Brittany Means Wills

By Hannah Newman,

Although college comes to an end, a Zeta’s job to serve is never over. The end is only a transition into the beginning.

For alumna Brittany Means Wills, that transition to a new beginning came just before graduating from the University of Missouri when she and her then fiancé, Allen, signed their first lease to open a Pickleman’s Gourmet Café in Springfield, Missouri.

The Pickleman’s near the Mizzou campus played a pivotal role in Brittany’s collegiate experience and became the place where her past, present and future collided. It was well-known for catering fraternity and sorority events and being open late for college students when everything else was closed.

Brittany knew she wanted to invest in a business where she could prioritize working with people and her relationships with them. She wanted a business that would grow alongside its workers and serve the community with love.

“Our goal is to provide a high-quality meal in a reasonable amount of time with a smile on our face,” Brittany said. “If we can make someone’s day just a little bit better, then I feel like we do our part one guest at a time. We want to be a positive part of our guests’ lives and our community.”

Brittany and Allen now make days a bit better at seven stores in communities throughout Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas and soon, Texas. Their experience as business owners has flourished into more than just a place for people to work and enjoy a pleasant eating experience. Their restaurants have become an opportunity for the local areas to grow and better themselves because of Pickleman’s goal to touch the lives of their community.

“We focus on partnering with local schools, food banks and children’s organizations to give back through community fundraisers. My husband and I are both very passionate about education; we are working on different scholarship programs for our employees who are pursuing their education. The goal is not to hold onto our teams forever, but to send them on in their journey better than when they started with us,” Brittany said.

Brittany was initiated at Eta Lambda Chapter (College of Charleston) and then transferred to Alpha Psi Chapter (University of Missouri). She currently lives in Fayetteville, Arkansas, where she is a member of the Northwest Arkansas Alumnae Chapter. She is the former General Advisor and current Housing Advisor for Epsilon Chapter (University of

Arkansas) and current Mentor to Alpha Upsilon Chapter (Oklahoma State University).

Brittany’s inner Zeta has overlapped with her role as a business owner. She continues to embrace lifelong learning, leading and serving daily. “I enjoy working with Zetas from all walks of life and different experiences than me. It challenges me and keeps me on my toes, making me a better mom, wife and businesswoman. To see so many collegiate women go on to become successful career women brings incredible joy; knowing one day they will be the advisors to women like my 6-year-old daughter is a full circle moment.”