Making Pizza Divinely

One year ago, Crystal Wilson was somebody else. You'd never know it by the way she preps a pizza but for 22 years she was the Aquatics Director for the Prince William County Park Authority. Now, she's the president and CEO of Divine Wood Fired Pizza. 

It all started before she embarked on a cruise from Seattle to Alaska with her mother. Suddenly, on a street corner, the sweet smell of a wood burning pizza oven filled the air. 

"My absolute two favorite things are the smells of a campfire outdoors and pizza," Wilson told Patch. "So, when those two things came together, I realized I could be very happy with making that happen for the rest of my life." 

Wilson, who lives in Manassas, got her degree in recreation and leisure studies from Old Dominion University. She now has an oven that can withstand temperatures of 1,000 degrees and can cook a nine-inch personal size pizza in three minutes. 

"Business is very good. I'm pleased with the last six months," Wilson said. "I was doing it part time, and I got my oven in April, and had my first event May 5."

The pizzas cost $8-$10 depending on the toppings. So, what's Wilson's favorite pie to make? 

"I make a really mean shrimp and artichoke pizza with onions and pesto," she said. "I'm all about experimenting and building flavorful pizzas." 

Divine Wood Fired Pizza can be found every Thursday at the in Lorton. 

Know another entrepreneur with an interesting story to tell? E-mail Lorton Editor James Cullum: James.Cullum@Patch.com.