A Nesquehoning pizza shop owner has won the top award at Pizza Expo 2024 being held this week at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Tony Cerimele of New Columbus Pizza Co. in Nesquehoning, was named Pizza Maker of the Year at the International Pizza Challenge Finals.

He also won the pan pizza category.

Cerimele competed against 50 other top competitors in the pan pizza division, and hundreds more from other divisions. The talented pizzaioli came from around the world to compete in three grueling rounds at Pizza Expo in Las Vegas.

Pizza Expo is in its 40th year of operation and is heralded as the pizza industry’s largest pizza event. The event is operated by Pizza Today and attracts thousands of pizza fanatics from around the globe.

Cerimele posted on Facebook, “Well it is true that hard work and perseverance pays off. We battled to the top to take 1st place in the Pan Division and then went on to win Pizza Maker of the Year. For that, the winner of each division squares off with only their dough and has to use the ingredients provided to them. Such an incredible experience. My emotions are still flying high and I know my father was with me the whole time pulling strings from heaven.”

Cerimele has had success in the pizza world since taking over the family business over a decade ago.

He helped set a world record for the world’s largest pizza party last January with being one of 3,357 participants gathering to help the World Pizza Champions earn the record in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Last October, Cerimele also took home third place in the America’s Best Cheese Slice competition in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Cerimele has been in the pizza business since 2013, when he took over the longtime pizza business that his grandparents Michael and Mayme and then uncle Michael “Schmick” Cerimele ran since 1959 from the basement of their home.

Today, the family’s recipes live on through Tony Cerimele.

He now offers specialty pizzas, signature family favorites and a mobile wood fired pizza catering for area events. But Cerimele didn’t stop there.

He also is a certified Pizzaiolo from The International School of Pizza in San Francisco by friend and mentor Tony Gemignani.

For more information on New Columbus Pizza Company, visit the company’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/NewColumbusPizza or website https://newcolumbuspizzaco.com.