Pizza Industry to learn from leading women at International Pizza Expo later this month

As we celebrate International Women’s Day (March 8), we honor the amazing women in the pizza industry. With International Pizza Expo (at the Las Vegas Convention Center March 25-27) rapidly approaching, let’s discover the women pizza pros who will be leading education at the pizza industry’s biggest event.

Chef Sarah Minnick to give Keynote Address at Pizza Expo

Sarah Minnick will kick off Pizza Expo with a captivating Keynote Address Tuesday at 8:15 a.m. An award-winning chef, she has taken Lovely’s Fifty Fifty in Portland, Oregon to international acclaim. A self-taught baker, her approach to pizza, a whole-grain sourdough crust, a farm-to-table menu and mastery of unconventional ingredients has earned her coveted culinary esteem. Sarah was featured Netflix’s hit Chef’s Table: Pizza. She has received many prestigious accolades, including being nominated by the James Beard Foundation for Outstanding Chef in 2024 and 2025, She was also a semi-finalist in the Best Chef Northwest and Pacific category in 2020. Read more about Sarah.

Power-packed Three Days of Women-led Education Sessions  

Education is a pillar of the Pizza Expo Education with three days of education sessions on the industry’s vital topics. Here are sessions being led by women pizza professionals.

Melissa Rickman is a veteran pizzeria operator and long-standing Pizza Expo speaker. Co-owner of Wholly Stromboli in Fort Lupton, Colorado, Melissa is a previous keynote speaker at PPNE. She is a member of the World Pizza Champions and a contributor to Pizza Today. She will lead three sessions this year, including Know Your Bar Business Numbers (Monday, 1 p.m.), Menu Diversification (Tuesday, 4 p.m.) and Beer Bottles, Taps, or Both? (Wednesday, 2:30 p.m.)

Nicole Bean is also a veteran pizzeria operator and Pizza Expo speaker. She owns and operates two Houston, Texas locations of Pizaro’s Pizza Napoletana with her family. She is a member of World Pizza Champions and an ambassador for Women in Pizza. Nicole will lead two education sessions, including: Emergency Planning (Tuesday, 4 p.m.) and Moderator on Panel Discussion: Post Pandemic Changes that are Here to Stay (Wednesday, 2:30 p.m.)

Three exceptional pizzeria operators will join Executive Editor of Pizza Today Denise Greer for a Panel Discussion: Women-Owned Pizzerias (Tuesday, 4 p.m.).

• Hengam Stanfield is restaurateur, electrical engineer and co-founder of restaurant chain Mattenga’s Pizzeria in San Antonio, TX. Hengam is the Gold award recipient of the Stevie® Awards for Women in Business in 2024 and is a James Beard foundation women’s leadership program alumni.
• Marisol Doyle is founder and chef of Leña Pizza + Bagels in Cleveland, Mississippi. The pizza shop was named a top pizzeria in the USA by The New York Times. Marisol was named on its 2024 Top 100 Best Pizza Chefs. She was named a 2024 Rising Star in the Pizza Industry in 2024.
• Katie Lee owns Katie’s Pizza & Pasta with three locations in the St. Louis, Missouri area. The pizza company scored a huge client for its frozen pizza line to be sold in Walmart grocery stores starting in mid-to-late 2025. Katie shares here story.

Melinda Carbajal is new to the Pizza Expo speaker lineup. Managing Member and CEO of Simply Pizza, a unique woodfired, mobile, and hybrid restaurant business in Colorado. With a background in government and education, Melinda has carved out a niche in the food industry. Her education sessions include Growing Through Catering (Tuesday, 9:30 a.m.), Writing Your Food Truck Business Plan (Wednesday, 9:30 a.m.) and Strategically Giving to Grow Your Business (Wednesday, 2:30).

Autumn Nessibou is Director of Operations for Farrelli’s Pizza in Tacoma, Washington. As a key leader at Farrelli’s, Autumn has overseen the growth and success of multiple locations while refining the guest experience. Her sessions include Building Your Bar Menu (Wednesday, 4 p.m.) and Setting Your Operations Team Up for Success (Monday, 4 p.m.).

Madison Soelling is the Director of Human Resources at Farrelli’s Pizza in Tacoma, Washington, where she has dedicated nearly 20 years to fostering a strong company culture and supporting employee growth. Her session is Defining Your Brand Voice (Monday, 1:30 p.m.)

Women Pizza Makers Take to the Demonstration Stage at Pizza Expo

Live Demonstrations will take place on the show floor during Pizza Expo. The main stage events are a large draw for attendees. Three world-class female pizza makers and pizzeria owners will lead key demonstrations.

Laura Meyer is a World Champion Pizza Maker. In 2013, Laura won first place in her first competition in Parma, Italy, becoming the first woman and first American to win the Pizza in Teglia category. She owns of Pizzeria da Laura in Berkeley, California. You can find her dough expertise in the Knead to Know features she contributes in Pizza Today Magazine. The 20-plus year pizza industry veteran earned Zagat’s 30 Under 30 and was named Forbes 30 Under 30 in 2016. She will lead two demos: Hand Made Pastas (Tuesday, 3:15 p.m.) and Hands-On Dough Session (Wednesday, 10:15 p.m.)

Leah Scurto is a 25-plus year pizza industry veteran and opened Pizzaleah in Windsor, Northern California in 2020. She was named a Rising Star in the Pizza Industry by Pizza Today in 2021. She is 5-time pizza champion and in 2022 she was featured on Hulu’s original show, Best In Dough. She will lead the demo: Building a Competition Worthy Pizza (Thursday, 11 a.m.)

Nicole Bean, who is also leading two education sessions, will lead the demo: Prepping for Competitive Pizza Making (Thursday, 10:15 a.m.)

Leah Scurto, Nicole Bean and Melinda were also featured in 2025 Pizza Expo Speakers Roundtable: Top Business Concerns.

Go to the Pizza Expo 2025 NEWS HUB: Latest News from the World’s Largest Pizza Show