Today we’d like to introduce you to Daniel & Julie Ryan.
Hi Daniel & Julie, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My passion for cooking has always been a driving force in my life, and over the years, I’ve eagerly embraced new culinary challenges. During the COVID pandemic, I watched a documentary that featured renowned pizza makers from around the world. In Italy, the title *pizzaiolo* is given to skilled pizza makers, and it sparked a fire in me. I set out to master the art of crafting classic Neapolitan pizza and earn that title for myself.
I started by buying my first pizza oven, diving into research on dough recipes, flour and water ratios, yeast types, and sourcing the freshest ingredients possible. After years of experimentation and learning, my pizzas were getting rave reviews. People kept telling me it was the “best pizza they’d ever had,” and I knew I was on the right track.
To combine my love for pizza with a desire to give back, I launched *Just Off The Beach Pizza*. Over the past year, we’ve hosted 6+ pop-up events to raise money for local charities. Our initial pop-ups were a hit, bringing in around \$6000 for various causes. However, as the demand grew, we realized we couldn’t keep up with the setup in our driveway. That’s when we partnered with Lauren at Brewhound Dog Park, securing a more stable location for our events.
The community has been amazing—thanks to a core group of volunteers who help with prep, cooking, and cleanup, we’ve been able to keep this effort going. We’ve supported causes like suicide prevention, homeless shelters, women’s shelters, and the Epilepsy Foundation, among others. Now, we host 4 to 6 events per year, tossing dough, firing up the oven, and raising money for those in need. It’s been incredibly rewarding to see so many people come together for a good cause, all while sharing great pizza.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Starting something like *Just Off The Beach Pizza* definitely wasn’t easy. My wife and I made the initial leap by investing in the equipment and supplies needed to get it off the ground. What we quickly realized was that there’s a huge difference between making a few pizzas for a small group of friends and producing 100 pizzas over the course of just a few hours. The logistics of scaling up, managing the timing, and keeping everything running smoothly was a massive learning curve, one that we had to face head-on.
We’ve encountered our fair share of bumps along the way—burnt crusts, dough that wouldn’t rise, and the challenge of keeping everything fresh and organized under pressure. But the same tenacity that got me to the point of making “the best pizza ever” came into play here. Through trial and error, we fine-tuned our process, got the timing down to a science, and learned how to balance efficiency with quality. We can now knock out 100 pizzas without breaking a sweat, and each one comes out just as good as the last.
One of the most rewarding parts of it all is that, with every pizza we sell, every penny goes directly to the charity we’re supporting that day. It’s a lot of work, but when you see the impact it has on the community and know that it’s all for a good cause, it makes every challenge worth it. Over time, we’ve built a rhythm, a loyal following, and a team of volunteers who help make the whole operation run smoothly.
At this point, we’ve got the process dialed in, and we consistently sell out at each event, all while raising money for incredible causes. The bumps along the road now feel like just part of the journey—and it’s been an incredibly rewarding one, both for us and for the communities we’ve been able to support.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I have to give a huge shoutout to my wife! She’s not only my partner in life but also an incredible example of what it means to work hard and chase a dream. As a local business owner, she’s built a successful photography business from the ground up, and every day I see the passion and dedication she pours into her work. When I came up with this crazy idea of mine, she didn’t hesitate to support me. She understood the time, effort, cost, and sacrifice it would take—and still cheered me on from the very beginning. That kind of belief means everything.
During the week, I spend my days working in the medical field, a career that is both challenging and rewarding. But on the weekends, I get to shift gears and do something completely different: make pizza for charity. It started as a small dream, but it has grown into something that brings together family, friends, and community in such a special way. Every event reminds me that food has this incredible ability to create connection. A simple pizza can spark laughter, conversation, and a shared sense of belonging.
For me, travel, food, and music have always been universal languages—things that transcend our differences and bring us together. No matter who you are or where you come from, these experiences have a way of uniting us. That’s why I’ve chosen pizza as my way to give back. It’s fun, it’s comforting, and it’s something almost everyone enjoys. But more importantly, it serves as a bridge—an invitation for people to gather, to support one another, and to rally around causes that matter.
This journey wouldn’t be possible without the love and support of those around me—especially my wife, who not only believes in my vision but shares in it wholeheartedly. Together, we’ve learned that giving back doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes it’s as simple as a hot slice of pizza, good company, and a shared goal to make a difference.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I’ll admit—I was a bit of a troublemaker. That path eventually led my parents to pull me out of traditional school and homeschool me instead. While it wasn’t the most conventional route, it gave me the freedom to explore my natural curiosity. I was always eager to learn, to dig into new interests, and to look at the world in different ways.
I also grew up in an artist’s home—both of my parents are artists—and being immersed in that environment instilled in me an appreciation for creativity, expression, and the small but vibrant artist community we were part of. Art was woven into everything, and even though I didn’t pursue woodworking, painting or sculpture, that love for creativity stayed with me.
As a teenager, I expressed an interest in pursuing the medical field, but at the time, it wasn’t supported. Instead, I found myself working in the IT industry for over a decade. While it was a valuable experience, something was always missing. Eventually, I made the decision to go back to school and follow the path that led me to my current profession in the medical field—a career that challenges and fulfills me every day.
But that creative spark from my upbringing never left. Cooking, and especially pizza-making, became the outlet that reconnected me to that side of myself. To me, food is an art form in its own right. The process of experimenting with dough, sauces, toppings, and technique became a way to channel the same energy I grew up surrounded by in the arts community. Where I once saw brushes and canvases, I now saw flour, fire, and flavor as the tools of creation.
Pizza making, in particular, became the missing ingredient—a way to fill the creative void while also giving back. It was never just about the food itself, but about the experience: bringing people together, sparking conversation, and building community around something as simple and joyful as a shared cause and meal. In many ways, it’s a continuation of what I learned growing up in the arts—that creativity isn’t just self-expression, it’s connection.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jotbpizza
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1CjN9vMwGV/
