NIAF Board Officers
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(Chairman)
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. (Vice Chair)
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. (Vice Chair)
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. (Vice Chair)
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. (President)
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. (Executive V.P.)
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. (Executive V.P.)
These centers combine medicine, chiropractic and physical therapy to give a comprehensive multidisciplinary approach to musculoskeletal disorders. Dr. Rosa has developed a specialty in sports medicine as a team doctor for many schools and has treated elementary, high school, college, professional and Olympic level athletes. Dr. Rosa and his family helped develop a home for orphan children in Bellona, Italy, with the purchase of land and construction of a home that houses eight to 10 children. The organization is called Cenacoli Mariani and the home for children bears the name of his late father Salvatore Rosa. Along with his service to NIAF’s Board of Directors, Dr. Rosa serves on the boards of New York Chiropractic College (vice chair), Clemson University Italian Studies advisory board (chair) and The National Columbus Celebration Association. Born and raised in Bergen County, NJ, Dr. Rosa now lives with his family in Montgomery County, MD. (Executive V.P.)
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. (Treasurer)
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. (Secretary)
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. (General Counsel)
Mr. Furia serves as outside general counsel to a number of prominent Florida-based corporations. Mr. Furia’s areas of legal practice include corporate and business law; domestic and international business planning; mergers and acquisitions; partnership formation and joint ventures; venture and mezzanine equity raising and distribution and licensing and corporate governance for not-for-profit organizations. Mr. Furia serves on the Board of Directors of the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) based in Washington, D.C., is a member of its Executive Committee and General Counsel. He is the State of Florida representative for the American Chamber of Commerce in Italy (AMCHAM). Mr. Furia is the founding Board member for US of the Biblioteca Ambrosiana Foundation (Milan), founding Board. He has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Italy-America Chamber of Commerce-Southeast since 1992, after serving as its president and honorary president. He is founding Chairman of the Primo Carnera Foundation, a not-for-profit organization aimed to help disadvantaged children in Italy and the United States. Mr. Furia was designated “Cavaliere Ufficiale” by the President of the Republic of Italy in June, 2008 and was also named “Renaissance Man of the Year” by the Renaissance Historical Society of Florida. Mr. Furia was invested into the Association of Master Knights of the Sovereign Order of Malta since 1992, a world-wide organization with long historical roots dedicated to serve the needs of the world’s sick and poor. He has actively organized a number of economic and business trade missions to Italy over the past twenty years and has lectured at various business/trade seminars in Italy during that time. He also assisted in organizing a blue ribbon delegation of Florida business and governmental leaders on a business and trade development mission led by three Florida Governors dating back to 1988. He serves on the Board of Directors for Miami Dade College Foundation, and serves as a member of its Executive Committee. He serves on the Board of Governors of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Furia has served on the Board of Directors of the American Red Cross in South Florida, the Board of Directors of Villanova University’s General Alumni Association, Villanova University’s Marketing & Public Policy Advisory Board and its Executive Education in Italy Program and Advisory Board. He has also served on the Board of Trustees for St. Thomas University, and the Board of Directors of the Florida Center for Theological Studies. Mr. Furia taught as an adjunct professor in the graduate law program at both the University of Miami School of Law and at St. Thomas University Law School for International Business Transactions. He was a frequent lecturer in Central America for the Instituto Centroamericano de Administracion de Empresas (INCAE) on legal considerations for doing business in the United States and foreign investment. Mr. Furia is a member of the Florida and Pennsylvania Bars, the American Bar Association Section of Corporation, Banking and Business Law, a member of The Florida Bar Section of Corporation, Banking and Business Law, and its International Law Section. He is listed in Best Lawyers in America 2008-2011 and Florida Super Lawyers 2007-2010 and recently in Florida Trend “Must Know Contacts in Miami.” |
