By Brian Hernandez
As PMQ’s U.S. Pizza Team writes the next chapter in the pizza industry’s history book, it has a new Team Council to lead the way and provide guidance for the journey—with the members chosen by the team, for the team.
These seven outstanding members were voted in by their peers to help lead, guide and shape the future of the USPT:
- Team Captain: Tore Trupiano—Mangia e Bevi, Oceanside, CA
- Culinary Coach: Vitangelo Recchia—Bella Napoli Pizzeria & Restaurant, Port Charlotte, FL
- Athletic Coach: David Sommers—Mad Mushroom, IN & KY
- Premiere Member Representatives: George Taylor—Taylors’ Pizza House, Endwell, NY, and Sean Dempsey—Dempsey’s Brewery Pub & Restaurant, Watertown, SD
- Competing Member Representatives: Rico Lunardi—Slice on Broadway, Pittsburgh, PA, and Mike Pitera—Pizza a Modo Mio, Charleston, SC
USPT Director Brian Hernandez said it’s exciting to see such a strong council take shape—a group of industry leaders ready to shoulder responsibility and keep the team moving forward.
“I’m grateful we’ve reached this milestone,” Hernandez said. “Having a strong council in place ensures lasting leadership for the team and highlights the incredible talent we have within our ranks. These people are the best ‘pizza people’ I know, but we are always looking for more.”
The Supreme 7 are already proven leaders—in their restaurants, in the nationwide Pizza Community, and on the competition floor. Now they bring that same vision, discipline and creativity to guiding the U.S. Pizza Team as a whole. Each member will serve a two-year term—after which they’ll step back into the roles of wise pizza sages, always nearby to offer guidance to their successors, and a new slate of leaders will be elected to carry the torch.
“Under this Council’s leadership, we anticipate continued greatness, camaraderie and inspiration—the kind of energy that makes the U.S. Pizza Team not just a team, but a true family,” Hernandez said. “Stay tuned. Big energy ahead.”
