John hails from Atlantic City, New Jersey, where he proudly served for 27 years as a Fire Captain with the Atlantic City Fire Department, and spent 7 summers as a beach lifeguard. With 34 years in public service under his belt, he eventually “fell into the sand trap”—and never looked back.

For over 30 years, John has been sculpting sand professionally around the globe. His remarkable portfolio includes high-profile projects such as:

  •   A commemorative sculpture for The White House Commission of Remembrance on the beaches of Normandy, France, honoring the D-Day landings

  •   A tribute to Pope Francis at Saint Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City

…to name just a few.

John has been a proud competitor at the Siesta Key Crystal Classic since its very first year, participating both as a solo sculptor and alongside his wife and teammate, Laura Cimador.

“Over the years, I’ve watched this event grow from just a handful of solo artists to the amazing spectacle you see today—it’s truly unbelievable,” says John. “What keeps me coming back year after year is the warm hospitality, the fantastic sand, and the genuine hometown feeling I get from everyone here in Siesta Key.”