Construction Junction - Building Material Reuse

The Big pour committee

Here are all of the folks who work really hard to make the Steel City Big Pour more fun than you can barely stand!

• Andrew Ellsworth - Andrew is an avid CJ and beer enthusiast, and has pursued both of these pastimes for several years now: Big Pour = Shangri-la!  Andrew worked part-time at Church Brew Works for many years, and developed a discriminating taste for craft brew there and at many local watering holes.  His bicycle trips are often orchestrated around trips to microbreweries, and likes nothing more than a nice, thick stout after a long day of pedals.  Andrew is also Vice President of the CJ Board of Directors, and splits the rest of his time between his daytime career in green building consulting and his evening/weekend career renovating his house.

• Bonnie Rolison - Bonnie is the Donation Manager extraordinaire for Construction Junction.  She also really likes beer, art and people and has found her true calling as one of the art coordinators for the Big Pour.  If you look up the word enthusiasm in Webster's Dictionary you see a picture of Bonnie smiling back at you.  In some way, shape or form... Bonnie is behind all of the fun to be had at the Big Pour.

• Chris Meta - As a former co-worker of Dave “Main Instigator” Lagnese, Chris has been involved in the beery details of the Big Pour since day one.  Chris is a current member and former president of the local homebrew club T.R.A.S.H. and works as the Brewers Liaison for the Steel City Big Pour.  That means it is Chris’ job to make sure the brewers bring their finest concoctions and have as good a time the day of the event as the paying customers do.  When Chris is not brewing beer or drinking beer (or both), he can be found thinking, talking and/or daydreaming about beer.

• Cory Cope -

• David Lagnese - David is the “Main Instigator” of the Big Pour.  It all began a number of years ago when a bunch of fellow craft beer lovers from the Sharp Edge came up with the idea of the Big Pour.  After several years of talk, drinking, talk, drinking, talk, (you get the idea)… David took the first step by forming the organizing committee and planning the first Big Pour in 2007 and it's all been uphill since then.  Dave loves everything about the Big Pour, especially how it brings together great brewers and local restaurants to support the tradition of craft brewing.  He's also a big fan of the whole “Live Art” component of the event.  After all, craft beer is art!  Dave's an avid Construction Junction customer and has used CJ materials in the restoration of several houses.  He joined our Board of Directors five years ago and when he's not working on the Big Pour, he's working for Towers Perrin, a human resources consulting firm.

• David Pittman -

• Derek Stoltz -

• Howard Wein - Howard is the President of the Board of Directors of Construction Junction.  He has been on Construction Junction's Board since its inception and has provided both moral and other support to the Big Pour and the Big Pour Committee. Over the last 3 years Howard has learned more about beer than in his previous 35 years though he acknowledges that has much more to learn.  In his day job, he is an environmental lawyer at the Pittsburgh-based law firm of Buchanan, Ingersoll & Rooney, PC.

• Hugh Elliott -

• James Walton -

• Jen Owen -

• Justin Parisi -

• Keith Kost -

• Matt Moninger -

• Nicola Coohill -

• Mike Gable -

• Mike LaValley -

• Mike Sweeney - Mike is an artist and musician.  He has been featured in local art galleries and has written songs and played bass for many bands throughout his music career.  Mike's band, Hoodoo Drugstore, has been the featured band at the Steel City Big Pour since its inception and he's pleased to be returning with his band again this year.  Mike enjoys most craft-style beers, with Belgian browns his most favorite.

• Mike Young - Michael Young is an original committee member for the Big pour starting four years ago.  "I'm glad to see that the festival has grown so much over the last three years."  Mike discovered craft beer 18 years ago at the Sharp Edge Beer Emporium.  He currently works for a nonprofit community human services corporation and truly understands the need for fundraisers.  "The Big Pour is a great one.  Enjoy!"

• Mindy Schwartz - Mindy spends her time punching keys on a keyboard and is the person who populates this very website.  She's also responsible for making sure the ticketing process the day of the big event goes as smoothly as possible so don't be surprised if you see her with a big shiny whistle around her neck as you stand in line.  During the evenings and weekends when not at CJ she's either tending to her urban farm & nursery or her responsibilites as a board member of a new nonprofit she and friends co-founded or the new Wilkinsburg Community Development Corporation. 

• Patricia Tsagaris - Patricia is the artist and marketer behind the Steel City Big Pour.  It was the combination of beer, art, music and reuse that inspired her to ‘recycle’ the iconic Woodstock poster and repurpose it as the Big Pour brand.  When Patricia’s not ripping off the great masters of design she’s creating original artwork through her own graphic design and marketing business, Pinkhaus Design Communications. She’s looking forward to being inspired by all the craft beer artisans and merry pranksters at this year’s Big Pour.

• Shannon Clover - Shannon is one of the people behind the curtain of the Big Pour, making sure that the space and environs are prepared for and cleaned up after the event.  As Construction Junction's Operations Director, she makes sure that everything runs as best it can every day.  This is her second Big Pour, her first being just 7 weeks and 40,000 sq. ft. of cleaning after she joined CJ... and you think your house is a challenge to clean!  For the event, everything from toilet placement to electricity, security to ice is on her list... but she certainly outdoes Santa on the checking part.  Above all, she hopes that all who attend eat, drink, laugh, sing, dance and partake in the general merriment.  And maybe, just maybe... return to Construction Junction with a fabulous donation!

• Tim Oliveira - Tim is our newest committee member who joined us this year to assist with the live art portion of our event.  When he's not working on his own artwork in his studio, you'll find him on the basketball court or enjoying his homemade Italian wine with friends.  There is nothing he likes more than an ice cold Great Lakes Brewery "Blackout Stout" with a rack of his wife's baby back ribs.  In his day job, Tim is a salesman for a crane equipment company that sells to steel mills worldwide.