NIAF Board Officers

John F. Calvelli is the Executive Vice President of Public Affairs for the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), a global conservation organization headquartered at the Bronx Zoo dedicated to saving wildlife and wild places. He is leading and coordinating the organization’s effort to build a conservation movement that will inspire and engage the public in support of its mission. John serves on the Executive Management team that manages the overall organization and he specifically oversees the work of the Public Affairs Division, which includes Government and Community Affairs, Communications, Partnerships, Policy as well as the WCS Library and Archives departments.

John has been an active member of the Italian American community since his early days attending meetings of the San Fili Fraternity Club with his parents, John and Rose, both immigrants from the Southern Italian region of Calabria. He served as President of the Italian National Honor Society at Fordham University and upon his graduation was a founder and first President of FIERI, a national organization of students and young professionals dedicated to promoting Italian American culture and heritage. His work with FIERI led him to begin his long involvement with the National Italian American Foundation, commencing with his work on a seminal conference focusing on the Italian American high school drop out rate in New York City.

In the aftermath of the devastating April 6, 2009 earthquake in Abruzzo, Italy, John led the effort to develop a public-private partnership with the U.S. Department of State to bring a generous American response to the people of the stricken region. The focus of the partnership directed aid to the students of the University of L’Aquila and helped restore the institution’s role as an important academic, social, and economic engine for the region. He is currently serving in a similar capacity for the victims of the 2016 earthquake that devastated Central Italy.

John served as a Commissioner on the Mayoral Advisory Commission on City Art, Monuments, and Markers. The Commission was established to advise the Mayor of New York City on issues relating to public art, monuments such as the Columbus statue, and historic markers on City-owned property. Specifically, the Commission developed recommendations on how the City should address monuments and markers on City property.

John was a founder and currently serves as Chair of the International Conservation Partnership (ICP), which helps to educate the U.S. Congress and appropriate governmental agencies on global conservation. John is currently the Chair of the  National Italian American Foundation, the FIERI Scholarship Fund, Vice Chair of New York City Tourism and Conventions, and on the board of the Public Affairs Council and the Italian American Forum . He is the Past Chair of the New York City Cultural Institutions Group, New Yorkers for Culture and Arts and the Association of Zoos and Aquarium Government Affairs Committee.

Prior to joining WCS, John served as the Chief of Staff and Counsel in the Washington office of Congressman Eliot Engel (D-Bronx/Westchester). 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.

John was instrumental in the passage of landmark legislation highlighting the Italian American experience including the first nationally recognized Italian American Heritage Month and the passage of  the Wartime Violation of Italian American Civil Liberties Act.

John graduated from Salesian High School, Fordham University and went on to earn a law degree from Fordham Law School.  The Republic of Italy bestowed the honorific title of Commendatore in the Order of Merit to John for his work promoting stronger US-Italy relations. He is married to Maria DiMeo Calvelli and their son John Domenico is an Assistant Professor in Digital Game Design and Development at Long Island University.

Read Less

Mr. DiLella is a principal of Equus Capital Partners, Ltd., serving as the Firm’s Chairman.  Under Mr. DiLella’s leadership, Equus has grown to become a multi-faceted national real estate investment company with expertise in development, investment, asset management, and property management. Mr. DiLella’s career as a real estate specialist spans nearly four decades and includes experience in all types of real estate investment and developments throughout the United States.  Prior to joining Equus, Mr. DiLella was Vice President of Girard Bank in Philadelphia, where he had a 10-year career in the Commercial Real Estate Department as a lender and a member of the asset recovery team.

Mr. DiLella was a member of the Board of Trustees of Villanova University and funded the establishment of the Daniel M. DiLella Center for Real Estate at the Villanova University School of Business where he is Chair the Real Estate Advisory Council. Mr. DiLella is the recipient of the St. Thomas of Villanova Alumni Medal and the Villanova Bartley Alumni Medallion.

In 2024, Mr. DiLella was appointed Honorary Consul of the Republic of San Marino in Miami, Florida with Jurisdiction over the States of Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. He also serves as Executive Vice Chair of the National Italian American Foundation.

Mr. DiLella is a Trustee of the Cahill Trust and Chair of the Board of Roman Catholic High School. He also serves on the Boards of the Museum of the American Revolution and the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission where he previously served as Chair. Previous board appointments include the President of the Union League of Philadelphia as well as Chairman of the Scholarship Foundation. Other previous appointments include the Barnes Foundation, the Battleship New Jersey, the Central Philadelphia Development Corporation, the Committee of Seventy, the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, the Philadelphia Police Foundation, the Philly Pops, and the Drexel University Real Estate Advisory Council.

Mr. DiLella holds an M.B.A. from St. Joseph’s University and a B.S. in Finance from Villanova University.

Read Less

Anita McBride is an internationally recognized expert on the legacies of American first ladies and operations of the White House. She serves as  executive-in-residence at the Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies at American University where she leads (the First Ladies Initiative). She also serves as an advisor to the university’s Sine Institute for Policy and Politics.

McBride is the co-author of several books, including the first-ever textbook, on first ladies filling a gap in academic literature and showcasing the evolving role of the first lady and its historical influence on the American presidency, politics, policy and global diplomacy.  She also co-authored with her daughter Giovanna a children’s book, First Ladies Make History, published by the White House Historical Association.

Anita is a highly sought after speaker and media expert on first ladies, presidential transitions and White House operations and has appeared on all major network and cable news outlets and in national print media. She also has served as a consultant to HBO’s Emmy-award winning series, Veep.

Anita’s expertise on the White House and the influence of first ladies was acquired through her two decades of experience serving in senior roles under Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, and George W. Bush in the White House and U.S. Department of State.  She is one of the longest-tenured women in White House history.

As Chief of Staff to First Lady Laura Bush, she directed the first lady’s work on a wide range of global and domestic initiatives including education reform, literacy, women’s health, historic preservation, promotion of the arts and culture and stewardship of our national parks. She directed the first lady’s travels to 67 countries in four years to support the Administration’s U.S. foreign policy objectives in advancing democracy, global health, education and literacy, and women’s empowerment.

Anita has also focused on elevating the influence and impact of first ladies around the world. She co-founded the RAND African First Ladies Initiative and Fellowship program, now the Global First Ladies Alliance, partnering with first ladies to support their efforts as champions of change in their countries, as well as train their staff and advisors in strategies for managing an effective first lady’s office.  She is a founding member of the First Ladies Association for Research and Education (FLARE), a national organization affiliated with American University’s School of Public Affairs, which promotes research and education about the lives, contributions, and lasting legacies of U.S. First Ladies.

Anita is active in a number of organizations serving in leadership roles including as board officer and Vice Chair of the National Italian American Foundation where she serves on the Government Relations and Education and Scholarships committees; and Board Secretary of the White House Historical Association where she Chairs the biannual Presidential Sites Summit – a convening of  200+ presidential historic sites from across the nation to promote civic education and the understanding and appreciation of presidential history. She also is a member of the US-Afghan Women’s Council; the International Republican Institute’s Women’s Democracy Network.  She is a founding advisor of RightNow Women PAC to support Republican women running for federal elective office and is a member of the Government Affairs committee of the United States Semiquincentennial Commission (America 250), the congressional entity established to help plan the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Additionally Anita serves on the Global Advisory Board to Libra Group, a global business group that includes 20 businesses focused on aerospace, renewable energy, maritime, real estate, hospitality and diversified investments.

Read Less

Joseph Gulino is the managing partner at the international law firm DRRT.   An internationally recognized attorney and leader in securities litigation and investor protection, Gulino has spent nearly two decades successfully representing institutional investors in complex litigation across multiple jurisdictions.  Gulino is a U.S.-trained, multilingual attorney, dual-licensed to practice in the U.S. (Florida, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C.) and England and Wales.  He holds degrees from Villanova University and the University of Pittsburgh, and is also board-certified in international law by the Florida Bar.  Deeply committed to education and service, Gulino has been a member of NIAF’s Grants, Scholarships, and Youth Engagement Committee, since joining the NIAF board in 2020 and previously served as its co-chair.  He also holds leadership roles with the American University of Rome, the Rome City Institute, and the Florida Grand Opera and Adrienne Arsht Center Trust in Miami.  In 2023, Gulino was knighted by the Republic of Italy with the rank of “Cavaliere Ufficiale” of the Order of the Star of Italy (Ordine della Stella d’Italia) for his service to the bilateral relationship between Italy and the United States.

Read Less

Peter J. Arduini assumed the role of president and CEO of GE Healthcare on January 3, 2022.

Prior to joining GE Healthcare, Mr. Arduini served as president and chief executive officer of Integra LifeSciences from January 2012 through December 2021.  He joined Integra in November 2010 as president and chief operating officer.

Before joining Integra, Mr. Arduini was corporate vice President and president of Medication Delivery, Baxter Healthcare. He was responsible for a $4.8 billion global division of Baxter focused on inpatient pharmaceuticals and devices. Prior to joining Baxter, Mr. Arduini worked for General Electric Healthcare, where he spent much of his 15 years in a variety of senior leadership roles for domestic and global businesses, including general manager for the global imaging business. Prior to joining General Electric Healthcare, he spent four years with Procter and Gamble in sales and marketing.

Mr. Arduini’s board memberships include Advanced Medical Technology Association (ADVAMED), Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and the National Italian American Foundation. He also serves on the Board of Trustees of Susquehanna University.

Mr.  Arduini received his bachelor’s degree in marketing from Susquehanna University and a master’s degree in management from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.

Read Less

Linda R. Carlozzi is a Principal in the New York office of Jackson Lewis PC. She joined Jackson Lewis in 1997 and specializes in traditional labor law. Ms. Carlozzi counsels clients in the development and implementation of preventive labor and employee relations programs. She advises both unionized and union-free clients on a full range of labor and employee relations matters. She has represented numerous employers during arbitration proceedings and negotiations. She has advised employers in labor and employment law proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and other federal, state and city administrative agencies. She regularly represents employers in collective bargaining, provides advice on a diverse range of work place issues, such as those relating to corporate transactions, best workplace practices as well as age, race and national origin discrimination and conducts management training on a broad range of topics. Ms. Carlozzi has been named in The Best Lawyers in America©, “Labor Law – Management” (2018-2021). She is also a member of the Firm’s Global Labor & Employment Group as a liaison for Italy. L&E Global was founded in 2010 as an integrated alliance of premier employment law boutique firms advising on all international work place related matters.

She is a graduate of Fordham University (B.A., cum laude, 1985) and was awarded the degree of Juris Doctor by Catholic University, Columbus School of Law, Washington, D.C. in 1989. Ms. Carlozzi began her labor law career at the National Labor Relations Board, Office of Appeals in Washington D.C. in 1989. In 1991, she transferred to the Philadelphia Region of the National Labor Relations Board, where she was responsible for investigating all aspects of unfair labor practice cases and representation matters as well as handling trials before Administrative Law Judges on behalf of the General Counsel of the NLRB.

Ms. Carlozzi is a member of the American Bar Association, Labor & Employment Section ; and serves as General Counsel and Chair of the Employee & Labor Relations Chair for the New York City Chapter of the Society for Human Resources Management (NYC SHRM). Ms. Carlozzi is a member of The Broadway League, Actor’s Fund, and several civic and community organizations.

Ms. Carlozzi has dedicated over thirty years to the Italian American Community. Ms. Carlozzi served on the Board of Directors of the National Organization of Italian American Women from 2005 to 2009. She is a current member of NOIAW, and the Columbian Lawyers in New York. In addition, she has served as a Director of the Italian Welfare League (“IWL”) for the past twenty years. IWL is a non-profit organization which serves Italian American children in medical need and emotional crisis. She served as President for six years, and she currently serves as the Chairwoman of the IWL. The League has raised and distributed over $2,000,000 to Italian American children and organizations assisting children. Ms. Carlozzi was a NIAF legal scholarship recipient while she was a law student at the Catholic University School of Law and during this time she served as an intern for NIAF in Washington, D.C.

Read Less

Gerard LaRocca is a former Managing Director and Chief Administrative Officer, Americas, at Barclays. Mr. LaRocca was also the President of Barclays US Broker Dealer, Barclays Capital Inc., and the New York Branch Manager for Barclays Bank PLC. He was a member of Barclays Americas Executive.

Based in New York, Mr. LaRocca joined Barclays in 1998 as a Managing Director. From November 1998 through June 2006, he managed Global Operations for the firm. From February 2000 through December 2001, he served as Chief Financial Officer. He retired in February 2021.

Mr. LaRocca has more than 40 years of experience working in the financial services industry. He was previously a Managing Director at Salomon Brothers.

In 2010, he joined the Board of Directors for the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) and in 2017, he joined the Villanova College of Nursing Board of Consultors. Mr. LaRocca was previously on the Boards of Directors for INROADS New York City, the Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation and MarkitSERV, LLC, a member of the Financial Services Roundtable and a member of the Villanova School of Business Dean’s Advisory Council.

Mr. LaRocca was recently conferred the Order of Merit, Honorary Knighthood (Commendatore), by the Republic of Italy.

Mr. LaRocca received his BSc from Wagner College in 1979 and his MBA from Pace University in 1984.

Read Less

George Simeone has over 35 years of accounting and auditing experience, with a strong focus on financial services clients. He is currently a Senior Client Partner is Deloitte’s Audit and Assurance Practice. George also serves as a member of the Deloitte US organization’s Board of Directors where he serves as Vice Chairman of its Board.

Previously, George was the national managing partner for the financial services audit practice from 2017 to 2018. From 2013 to 2016, George was the senior group partner-in-charge of our Greater Tri-State audit practice. Prior to these leadership roles, George served as lead partner for some of Deloitte’s most significant financial services clients.

George has an extensive background in regulatory compliance, risk management reviews, and accounting and operational reviews of financial institutions. He also has led key engagements in the areas of derivatives operations, regulatory compliance, and dispute consulting/expert testimony. He is a former chairman of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Securities Industry Expert Panel.

Education and Certifications

• BS (Accounting and Computer Science) and MBA (Finance), New York University – Stern School of Business
• AICPA; licensed CPA in New York

Board Memberships and Civic Activities

• Board of Directors, Ronald McDonald House of New York
• Board of Directors, National Italian American Foundation
• Member, Columbus Citizens Foundation

Read Less

Anthony DiSandro Jr., Esq., is a shareholder at the law firm of Stevens & Lee.

A more complete biography will be available soon.

Read Less

Mr. Lonardo is a former managing partner of the Vorys Washington, D.C., office and Vorys’ chief environmental litigation partner. His environmental trial experience is comprehensive defending corporations in actions involving: toxic torts, major federal statutes (CERCLA, RCRA, CWA, CAA) and companion state laws, federal and state citizen suits, contractual indemnity claims, bankruptcy environmental claims, workplace exposure claims, UST contamination, and Common law damage actions.

Mr. Lonardo’s clients include some of America’s best known companies in fields as diverse as: chemical manufacture. the manufacture of products for the automotive, metal fabrication, appliance, and medical industries; petroleum distribution; aerospace; oil and gas development; and commercial development.

Mr. Lonardo has significant experience in parent/subsidiary and corporate structure liability, including the defense of foreign parents of American subsidiaries sued for environmental liabilities.

Career highlights include:

• Defending chemical and manufacturing companies in state and federal courts across the country in cases alleging personal injury and property damage due to workplace or environmental exposures
• Trying cases under RCRA and CERCLA brought by the United States, corporations, or individual plaintiffs seeking statutory relief, damages, and penalties
• Defending business and financial institutions which have included the winning argument before the Ohio Supreme Court striking down legislation creating lender environmental liability. He also advises lenders on environmental liability issues in specific transactions
• Serving as common counsel to groups of corporate defendants involved, in National Priorities List (N PL) sites on liability, allocation, and resource damage issues
• Being involved in some of the nation’s first major Superfund cases and negotiating numerous judicial and administrative settlements with USEPA in Superfund and Natural Resource Damage cases. He currently has a leadership role in a major case involving remediation of contaminated waterway sediments under the Great Lakes Legacy Act and WRDA.

Mr. Lonardo is a member of the American Bar Association, the Ohio State Bar Association, the District of Columbia Bar, the Columbus Bar Association and the Defense Research Institute. Mr. Lonardo is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia.

Mr. Lonardo has spoken at seminars on environmental law, including toxic tort litigation issues and practice, CERCLA and RCRA liability and defense issues, natural resource damage issues and settlements, and bankruptcy in the context of environmental issues and claims.

Mr. Lonardo received his J .D. cum laude from the University of Michigan Law School and his BA. from Georgetown University.

Read Less

Robert Allegrini is a public relations & hospitality executive, author, civic leader and diplomat. For more than a decade, Allegrini served as Vice President of Communications-the Americas for Hilton. In this role Allegrini managed the regional public relations team serving all the Hilton Worldwide full service and luxury, corporately managed properties throughout the Western hemisphere. Concurrently he also oversaw the brand public relations for Conrad Hotels & Resorts and Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts worldwide.  In 2016 he was named one of 25 extraordinary minds in hospitality marketing by the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International.

Allegrini’s prior positions include Assistant Vice President in charge of public relations for Hyatt Hotels Corporation and Director of Corporate Communications in charge of public relations for all Swissotel properties worldwide. He has worked extensively in the hospitality industry in Asia, Europe and the East Coast of the United States in addition to his native Chicago.

In 2005 Allegrini authored the book, “Chicago’s Grand Hotels” which subsequently was made into a documentary narrated by nationally renowned journalist Bill Kurtis and aired on the CBS  network’s local Chicago affiliate.  The book and the documentary were recognized when Allegrini was presented with the Governor’s Award for the Best Public Relations Campaign at the 2007 Illinois Governor’s Conference on Tourism.

Allegrini has long been active in Italian American affairs on a local and national level.

From 1987 to 1990 Allegrini served as Executive Director of the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans-an umbrella association of over 70 Illinois based Italian American Associations. Subsequently, he founded the Chicago chapter of the Academia Italiana Della Cucina and served for three years as President of the Italian American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest.  Currently, Allegrini serves as the Honorary Consul for the Republic of San Marino in a 5-state jurisdiction.

Allegrini’s services to the Italian American community have been recognized both by Italy’s former royal family, the House of Savoy, which made him a Cavaliere (Knight) in 1991 and by the Republic of Italy which made him a Commendatore (Knight Commander) in the Order of Merit in 2002.

Read Less