FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

(From left to right) Jeffrey M. Capaccio, Esq., NIAF regional vice president, media co-host Carla Bova, a reporter at the Marin Independent Journal, media co-host Tony Salvadore, senior vice president of KNBR radio, Giulio Tempesta, NIAF council member and proprietor of Ristorante Umbria.

Italy’s Consul General in San Francisco Roberto Falaschi and his wife Carla opened their private residence to journalists of Italian ancestry for NIAF’s fifth annual media networking forum on March 6. Media co-hosts Carla Bova, a reporter at the Marin Independent Journal, and Tony Salvadore, senior vice president of KNBR radio, welcomed more than 40 journalists to the dinner.

Guests filled the mansion’s living room and window-lined dining room overlooking the San Francisco Bay, while dining on Umbrian specialties and boutique wines from the regions of Friuli (Pierpaolo Pecorari’s Refosco) and Abruzzo (Azienda Agricola Centorame, Castellum Vetus, Trebbiano d’Abruzzo). Over tiramisu and Nespresso USA coffee drinks, NIAF Regional Vice President for the Far West Jeffrey M. Capaccio Esq. opened the evening’s program and introduced NIAF Vice Chairman Joseph R. Cerrell . Cerrell gave an overview of the Foundation’s mission, highlighted its educational programs and shared a few political campaign stories.

The evening’s keynote speaker, political strategist Chris Lehane, a partner with the California-based firm of Fabiani & Lehane, spoke about the new generation of Italian-American political leaders who have risen to new heights of power through successful political campaigns. Lehane’s insightful comments about the campaigns of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano, Maine Governor John Baldacci and Republican presidential hopeful Rudolph W. Giuliani, fostered a lively question-and-answer period.

Special guests included Cember Picconi, a third-year law student at Golden Gate University and NIAF Graduate to Leaders participant, Peter Ragone, of the office of San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, John A. Russo, city attorney for the City of Oakland, and Fabio Ficano, president, Best of Italy Consumer Association.

Giulio Tempesta, NIAF council member and proprietor of Ristorante Umbria, and Lorenzo Scarpone, NIAF council member and owner of Villa Italia wines, supplied the Italian delicacies and specialty wines for the event.