Contact:   Elissa Ruffino (NIAF) 202/939-3106 or elissa@niaf.org

(WASHINGTON, DC — March 20, 2003) Arthur Imperatore Sr., founder of New York Waterways and APA Transport, has been elected to the board of directors at the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF). The elections were held March 7 during the Foundation’s annual board meeting at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) Board Room in New York City.

“Arthur Imperatore’s success story epitomizes the American dream. He has built one of the more important and successful transport enterprises in our nation. We are pleased to have him join our board,” Frank J. Guarini said, NIAF chairman and former Member of Congress in New Jersey.

“As a son of Italian immigrants who has worked hard and succeeded in America, it is great to be part of an organization that shares these same goals,” Imperatore said.

Imperatore developed the Hudson River commuter ferry system and is responsible for the revival of the metropolitan waterfront in New York City. He acquired rights to develop large parcels of land in Weehawken and initiated a ferry service to Manhattan in 1986. Imperatore ferries some 70,000 passengers daily, with projections that ridership will double in five years. He now moves about 5 percent of all trans-Hudson commuters.

Imperatore was born into a family of 10 children in New Jersey. By the time he was 10, he was delivering pickles for 50 cents a day. He worked as a newspaper boy, delivery boy and more. During high school, he often held down three jobs at once. Imperatore went on to build his trucking company into the most successful shorthaul common carrier in the nation.