U.S. Pizza Team Council

Dave Sommers – Mad Mushroom, West Lafayette, IN.
Athletics Director, Culinary, USPT Council
Dave Sommers is the owner of 2 Mad Mushrooms in Read More
Dave Sommers – Mad Mushroom, West Lafayette, IN.Athletics Director, Culinary, USPT Council

Dave Sommers is the owner of 2 Mad Mushrooms in Lafayette and W. Lafayette, In. He competes in all the acrobatic categories, holds the records for fastest pie maker and fastest boxfolder. He also competes on the culinary side.
Jamie Culliton – USPT Athletic Coach, The Nona Slice House, Safety Harbor, FL.
Acrobatics Coach, Culinary, USPT Council
    Jamie competes in both Acrobatics and culinary and Read More
Jamie Culliton – USPT Athletic Coach, The Nona Slice House, Safety Harbor, FL.Acrobatics Coach, Culinary, USPT Council
 

 

Jamie competes in both Acrobatics and culinary and won second place in Freestyle Acrobatics at the World Pizza Championships in Parma, Italy, 2014 and 2015 and the gold medal in 2016. Jamie was also part of the gold medal winning team acrobatic routine from the Salsomaggiore World Pizza Championships in 2011, and marched with the team in the Macy’s Day Parade in 2010. Jamie has also won numerous culinary awards, including 1st place at the 2011 Orlando USPT Trials with his Margherita Pie! Owner of The Nona Slice House in Safety Harbor, FL., Jamie spends his days slinging pie in the sunshine to beach-goers and locals alike.

https://www.thenona-slicehouse.com/

https://www.instagram.com/thenonaslicehouse/

Gino Rago – Panino’s Pizza, Chicago, IL.
Culinary Coach, USPT Council
I have a passion for all styles of pizza. I Read More
Gino Rago – Panino’s Pizza, Chicago, IL.Culinary Coach, USPT Council

I have a passion for all styles of pizza. I am proud to adhere to the standards of the old school pizzerias and the art and craft of the great pizzaiolos who started the legacy one hundred years ago.

Michael LaMarca – Master Pizza, Cleveland, OH.
Team Captian, Culinary, USPT Council
Michael P. LaMarca is the owner of the Master Pizza Read More
Michael LaMarca – Master Pizza, Cleveland, OH.Team Captian, Culinary, USPT Council

Michael P. LaMarca is the owner of the Master Pizza franchise in Cleveland, Ohio.  Michael has competed as part of the United States Pizza Team since 2013 and has been voted “Best Pizza in Cleveland” several times and won 4 national competitions for Best “Pizza in America”.

Jason Samosky – Samosky’s Homestyle Pizzeria, Valley City, OH.
Culinary, USPT Council
I am Jason Samosky, proud owner of Samosky’s Homestyle Pizzeria Read More
Jason Samosky – Samosky’s Homestyle Pizzeria, Valley City, OH.Culinary, USPT Council

I am Jason Samosky, proud owner of Samosky’s Homestyle Pizzeria in Valley City, OH.  Since 2003, Pizza has been my passion.  In 2005 I earned my first US pizza title, and to date have earned 5 US Pizza Championships. We are family owned and operated since 1910, “Four Generations Strong & Still Going”

Bradley Corbin – Sloopy’s Sports Cafe, Lakeside, OH.
Culinary, USPT Council
Brad Corbin, Owner of Sloopy’s Sports Cafe, Lakeside, OH & Read More
Bradley Corbin – Sloopy’s Sports Cafe, Lakeside, OH.Culinary, USPT Council

Brad Corbin, Owner of Sloopy’s Sports Cafe, Lakeside, OH & Port Clinton OH:  I’ve been in culinary for 18 years, 12 in the pizza industry. USPT member since 2012. Awards: 2012 American Pizza Championship, 2012 NAPICS “Best in the Midwest” Gourmet & Traditional, 2013 NAPICS “Best in the Midwest” Gourmet. Favorite thing to do in my spare time: hunt, fish, and travel. Favorite food other than pizza: Sushi

Leonardo Rago – Panino’s Pizzeria, Evanston, IL.
Culinary, USPT Council
Started in the pizza business at age 14, Love Pizza, Read More
Leonardo Rago – Panino’s Pizzeria, Evanston, IL.Culinary, USPT Council

Started in the pizza business at age 14, Love Pizza, competing and creating new pies. When I am not making pizza, I love music, managing bands, doing PR, TV and radio promotion for popular local band’s to help relieve the stress of running a pizza place.

Brian Hernandez – U.S. Pizza Team Director, Batesville, MS.
USPT Director, Culinary, USPT Council
  Brian came on board PMQ Pizza Magazine in October Read More
Brian Hernandez – U.S. Pizza Team Director, Batesville, MS.USPT Director, Culinary, USPT Council

 

Brian came on board PMQ Pizza Magazine in October of 2011 as the Director of the USPT and has taken the team to Italy 8 times. In those 8 years, he has filled the roster of this team with quality pizzaiolos, acrobats, and lifelong friends. He loves pizza, playing guitar and singing, relaxing by a fire with a nice cigar and glass of whiskey, and all of his team members (except LaMarca).

Brian has collaborated with old and new members to create a council of the U.S. Pizza Team so the team itself has a hand in deciding the direction it will go for the betterment of the team , the team members and the industry. The team is growing steadily year after year by recruiting quality members, as well as a membership requests through uspizzateam.com. All applicants are vetted through the team council before any are allowed membership.

Brian has competed 3 times in Italy (’16-’18). Twice in Classico and once in Pizza for Two with former PMQ Media Producer and USPT Competing Member Daniel Lee Perea. In the 2018 Classico division, Brian won Best American Score for the category, coming in 48th out of 667 competitors.


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