Two new ambassador appointments show how opportunity follows involvement.
There’s a reason so many of the pizza industry’s biggest brands turn to U.S. Pizza Team members when they’re looking for ambassadors. They want talented pizza makers, but they also need people who can teach, troubleshoot and represent their products with credibility. A brand ambassador is expected to answer operator questions, develop recipes and serve as a trusted voice for the company. That’s a role many USPT members have quietly filled for years, and now two of our most active members are adding new ambassador titles to their résumés.
We’re excited to congratulate Mike Pitera of Pizza a Modo Mio and Sean Dempsey of Dempsey’s Brewery Pub & Restaurant on their newest industry appointments. Pitera has expanded his role with USPT Gold Sponsor DeIorio Foods as Executive Chef and Brand Ambassador, while Dempsey has joined the California Milk Advisory Board as a Real California Milk Brand Ambassador, another USPT Gold Sponsor. Both appointments reflect years of building relationships and proving themselves as educators just as much as competitors.
Pitera’s relationship with DeIorio began long before the company became a U.S. Pizza Team sponsor. After moving south from New York and launching his first food truck, he needed a dough program that could grow with his business. “I developed a relationship with them about four years ago,” Pitera said. “As a result of building that relationship, DeIorio’s wanted to become a sponsor of the U.S. Pizza Team. They saw the value of working with a bunch of pizzaiolos.” Today, he serves as Executive Chef and Brand Ambassador, traveling the country demonstrating products, developing recipes, consulting with operators and improving pizzeria operations.
That philosophy centers on consistency. “In order for me to grow, I need consistency. I can’t be at four different locations at the same time,” Pitera said, explaining why dependable systems have become such a major focus of his consulting work. His practical approach extends well beyond dough. “It’s exciting to be able to help a business become better on something that I love to do,” he said, a mindset that continues to make him a valuable educator and ambassador for DeIorio.
Dempsey’s new role with Real California Milk follows a similar path. After building relationships with the California Milk Advisory Board through industry events and award-winning competition appearances, he was invited earlier this year to join the ambassador team. His work will include trade show appearances, recipe and content development, and promoting Real California dairy while helping operators better understand cheese applications. “I’m looking forward to just a genuine good partnership with a group that is very passionate about what they do, and I’m looking forward to being a part of that….and all the cheese!” Dempsey said.
For Dempsey, the opportunity is as much about learning as teaching. He hopes it will create more opportunities for R&D that he can bring back to both Dempsey’s and the U.S. Pizza Team. “Creating more content is going to make me a better creator, and it’s going to help me become fully immersed in California cheese,” he said. He also believes the experience will give him “a better and fully versed understanding of everything cheese,” knowledge he hopes to share with fellow operators, teammates and even customers.
Congratulations again to both Mike and Sean on their new ambassador roles. Their appointments are another reminder that the U.S. Pizza Team is about much more than competitions. The same dedication that earns medals often leads to opportunities to educate operators, represent respected brands and help move the industry forward. To learn more about how USPT members build these relationships, look for the September edition of PMQ Pizza Magazine, where Tips from the Team takes a deeper dive into the growing role of brand ambassadorships throughout the ranks of the U.S. Pizza Team, with our team sponsors and beyond.
By Brian Hernandez, PMQ Assoc. Editor & U.S. Pizza Team Dir.
