A special relationship – Erewash and Pittsburgh

Trade talks - holidaying Deputy Erewash Mayor Cllr Greg Maskalick, right, with the Mayor of Pittsburgh Corey O’Connor (Credit: EBC)

The US-born Deputy Mayor of Erewash Borough Council has been using a holiday in his home town of Pittsburgh to champion the borough as a great place to do business.

Cllr Greg Maskalick – who became a UK citizen in 2014 – posted an online picture of himself with the Steel City’s newly elected Mayor as the two held trade talks.

Greg described it as a “privilege” to shake hands with Democrat Corey O’Connor, who took office on January 5th. The Pittsburgh Mayor’s Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Gilmam and Assistant Chief of Staff James Hill were also involved in the talks.

Greg, who is borough councillor for Ockbrook and Borrowash, said: “The meeting centred around supporting local businesses in Pittsburgh and Erewash and trying to get import/export links going.”

His hope is that it will herald “major trading business” for local firms. Greg pledged: “I will be working very hard on this over the next few years.”

Pittsburgh is one of America’s industrial powerhouses. Greg grew up there before settling in Ockbrook, 30 years ago when he got married.

The dad of two used to earn a living as a professional musician but became a full-time teacher. During his days as a sought-after keyboard maestro he even worked with Bruce Willis – programming the synthesisers on the Hollywood superstar’s solo album The Return of Bruno.

Greg has not lost his passion for music. When he is not drumming up business opportunities for Erewash’s firms he can often be found playing local gigs with his Roadkill Blues Band.