A chance meeting with George Farah in March has made an impact on the 6’1″, 245-pound Steiger. Competing in his first show at the NPC Mr. Buffalo promoted by Joe Lazzaro, Steiger took home an armful of trophies, including the Heavyweight Novice, Overall Novice, Open heavyweight and Overall.

IFBB pro Farah, who recovered from three gunshot wounds during a 1997 attempted robbery, was the guest poser at the show. The two met and ran into each other at the Pittsburgh Pro, where Farah placed fifth in the 202 division. “He told me that he wanted to make me a pro,” remembered Steiger. “His words were, ‘I promise.’”

In addition to being a competitive bodybuilder, Farah is a respected writer and guru within the industry and – lucky enough for Steiger – just happens to reside near him in Rochester, New York. The two made arrangements to begin working together in 2010.

In June, Steiger needed to make more room on his shelf after dominating at the Rochester Bodybuilding Championships, a national qualifier. He won the Super Heavyweight Open, Most Muscular and Overall.

Steiger has intentions on competing in the USAs or Nationals next year and figures that with the help of Farah, the sky’s the limit. “George has really taught me what it takes to do this the right and healthy way and people may be shocked that proper diet has everything to do with it but that is the true secret,” he said.

Keeping good company all around, Steiger’s girlfriend Amie Francisco won the NGA figure competition at the Rochester contest.

If Farah’s promise comes true, the Steiger Realty (www.steigerrealty.com) will have one less person on the payroll.

This is part of a continuing series provided exclusively by MuscleSport Mag entitled, “This is Your Magazine,” where we profile the up-and-coming and everyday athlete. If you would like to see yourself profiled here, please send your story and photo to joe@musclesportmag.com.

P.J. initially started out in powerlifting and was successful, but decided that his ultimate goal was standing in the winner’s circle on the bodybuilding stage. At 22, he entered his first competition and placed fifth as a novice light heavyweight at the 2003 Atlantic States.

“I was the youngest in the class,” Braun wrote on his official website, www.pjbraun.com. “Success. This felt amazing and I was now addicted to the sport for life.”

Two top-three finishes in a row gave Braun the confidence that he needed to make the commitment to take it to the next step. He took off nearly two years to add some size to his frame and came back at 220 pounds for the 2006 Junior USA, where he finished what he described as a “controversial” fourth. A week later, Braun won the New England Bodybuilding Championships with a heavy heart. “Two days prior to the show, John Stavidris, one of my best friends, had passed away,” wrote Braun. “That winning moment was so surreal. It will live with me forever.”

Since then, Braun has finished 11th at the 2007 IFBB North American Championships and 9th at the same show a year later. He then was victorious at the 2008 NPC Atlantic City Amateur as the super-heavyweight and overall champion.

Braun is also one third of the famous Brat Pack along with Evan Centopani and Guy Cisternino. P.J. is the last one without a pro card, so he is keeping good company and on his way to joining his mates before too long.

This is part of an exclusive series by MuscleSport Mag on the 2009 NPC Empire States for which we are one of the show’s official sponsors. The show will take place on Saturday, July 18 in Suffern, New York.