Pizza Today - July 2024 - 50

EXPO SPOTLIGHT B I L L OA K L E Y
NOVEMBER 7, 2024
THE FILLMORE PHILADELPHIA
TONY GEMIGNANI AND JOHN ARENA
ARE COMING TO PIZZACON 2024!
I
am thrilled to announce that the
opening keynote speakers for the
inaugural PizzaCon 2024 will be
pizza luminaries Tony Gemignani
and John Arena. Th is will be your only chance
to hear these industry superstars and thought
leaders who will have a lasting impact on the
pizza industry throughout the world.
Tony Gemignani is a Master Pizzaioli,
Tony Gemignani
John Arena
acclaimed chef, and owner of more than 30
restaurants and the fast-growing Slice House
franchise. Th e 13-time World Pizza Champion
has become a household name in the world
of pizza, and he is considered by many as the
Michael Jordan of our industry. He's authored
or co-authored three books - including his
most recent book Th e Pizza Bible, which is a
consumer guide to making pizza - covering
nine diff erent regional styles. His pizzeria,
Tony's Pizzeria Napoletana has been named
America's best pizzeria by USA Today, the
Travel Channel and Forbes, and it was recently
ranked number two in the United States and
number 10 in the world by Italy's " 50 Top
Pizzas " . Tony was the fi rst American to win
the title of World Champion Pizza Maker at
the World Cup in Naples, Italy. He also holds
two Guinness Book of World Records, one
for creating the largest pizza and another for
performing the most consecutive rolls of pizza
dough across the back of his shoulders. If these
weren't enough accolades, the city of Naples
named Tony as their offi cial U.S. Ambassador
for Neapolitan Pizza.
After 32 successful years, he's now focusing
most of his time and energy on growing his
Slice House franchise. He's had multi-units
with Pizza Rock and concepts in North
Beach, California, along with licenses in
football and baseball stadiums, casinos and
basketball arenas. Development, training,
culture, philosophy and growing are going to
be at the forefront of his next chapter in his
life. His Slice House off ers more than 20 pizza
combinations that can come on any style of
pizza, including Detroit, Grandma, New York,
50 / PIZZATODAY.COM / JULY 2024
Sicilian and Gluten-free.
John Arena is a third-generation pizza
chef that's been pushing out pizza dough for
more than 48 years, and is the co-owner and
co-founder of Metro Pizza, along with his
cousin Sam Facchini, with seven locations in
Las Vegas. Metro Pizza has won countless local
and national awards and acclaim, including
being named one of the Top 10 pizzerias in the
U.S. by Penny Pollack and Jeff Ruby in their
book " Everybody Loves Pizza. " Metro Pizza
has been featured on " Entertainment Tonight "
and " Live with Regis and Kathy Lee, " and
listed as one of the 10 best pizzerias in America
by USA Today. John Arena has been called
the Don of Dough, the Sultan of Sauce, and
the Prince of Pizza by the Las Vegas Review
Journal. He's also a worldwide ambassador and
elder statesman for the pizza industry.
John has traveled extensively throughout
Italy and the world and has mastered many
styles of pizza along the way. He also knows
the history of pizza and has taught pizza
making at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas,
as well as trained pizza makers throughout
the United States and the world. John has
a great saying that is a testament to who he
is and what he stands for: collaborators, not
competitors, enough said.
For more information on attending
PizzaCon 2024, please visit PizzaCon.com.
It's all pizza and it's all for YOU!
Kind regards,
Bill Oakley
Group Show Director
BILL OAKLEY is the Group
Show Director for International
Pizza Expo and PizzaCon.
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Pizza Today - July 2024

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