Brewing a Dream: How Ella Pierce Turned a Class Project into Backpacker’s Brew

04/08/2026

The winds of change often influence the vicissitudes of many entrepreneurs in an upward or downward plane. With plans to play softball at a college in Omaha, Nebraska, Ella Pierce was ready to pursue her dream of playing college softball. The winds of change came, issued in the COVID-19 experience, and the college she planned to attend withdrew their athletic scholarships. Pierce began looking at other options when the father of a former William Penn softball player suggested becoming a Statesmen might be another option. The William Penn head softball coach, Mike Christner, encouraged Ella and her twin sister Maddie to make a visit to campus, and it sealed their decision.

“My first day walking out of an Entrepreneurship and Innovation class, I had no intention that it would play a major role in my future,” noted Pierce. Pierce went on to describe the impact that the class and professor Jihna Jenkins would have on her. “Professor Jenkins helped shape my approach to research. I learned how to gather and analyze data that supported my business concept. This foundation allowed me to present credible statistics and a well-supported plan to local banks, which ultimately played a key role in opening the doors for Backpacker’s Brew.”

Pierce would go on to illustrate how the business program at William Penn would play a critical role in refining the initial idea for Backpacker’s Brew by equipping her with practical skills and a real-world perspective. “Jihna Jenkins played a key role in helping me bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world application.

“Building my business plan during the coursework at William Penn was a structured and highly intentional process that took place over the course of 16 weeks. The plan was broken down into manageable sections, with each week focused on three to four major components, beginning with defining the company name, identifying challenges, and identifying the most appropriate business structure,” noted Pierce.

Backpacker’s Brew shifted from a class project to a tangible business idea after Pierce completed the Entrepreneurship and Innovation class. “The confidence I gained from developing my business plan made me realize that this wasn’t just an assignment, it was something I wanted to pursue after graduation.

“Beyond the classroom, William Penn gave me the chance to pitch my idea to real investors,” noted Pierce, stating, “that experience taught me how to communicate my vision clearly, answer challenging questions, and adapt on the fly, skills that are essential for any entrepreneur.”

Opening the Backpacker’s Brew coffee shop in Council Bluffs, Iowa, on June 20, 2025, another dream became a reality for Pierce, a 2025 graduate of William Penn University. Initially operating as a drive-through, the business expanded in December of 2025 to include a dining area, as Pierce would also partner with Breeze Bakery to offer additional culinary treats.

Pierce’s family would also be a key component in the business venture. With plans to work in the family business with her father, Jason, and mother, Diane, she informed the family that she wanted to open a coffee shop. “My Dad totally supported my plans to open my own coffee shop,” assessed Pierce. Ella’s sister Maddie also works at the coffee shop, and plans are for her younger sister Grace to work in the shop this summer.

“Softball was the driving factor of coming to William Penn University,” noted Ella’s father, Jason, “but the business department was an amazing experience for her and made her ready for her career of owning her own business.”

The dream continues for Pierce, as she discussed the possibility of opening a second shop. “The community in the metro area has expressed an interest in having another Backpacker’s Brew opening, with Omaha being a possibility and looking at the proximity to the interstate,” noted Pierce.

In the words of a 14th century English proverb, “Mighty oaks from little acorns grow.”