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NIAF Board Officers
| Chairman, Jerry Colangelo |
| Vice Chair, Paul J. Chiapparone |
| Vice Chair, Hon. Louis J. Freeh |
| Vice Chair, Hon. Patricia de Stacy Harrison |
| Vice Chair, Vincent Viola |
| President, Joseph V. Del Raso, Esq. |
| Executive V.P., Hon. Marie L. Garibaldi |
| Executive V.P., Salvatore M. Salibello |
| Treasurer, Gabriel A. Battista |
| Secretary, John F. Calvelli |
| General Counsel, Arthur J. Furia, Esq. |
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Jerry Colangelo
(Chairman)
Jerry Colangelo
Chairman
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Throughout his storied career as a sports executive, Jerry Colangelo has succeeded with a unique combination of know-how, both on the basketball court and on the business side of the operation.
Colangelo, who has been the face of the Phoenix Suns franchise since their inaugural season in 1968, sold the franchise for a record $401 million in June, 2007 and retains the title of chairman for five years. Colangelo has been among The Sporting News most powerful people in sports for over the last decade.
He became the youngest general manager in professional sports in 1968 and went on mold the Phoenix Suns into one of the most successful organizations in the NBA. In addition, he brought Major League Baseball to the Valley in 1998 and serves as Chairman of the 2001 World Champion Arizona Diamondbacks.
Colangelo is Chairman of the NBA's Board of Governors. He has served as general manager, head coach, president and now chairman and chief executive officer of the Suns. Colangelo has been named NBA Executive of the Year an unprecedented four times.
He is currently chairman of the Council of Leadership Education and Collaboration for a New Century, Southwest Leadership Foundation, National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame and Leadership Foundations of America. He is a trustee of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, and a director National Italian American Foundation and Young Life International.
Colangelo grew up in Chicago Heights, where the Jerry Colangelo Gymnasium was dedicated on November 10, 1996. Colangelo and his wife, Joan, have four children and 10 grandchildren.
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Hon. Louis J. Freeh
(Vice Chair)
Hon. Louis J. Freeh
Vice Chair
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Judge Freeh was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, in 1950. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Rutgers College in 1971. He received a J.D. degree from Rutgers Law School in 1974 and an LL.M. degree in criminal law from New York University Law School in 1984. He served as a First Lieutenant in the United States Army Reserve.
Judge Freeh served as FBI Director from 1993-2001. From 1991 to 1993 he served as a United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York. In 1983, he joined the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York as an Assistant United States Attorney. Subsequently he held positions there as Chief of the Organized Crime Unit, Associate United States Attorney and Deputy United States Attorney. From 1975 to 1981 he was a Special Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, serving in New York City and Washington, DC.
As an Assistant U.S. Attorney in New York, Judge Freeh was the lead prosecutor in the "Pizza Connection" case, one of the largest and most complex narcotics investigations ever undertaken by the Federal Government. The case involved an extensive drug-trafficking operation in the United States by Sicilian organized crime members who imported tons of drugs into the United States and laundered $100s of millions overseas. Following the investigation, Judge Freeh served as the Federal Government's principal courtroom attorney in the 17-month trial and won the conviction of 16 of 17 codefendants. In May 1990, he was appointed a Special Prosecutor by the Attorney General to oversee the investigation into the mail-bomb murders of Federal Judge Robert Vance of Birmingham, Alabama, and civil rights leader Robert Robinson of Savannah, Georgia. Both were killed by mail bombs. After an extensive investigation, the suspect was apprehended and convicted. Judge Freeh prosecuted the case before a jury in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
Judge Freeh has been recognized on several occasions for his exemplary accomplishments, which include investigations and prosecutions relating to racketeering, drugs, organized crime, fraud, white-collar crime and terrorism. In 1987 and 1991, he received the Attorney General's Award for Distinguished Service, the second highest annual honor given by the Department of Justice. Other commendations include the John Marshall Award for Preparation of Litigation, awarded annually by the Attorney General, and the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association Award.
Judge Freeh served as General Counsel at MBNA America Bank from 2001-2006. Judge Freeh is currently the Senior Managing Partner at Freeh Group International and a Director for several public companies.
Judge Freeh is Chairman of the Governance and Nominating Committee of the Board of Directors for Bristol-Myers Squibb, and sits on a number of non-profit boards, including the United States Naval Academy Foundation, the National Italian American Foundation and the International Association of Chief of Police Foundation.
Judge Freeh is also a founding partner of Freeh, Sporkin and Sullivan, a law firm comprised of former federal judges with offices in Washington and New York, which speicalizes in corporate governance, compliance, white-collar crime and securities matters.
Judge Freeh and his wife Marilyn have six sons.
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Hon. Patricia de Stacy Harrison
(Vice Chair)
Hon. Patricia de Stacy Harrison
Vice Chair
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The Honorable Patricia de Stacy Harrison is the president and chief executive officer of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), the leading funder of public radio and public television programming for the American people.
Ms. Harrison is focused on strengthening public service media through content that educates, inspires and informs; greater innovation; and engagement beyond the broadcast comprising diverse publics and partners.
Prior to joining CPB, Ms. Harrison served as Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs and Acting Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs. In this dual capacity, she created CultureConnect, a citizen diplomat program comprising artists, musicians and athletes, as well as Partnerships for Learning, a global initiative that provided young people with enhanced education and economic opportunity. Ms. Harrison also directed the historic resumption of the Fulbright Program in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Ms. Harrison became president and chief executive officer of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting on June 23, 2005.
A former entrepreneur, Ms. Harrison is a frequent speaker and writer on the subjects of leadership, communication strategy and constituency building. In addition to many articles, she has authored two books, A Seat At The Table: An Insider's Guide for America's New Women Leaders and America's New Women Entrepreneurs. She is the founder and former president of the National Women's Economic Alliance, working to identify women and minorities for leadership roles in business and politics.
Ms. Harrison received her BA from American University, Washington DC, and an honorary doctorate from the American University of Rome in 2002. She is a former Thomas Colloquium on Free Enterprise guest lecturer at Youngstown State University, Ohio. In 2000, she was a Visiting Fellow at the Institute for Public Service of the Annenberg Public Policy Center, University of Pennsylvania. In 1992, she was a Visiting Fellow at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.
Ms. Harrison is the recipient of many awards and honors, including the 2008 Leadership Award from the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities; the U.S. Secretary of State's Distinguished Service Award; the Ana G. Mendez Excellence in Education Award, from the Ana G. Mendez University System in Puerto Rico; the Special Achievement Award for Education from the National Italian American Foundation; Global Women's Leadership Award; Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award; and Northwood Institute’s Outstanding Business Leader (2006) and Distinguished Women's Award (1991).
She is a member of the boards of the National Italian American Foundation and The American University in Rome; former President of Capital Press Women; and a former chairman of the board, Guest Services, Inc.
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Paul J. Chiapparone
(Vice Chair)
Paul J. Chiapparone
Vice Chair
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Paul Chiapparone retired as Vice Chairman of EDS in February 2003. Prior to his retirement, Chiapparone had responsibility for PLM Solutions; Service Excellence; EDS’ largest account: General Motors (GM); and the Enterprise, Information and Technology (EIT) group. He also had responsibility for EDS’ eight global industry groups: Communications, Entertainment and Media; Energy; Finance; Government; Health Care; Manufacturing; Consumer Industries and Retail; and Transportation. He served as a member of the EDS Executive Operations Team and Finance Committee. Previously, Mr. Chiapparone was Executive Vice President of Operations.
Mr. Chiapparone served two terms as rector of the board of visitors of James Madison University and was a trustee at Kettering University for 15 years. He is currently a member of the board of trustees of Cranbrook Educational Community and The Catholic University of America. He also serves on the board of the Jupiter Hills Country Club. In 2002, Chiapparone was given a Lifetime Achievement Award for Humanitarian Service by the National Italian American Foundation.
Mr. Chiapparone received an honorary doctorate in management from Kettering University in June 2005.
Paul Chiapparone attended Adelphi University in New York, majoring in accounting. He and his wife, Ruth, have two daughters, two granddaughters and two grandsons.
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Vincent Viola
(Vice Chair)
Vincent Viola
Vice Chair
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Mr. Viola has been a trader in the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) since the inception of the crude oil contract in 1982. He helped build the NYMEX while he served on its Board of Governors: as chairman of the Technology Committee, the Natural Gas Advisory Committee, the Facilities Committee and as co-chairman of the Options Committee and Vice Chairman of NYMEX from 1993 to 1996 and Chairman of NYMEX from 2001 to 2004. During Mr. Viola’s tenure as Chairman, he oversaw numerous competitive initiatives, including an OTC clearing mechanism – the “Clear Port” platform – the exchange for swaps products and trading at settlement. He was awarded a special service medal for his exemplary leadership of NYMEX through the tragic events of September 11th .
Mr. Viola has launched a number of successful businesses during his career. In 1987, he founded Pioneer Futures, one of the top fifty futures commission merchants in the United States and one of the largest brokers on NYMEX. In 1988, he founded The Independent Bank Group, which has over $800 million in assets and over twenty branches in Texas. In 1989, he started a company now known as Mako Group, which is the largest independent derivatives market maker in Europe. In 2000, Mr. Viola founded MV Technologies, which developed an advanced front-end trading system that was purchased by Sunguard and Madison Tyler Holdings, LLC, a leading high velocity, algorithmic trading company.
A native of Brooklyn, New York, Mr. Viola is a graduate of Brooklyn Technical School and the United States Military Academy at West Point. A graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger school, he served in the 101st Airborne Division and later attained the rank of Major in the Army Reserves. In 1983, he graduated from New York Law School with a juris doctor degree.
Mr. Viola is the founder of the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point. He currently serves as Vice-Chairman of the National Italian American Foundation and Vice Chairman of both the New Jersey Nets and Brooklyn Sports Ownership Group. In 2008, he formed Virtu Financial LLC of which he is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
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Joseph V. Del Raso, Esq.
(President)
Joseph V. Del Raso, Esq.
President
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Joseph V. Del Raso, Esq. is a partner in the Commercial Department of Pepper Hamilton LLP. He is a member of Pepper’s Executive Committee. Mr. Del Raso started his career at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as an attorney-advisor in the Division of Investment Management. He represents financial firms including international investment management companies, banks, and securities firms. He also represents clients in telecommunications, construction and manufacturing businesses. He advises clients on the development of new or innovative securities products that are regulated by the Investment Company Act and works closely with the SEC, state securities regulators, and federal and state banking regulatory authorities that are primarily responsible for the oversight of collectively managed investment vehicles.
He served as a court appointed receiver, at the request of the SEC, for a large operating company that was ultimately liquidated because of numerous violations of the federal securities laws perpetrated by prior management. In March 2002, Mr. Del Raso was the only lawyer in private practice invited to testify before the U.S. House of Representatives Financial Services Committee about H.R. 3763, the Corporate and Auditing Accountability, Responsibility and Transparency Act of 2002. In July 2004, he was invited to testify before the U.S. House of Representatives Financial Services Committee on the two-year anniversary of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. In 2007, Mr. Del Raso was appointed by President George W. Bush to the President’s Commission on White House Fellowships.
Mr. Del Raso lectures frequently and has organized several business conferences abroad, especially in Italy. He is the founding co-editor-in-chief of the Villanova Journal of Law and Investment Management and the author of “Securities Investment Partnerships,” published by the CPA Journal (September 1993).
Mr. Del Raso sits on the boards of publicly held and private corporations. He is a member of the boards of several nonprofit organizations, including the National Italian American Foundation and the American University of Rome (chairman of the board of trustees). He also is a member and vice chair of the board of consultors of the Villanova University School of Law and co-chair of the Villanova Business School Marketing Public Policy Institute. Mr. Del Raso is the Treasurer of the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia. In June 2005, he was conferred the Order of Merit, honorary knighthood, by the Republic of Italy.
Mr. Del Raso is a 1974 graduate of the Villanova University School of Commerce and Finance and a 1983 graduate of the Villanova University School of Law. He is a member of the Pennsylvania and Florida bars.
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Hon. Marie L. Garibaldi
(Executive V.P.)
Hon. Marie L. Garibaldi
Executive V.P.
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Justice Garibaldi was the first woman to serve on the New Jersey Supreme Court, the state’s highest court. She also was the first woman to serve as President of the New Jersey State Bar Association, and as a director of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, New Jersey Bell Telephone Co., and the Washington Savings Bank.
Justice Garibaldi graduated from Connecticut College with honors in economics. She received her law degree at Columbia University Law School and her master’s degree in tax law from New York University. The Justice is a member of the New Jersey, New York, and District of Columbia bars.
Prior to her appointment to the bench, Justice Garibaldi, a specialist in tax law, was a partner in the law firm of Riker, Danzig, Scherer, Hyland & Perretti. Justice Garibaldi also was a frequent speaker on issues involving tax law, state constitutional law, gender, and the legal profession, and has written numerous articles.
The Justice is the recipient of several awards including the Medal for Excellence from Columbia University School of Law, and has received Honorary Degrees of Doctor of Law from St. John’s University Law School, Seton Hall University Law School, Farleigh Dickinson University, and Drew University, and Honorary Degrees of Doctor of Humane Letters from Upsala College, Caldwell College, College of Saint Elizabeth, and Saint Peter’s College.
Justice Garibaldi retired from the Court on February 1, 2000. She is currently Executive Vice President and a member of the Board of Directors of The National Italian American Foundation, a member and Assistant Secretary of the Board of Governors of Hackensack University Medical Center, Chair of the Hudson Riverfront Performing Arts Center, Executive Vice President of the American Society of Italian Legions of Merit, a member of the Councillors and Secretary of the Order of Malta, American Association.
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Salvatore M. Salibello
(Executive V.P.)
Salvatore M. Salibello
Executive V.P.
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Salvatore Salibello founded Salibello & Broder in 1978 and is the firm's managing partner. Sal brings more than 37 years of knowledge and professional experience in public accounting to each of his engagements. Prior to founding Salibello & Broder, Sal spent 11 years with Big Four accounting firms where he specialized in providing distinct services to various types of organizations, particularly small businesses and middle market companies in soft goods, distribution and retail.
He has extensive experience in performing financial audits, due diligence reviews, organizational and operational assessments, and tax planning for many different types of corporations. His background includes acquisition reviews, internal audit engagements, re-engineering and developing repositioning strategies for problem companies, chairing of the equity committee in a major public company during bankruptcy reorganization, and assignments related to improving internal controls and systems.
Sal is a Certified Public Accountant and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants. He has obtained the status of Cavaliere from the Order of Merit of the Republic of Italy and held several positions on the Board of Directors of the National Italian American Foundation.
He received his undergraduate degree from St. Francis College and received a Master of Business Administration degree from Long Island University. Sal, his wife and two children reside in New York City.
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Gabriel A. Battista
(Treasurer)
Gabriel A. Battista
Treasurer
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Gabriel Battista joined Talk America in 1999 as its President, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer. In 2004, he became Talk America’s Chairman, responsible for operational oversight and formulation of the ongoing strategic direction of Talk America. In 2006, Mr. Battista led the effort to consider new strategic options for the company, which resulted in the sale of Talk America to Cavalier Telephone, LLC. in December 2006.
Previously, Mr. Battista served as Chief Executive Officer of Network Solutions, Inc. As CEO, he was responsible for developing and implementing strategic planning initiatives for Network Solutions, overseeing development of corporate purpose and mission, strategic objectives, business development programs, alliances and key strategic relationships. Under his leadership, Network Solutions became a public company on the NASDAQ in September 1997.
Prior to joining Network Solutions, Mr. Battista served as CEO of Cable & Wireless, Inc. He is credited with leading the company to the position of a major provider of telecommunications services to small and medium sized business establishments. He is also credited with leading the worldwide Cable and Wireless group in the development of a global Internet Infrastructure.
His career also includes senior management positions as the General Electric Company and GTE (which is now a part of Verizon), and as President of U.S. Sprint’s Eastern Group.
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John F. Calvelli
(Secretary)
John F. Calvelli
Secretary
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John F. Calvelli is the Executive Vice President for the Public Affairs Division of the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), a global conservation organization headquartered at the Bronx Zoo dedicated to saving wildlife and wild places. Mr. Calvelli oversees the work of WCS in the areas of government and community affairs, public policy, communications and marketing.
Prior to joining WCS in 2000, Calvelli served as a senior staff person to Congressman Eliot Engel (D-Bronx). As Administrative Assistant/Counsel, he had oversight responsibility for Congressional administrative office functions and oversaw, directed and supervised all legislative initiatives of Rep. Engel during his tenure on the House Energy and Commerce, Foreign Affairs, Science and Education and Labor Committees. Prior to his work in Washington, D.C., Mr. Calvelli was chosen to participate in a clinical program with the Civil Division of the Office of then U.S. Attorney Rudolph Giuliani and subsequently served as Associate Counsel to the New York State Assembly.
On October 15, 1999, the Republic of Italy bestowed the honorific title of Knighthood in the Order of Merit to Mr. Calvelli for his work promoting stronger U.S.-Italy relations. Mr. Calvelli graduated from Salesian High School, Fordham University and went on to earn a law degree from Fordham Law School.
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Arthur J. Furia, Esq.
(General Counsel)
Arthur J. Furia, Esq.
General Counsel
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Arthur J. Furia, Esq. has practiced law in the State of Florida since 1980. He is currently a shareholder at the Gunster Yoakley, a statewide Florida law firm, resident in its Miami office. Mr. Furia’s practice areas include corporate and business law, international business planning, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and distribution and licensing. He was included in the Best Lawyers in America 2008-09, Florida Super Lawyers, 2007-08, and the Florida Trend, Legal Elite, 2006. Mr. Furia received both his Bachelor of Science and his Juris Doctorate from Villanova University. Prior to law, he practiced as a certified public accountant with Ernst & Young in Pennsylvania.
As a great proponent of the Italian and Italian American heritage, he serves as General Counsel, Regional Vice President, and member of the board of directors of the National Italian American Foundation. He serves as the official lawyer appointed by the Republic of Italy, Consulate General for Southeast USA and Italian Trade Commission He is the State of Florida representative for the American Chamber of Commerce in Milan, a member of the Board of Directors of the Italy-America Chamber of Commerce-Southeast, and a member of the Board of Directors of the American Society of the Italian Legions of Merit. . He also serves on the Board of Governors of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce; Board of Directors, Executive Committee member and Development Committee chair of Miami-Dade College Foundation. H has lectured extensively on international business maters, including University of Miami, Villanova University, St. Thomas University and I.N.C.A.E. in Costa Rica. He was recently appointed to serve on the Advisory Board of the Villanova Executive Education in Italy Project. He formerly served on the Board of Governors of the New World Symphony (2001-2005), and a member of the Board of Trustees of St. Thomas University (1996-2005).
Mr. Furia was designated Cavaliere Ufficiale al Merito della Republia Italiana (The Order of Merit of the Republic of Italy) by the President of Italy in June, 2008. Mr. Furia is also invested into the Association of Master Knights of Sovereign Order of Malta, since 1992.
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