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It’s been a whirlwind kind of few months for Tony Cerimele, owner of New Columbus Pizza Company, in Nesquehoning, Pennsylvania. After capturing the first-place finish in the Pan Division, Tony went on to win the Finals to be named World Champion Pizza Maker of the Year at the International Pizza Challenge during Pizza Expo (March 19-21) in Las Vegas.

We caught up with Tony to see learn more about his winning pizza, competing at an international level and see what’s happened since the big win. 

During a Q&A, we asked Tony: What does it mean for you to receive recognition as the Pizza Maker of the Year? He said, “I think the biggest thing for me is that fact that I accomplished something I set out to do a long time ago.  I first started competing in 2017.  Since the beginning it has been a rollercoaster.  Looking at it now I am most happy to bring these awards back to my hometown of Nesquehoning, PA, and all of Northeastern Pennsylvania.  We have some incredible pizza in our area and I am just happy to be a part of the community.  I think the most import thing for me after winning is the fact that my daughters witnessed firsthand that hard work and determination really do pay off in the end.  They saw all the reps, all the trials and tribulations with this pizza, and to get this outcome was the greatest example I could give them to keep pushing forward to achieve what you dream off.”

Read his Q&A at https://pizzatoday.com/topics/industry-news/world-champion-pizza-maker-of-the-year-2024-is-tony-cerimele-new-columbus-pizza-co/