The Business of Love

Five couples navigating the entrepreneurial world together

By Kaylor Jones / Photos by Claudia Johnstone

The old adage says business and pleasure don’t mix, but husband-and-wife teams around the world are becoming great successes in their co-owned ventures. A spouse is a person’s greatest support system, so why just be romantic partners when you can be business partners, too? Here, we get to know five local married couples who share a passion for their work – and each other.

Patrick and Carrie Antrim

Founder & CEO and COO, nectarflow.com

If you ask Carrie and Patrick Antrim, there’s no such thing as work-life balance.

“For us, it’s not about separating work from life but integrating them in a way that allows us to be fully present for what matters most,” Carrie says. “Our family is the foundation of everything we do, and we’ve intentionally designed a life that reflects our priorities.”

As the couple behind nectarflow.com, the Antrims are on a mission to transform businesses through artificial intelligence (AI). Headquartered at the nectarflow Innovation & AI Lab in North Scottsdale, the company’s goal is to create environments that encourage risk-taking, increasing productivity not by replacing people, but by enabling them to do their best work.

Carrie, whose background is in education and law, oversees daily operations at nectarflow, while Patrick, a former baseball player with the New York Yankees, sets the vision and strategy.

“We balance each other so seamlessly,” Patrick says. “While I tend to focus on big ideas, Carrie has an incredible ability to take those ideas and turn them into actionable strategies. Her approach brings a grounded focus to our work, ensuring that we never lose sight of what’s most important.”

Carrie adds, “Patrick’s passion and energy are contagious, and they push me to think beyond limits I might otherwise impose on myself. But beyond his skills and work ethic, what I love most about working with Patrick is his heart. He leads with integrity, kindness and a genuine desire to make a difference in the lives of others.”

At the end of the day, the most fulfilling aspect of their partnership is leading with love at home, where they strive to model courage for their children and show them what it means to chase your dreams.

“My greatest role is being a husband to Carrie and a father to our children,” Patrick says. “Meeting her wasn’t just a turning point – it was the beginning of the most meaningful journey of my life.”

Anthony and Jaime Spinato

CEO and Brand Manager & Director of Community Outreach, Spinato’s Pizzeria & Family Kitchen

Spinato’s Pizzeria gives a new meaning to the phrase “family business” – the restaurant is the reason Anthony Spinato met the love of his life. When she was young, Jaime and her parents were regulars at the North Phoenix location, and though she and Anthony fell in love at first sight, they struck up an eight-year friendship before Anthony mustered the courage to ask her on a date.

“When I first met Jaime, I was super intimidated by her because she was so beautiful, so fun and happy, somewhat silly but also kind and humble,” Anthony says. “She was too good for me and still is – maybe the thought of free pizza for life helped get the ‘yes’ for marriage from her. At least she knew she’d never go hungry!”

It was a no-brainer for Jaime to join the family business (www.spinatospizzeria.com) in addition to the Spinato family. Now CEO, Anthony leads a team of over 400 employees while Jaime manages Spinato’s philanthropic programs, working with over 130 nonprofits each year in addition to the Kenneth A. Spinato Foundation, named after Spinato’s founder and Anthony’s father. With six locations and plans to open one per year for the next seven years, they strive to uphold their family values in everything they do.

“I like to say we’re in the people business more than the pizza business,” Anthony says. “It’s about our passion for making sure guests feel like they’re part of our family from the moment they enter our restaurant. Life begins when you put others first.”

It’s been an eventful season for Anthony and Jaime – they recently celebrated the restaurant’s 50th anniversary, and their 20th wedding anniversary is next on the calendar.

“My husband inspires me as an incredible leader who’s thoughtful and intentional in his approach to life,” Jaime says. “We love dreaming together and we share the same vision for our lives. I couldn’t ask for a better partner, friend and father to our children.”

Dennis Petty and Diana Blewer

CEO and CFO, DDP Worldwide; Hosts, Arizona on the Rise

A love of music permeates everything Dennis Petty and Diana Blewer do. The couple have been inseparable from the moment they met – when Diana was a customer at Dennis’ neighborhood restaurant – and it was the next logical step for them to go into business together, too.

“I owned JC’s Steakhouse with Diana for about seven years, and many country artists performed there,” Dennis says. “I realized there needed to be stronger support to help local artists shine in their careers. That’s when we sold the restaurant and started DDP Worldwide.”

The Gilbert-based talent agency (www.ddpworldwide.com) books and promotes local and national musicians, entertainers and speakers. In addition to launching the Arizona Desert Country Music Association, Dennis and Diana also recently debuted a new radio show on Arizona Real Country 96.3 FM. Airing Sunday nights at 7 p.m., Arizona on the Rise showcases live performances of original songs by local country artists.

“Country music really strikes me to my core. How country music artists can write songs with such raw emotion that tells a story, it’s truly something special. You can tell they sing from their heart,” Diana says.

For Dennis, the best part is having a front-row seat to watch artists grow as both people and performers. “They can start off playing in bar bands but then open for some of the biggest names in country music. We get to see every chapter of an artist getting to do what they love most.”

After 15 years together, Dennis and Diana have learned a few tricks to doing business together – from working in separate rooms to sharing their appreciation for each other every day.

“She’s the drive behind me,” Dennis says. “She makes me want to be better and completes me in every way possible.”

“We help each other be the best versions of ourselves,” Diana echoes. “The more he works toward his goals and dreams, the more it inspires me to do the same.”

Nick and Nikki Metzger

Owners and Founders, BODI Strength & Conditioning Gym

Nick and Nikki Metzger are the definition of a power couple. Their athletic backgrounds – Nick as a college baseball player and Nikki’s in dance and track – meant they had plenty in common when they met in 2008 at their apartment building in Chicago.

Nikki was seeing great success in her fitness career, traveling the world as a Nike Master Trainer and being on the cover of Women’s Health magazine. But her dream was to open a gym of her own, and Nick, who attended an all-business school for finance and economics, proved the ideal business partner.

“We would vacation from Chicago to Scottsdale regularly in the winter months and instantly fell in love with everything Scottsdale offered,” Nick says. “It wasn’t long after we began dreaming up our vision of BODI.”

Now celebrating over a decade in business, BODI (www.scottsdalebodi.com) celebrates the camaraderie of team sports, offering a wide variety of classes within their three core pillars – strength, conditioning and lifestyle. The overall goal is for BODI to be more than just a workout for the people who walk through their doors – the Metzgers want it to be the best part of their day. It’s well-deserved, they say, considering how much inspiration they themselves draw from the BODI community.

“They’re the heartbeat of everything we do and remind me every day why I show up. I’m constantly inspired by the friendships, marriages and families that have formed through BODI,” says Nikki, who is similarly moved by Nick’s dedication to fatherhood. “He always makes time to put our son first, no matter what’s going on in work or life, and I admire that so much.”

For Nick, the feeling is mutual. “Nikki’s drive and creativity are unmatched. Her ability to take an idea and turn it into something bigger than I ever imagined is a special skill very few have. She inspires me every day to work harder, dream bigger and be better.”

Anthony and Gabriela Salcido

Co-founder & President and Founder & CEO, Roman Empire Agency

After pursuing a diverse and accomplished education – including two bachelor’s degrees, an internship with the Secret Service, a Juris Doctor and master’s degrees in education and law – Gabriela Salcido set her sights on the field of psychology.

She worked for over a decade in regional centers serving the developmentally disabled population before deciding to combine forces with her husband Anthony, who shares the same drive for helping people in need. Together, they opened Roman Empire Agency (www.romanempireagency.com) in 2010 to provide tailored services to individuals with disabilities.

Anthony, a former Marine with a lifelong passion for entrepreneurship, knew that his business background plus her industry knowledge was a recipe for success.

“I always tell everyone you’ll never find anyone else with the same knowledge and ability to put families at ease – my wife is the best, hands down,” Anthony says.

Now with locations across six states, the Salcidos have learned a thing or two about maintaining a healthy working relationship alongside the romantic relationship that sparked to life nearly two decades ago when they met outside of a local restaurant, waiting for valets to retrieve their cars.

“Reminding each other the importance of making time for each other and family is just as important as being successful business owners,” Anthony says.

To Gabriela, supporting each other’s ideas and knowing when to agree to disagree have been the keys to building a legacy they can both be proud of.

“Having lived in poverty as a child really drove me to become successful. I was the first one in my family to attend college, and my first language was Spanish,” she says. “I strongly believe that it doesn’t matter where you were born, where your parents come from, if you’re rich or poor – it all comes down to what a person wants to do with their life. I hope that one day my husband and I inspire our children in their own career endeavors.”