CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – The owner of a popular West Ashley pizza restaurant is about to embark on a journey that could change his life. Michael Pitera, owner of Pizza A Modo Mio, has been selected to compete in one of the largest pizza competitions in the world, all the way in Rimini, Italy. Pitera is set to be a proud member of the 2025 US Pizza Team, a group of culinary competitors from across the nation dedicated to bettering the pizza industry through competition. The master pizzaiolo founded his West Ashley pizza parlor about two years ago, and since then, his shop has proven to be wildly popular. He specializes in New York-style pizza and even flies in certain ingredients from the Bronx right to the Holy City. While the slices will take center stage, this isn’t just about pizza, this is about artistry, tradition, and representing the United States to a global audience. And it’s something Pitera takes very seriously as he gears up to showcase his skill in the three different categories: pizza in a pan, non-traditional pizza, and dessert pizza. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to highlight his craft and bring some new inspiration back to Charleston. Honing his skills before he leaves, he will be joined by five teammates representing Florida, Pennsylvania, New York, and South Dakota – a collaboration effort to bring back a trophy and a cash prize. This will be Pitera’s first international pizza competition, and he said he’s equal parts nervous and excited. "To be honest with you, I don't know what to expect. You've got to think of it, pizza was started in Italy, you know, it was created in Rome, it was created in Naples, it was created in all of these villages in Italy, and to have an American come there and to make pizza, you know, you got to really know what you are doing. It’s scary, but at the same time exciting,” Pitera said. He added, “They are the real deal, not all of them like us U.S. guys coming over there and trying to make pizza -- but this is, we’re in their land, this is their thing and they are very skilled, they've been doing it since they were kids, they know all of the different types of flavor profiles that judges like over there. It’s going to be challenging but I'm up for a challenge and I'm confident in myself." Pitera begins his journey on January 16th, and he will be bringing all of Charleston along with him on his social media pages so we can watch as he bakes and creates his way through the competition. Pizza a Modo Mio is located on Bees Ferry Road in West Ashley.