Meet Dean Leisman of Scottsdale

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dean Leisman.

Hi Dean , we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Life is a journey and I was taught early to always surround yourself with people that care. I knew I was never going to be Dr. or Engineer but I always knew I wanted to develop things that created opportunity for others. The hospitality business is something that allows one to learn skills that will help make people better. Things you learn behind a bar, in a kitchen or on the floor you cannot learn in a classroom. Problem solving, multi tasking, connecting with new people making them trust you are things this industry does. Pitch is a place where people get to feel safe, learn about scratch cuisine, wine, single barrel bourbons and tequila, listen to good music, work with fun smart Pitches and make money all along the way. This is the industry that you can make a lot of money with no education or be working on it, write your schedule and again have fun. Leave it alone, let the largest employer in the country being the hospitality business alone, we got this.
That is my story, a journey I wan not expecting but I knew that once in it I would work to surround myself and Pitch with Pitches that Care. Have the the Executive Chef MC be here since day one, 16 years ago is very special.
The OG Pitch opened in Omaha NE, a little iconic neighborhood called Dundee. Then in 2015 the second opened in West Omaha with a roof top patio. Scottsdale, where I call home opened in 2017 and 2022, both in Scottsdale.

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?
Define smooth?
Everything we do has challenges and the key is surrounding ourselves with Talent that Cares. We choose to focus on the positive, we can only learn from the past.
Like so many businesses we have to pay attention, listen, learn and try to be creative. An example of that is what we call the Booze Bank, open 7 days a week. We do about 40 to 50 private barrels of selected bourbons, rye, rum, gin and of course tequila. We also do 5 private wines in Napa all that can be purchased at Pitch. You know your Guests which we call Pitches trust you when they will take you inside their homes.
The key for us is we would rather work short handed with the right Pitches than have people on our Teams that don’t buy into what we are working to do and that is Create the Experience. Have the Spot where your Pitches feel so comfortable they will come alone. That is why we call servers/bartenders Connection Makers. We are not looking for order takers, that is call the silly QR codes. We want people to know names and have that Connection.
We have to have buy in and that has to be consistent. 2 types of people, Don’t know Don’t care. The Don’t know’s you can fix if they want to learn but people that don’t care will take you down. I know am not a Dr. but I believe and know it takes zero physical strength to Care.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
The restaurants are my office. I don’t know if I specialize in it but I work to Lead with Energy and walk the walk. I truly Lead to show how it can be done. I Connect by talking and engaging. I want everyone to feel special and learn something new when they experience Pitch. I personally have learned so much from Chef MC and his Chef Team. Talk about a classroom, come spend a day in the kitchen with them.
Pitch and the Pitch Team is real, not a reality show. We get slammed, work through it by being prepared and smart and no one yells.
What I am most proud of is a comment made years ago to me,’I love coming to Pitch because I forget what day of the week it is.” That is very special to me.
When we make a mistake we fix it. If a guest won’t allow us to fix it then maybe Pitch isn’t right for them. TV dinners I hear have come a long way.

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Not really, I am always looking how to make things better but it is done for me by being present.
Real life is communicating and engaging with real people.
The resource I believe in is Accountability. We have a Culture Contract that everyone signs. It is not asking for a kidney, it is a contract that we are all going to do what we say to create the experience. Be on time, bring your A game, come with Energy looking good. We stick to this and amazing how so often the person we interview, hire and spend a lot of time training then shows who they really are. That is when the Culture Contract is brought out and discussed.
You have to Care all the time.

Pricing:

• We have a Perfect Portion Menu for lunch, smaller prices and portions.
• Pizza & Bottle Deals, seriously a pizza and bottle of wine for $40
• Single Barrel Feature Pours for $8 when you order an adult beverage.
• Happy Hour, M-F 2pm to 6pm, sometimes on weekends.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Pitchpizzeria.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pitchpizzeria/