizza Today June 2021 - 82
Pizza Today June 2021 - Cover3
Pizza Today June 2021 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202408
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202407
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202406
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202405
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202404
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202403
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202402
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202401
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202312
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202311
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202310
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202309
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202308
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202307
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202306
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202305
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202304
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202303
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202302
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202301
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202212
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202211
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202210
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202209
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202208
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202207
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202206
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202205
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202204
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202202
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202201
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202112
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202111
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202110
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202109
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202108
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202107
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/202103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/202102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/202101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/202012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/202011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/202010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/202007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/202006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/expo_2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/202005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/202002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201507
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com