Leadership
RON ONESTI
President
Memberships
President, National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame
Chairman, Casa Italia
Italian American War Veterans Museum
Fra Noi, Memeber of Board of Directors
C.I.A.C.O.
Italian American Police Association
Old Neighborhood Italian American Club
Italian Americans for Better Government
Chicago West Suburban UNICO
NIAF
Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations
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A bit about Ron
In his second term as President, Cavaliere Ron Onesti was born on Taylor Street in Chicago and has been with the JCCIA since 1981. He is a proven leader with ties to many Italian American organizations nationwide and locally, as the newly elected President of The National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame, a Director of Casa Italia, Director of the Italian American War Veterans Museum and a Director of Fra Noi Magazine. His platform plan for the JCCIA is based on greater Local, national and international communication and building unity among the Italian American community. He writes a regular column in the Daily Herald newspaper and is a successful entrepreneur as owner of two iconic music theatres, The Arcada and Des Plaines Theatres, seven themed restaurants, a boutique hotel and a family amusement park. He has been awarded the Cavaliere honor from the Republic of Italy, the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, his television projects have garnered three Emmy Awards and many other community awards.
LOU SCARAMUZZO
First Vice President
Memberships
President, Chicagoland Italian American Charitable Organization (C.I.A.C.O.)
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CHRIS DESANTO
Second Vice President
Memberships
President, Calabrese in America Organization
Casa Italia Board Member
Italian American Civic Organization of Berwyn
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A bit about Chris
Chris De Santo is an entrepreneur and businessman, recognized for his achievements in the real estate industry. As the owner of Realty Executives Legacy in Oak Brook, he has established himself as a prominent realtor and serves on numerous committees within the local real estate board and MLS.
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In addition to being a realtor, Chris is the driving force behind Oak Brook Office Suites, an independent shared office space that provides flexible and state-of-the-art workspaces for businesses of all sizes.
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Chris remains connected to his community by supporting various charitable causes and initiatives that support our Italian American Heritage. He lives in Woodridge with his Wife Barbara and two Sons, Nicholas and Joseph.
LAURA ORRICO
Third Vice President
Memberships
JCCIA Women's Division Impresa Award Recipient
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A bit about Laura
Laura Orrico was born and raised in Chicago, IL., and having spent twelve years in Los Angeles, she made a name for herself as an actress in television and film. Often appearing in top network TV shows and indie and feature films. In addition to her successful acting career, she owns a prestigious public relations firm, Laura Orrico Public Relations, LLC, which is based in Chicago. She and her team represent high-profile clients across the country. Laura is the third Vice President of the JCCIA, a member of the Women's Division, and one of the recipients of the 2021 Impresa Award. Laura's proud of her Italian heritage, her father was born and raised on Taylor Street. His parents came from Calabria, Italy, and he was one of twelve...eleven boys and one girl! She credits her success to her parents, Sandy and her late father, Rich Orrico.
SAM CANNIZZRO
Secretary
Memberships
President, Sicilian American Cultural Association
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MARIO CINARDI
Treasurer
Memberships
Treasurer, San Giovanni Bosco Society
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A bit about Mario
Mario Cinardi is the President and Founder of his financial firm MMC Financial LLC. Since 1999 his focus has been on educating and empowering individuals, families and businesses to take control of their finances by understanding how money works.
Mario is a Certified Financial Educator (CFEd®) professional and has a bachelor’s degree from Northern Illinois University. He is an Investment Advisor Representative who has passed the FINRA Series 6,26,63 and 65 securities exams and holds life, health, long-term care and annuity insurance licenses.
Mario has been an active leader in his community for many years. He has served on the NIU Alumni Association Executive Leadership Forum Board, and volunteers as an NIU College of Business Finance Speaker and Student Mentor. He currently serves as a board member and officer for two Chicagoland Italian-American Organizations, his local Parish, and is a Life Member of the National Eagle Scout Association.
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PASQUALE D. GIANNI
Sergeant at Arms
Memberships
President, JCCIA Avanti Group of Young Italian American Professionals
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A bit about Pasquale
Pasquale Gianni has been appointed to lead the JCCIA youth initiative. His maternal grandfather and mentor, the late Dominic DiFrisco, served as President Emeritus of the JCCIA. Most recently, in 2019, he stepped into his grandfather’s shoes to serve as master of ceremonies for the JCCIA’s coveted Dante Awards. An attorney by day, Pasquale proudly works in the labor movement for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. He is also a partner in his family’s fourth-generation office furniture manufacturing business, Gianni Inc. Ultimately, his vision is to create greater youth involvement and to foster ethnic pride and awareness amongst his contemporaries.
ROSE MARY RANALLO
JCCIA Women’s Division President
Memberships
JCCIA Women's Division
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A bit about Rose Mary
Rose Mary Ranallo is the chief financial officer and manager of her family businesses, NS Builders and Arno Decorating. Rose Mary is the current President of the JCCIA Women’s Division since 2008 and has served as a committee member for the Columbus Day Queen contest and The JCCIA Women’s Division Impresa Award Luncheon. Additionally, Rose Mary has also held the position of treasurer of the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans, and has chaired the Women's division Italian Heritage Ball and Cotillion as well as its Scholarship Benefit Dinner and Fashion Show.
JO ANN SERPICO
Executive Director
Memberships
Cavaliere of the Republic of Italy
Former JCCIA President from 2005-2010
Former President Calabrese in America
Former President Maroons Soccer Ladies Club
Former President Elmwood Park Infant Welfare Society
Former PresidentElmwood Park Womans Club
JCCIA Women Division
Calabrese in America: President from 2004-2005
Casa Italia: Vice Chairman
Italian American Veterans Women’s Auxiliary #4
Italian American Women’s Organization
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A bit about Jo Ann
Jo Ann Serpico’s passion for the community comes naturally and considers herself blessed to be able to serve her community. Her father, Joseph R. Salerno, was a founder of the Italian Welfare Council; the forerunner to the JCCIA. Jo Ann was raised with pride in her Italian heritage and a deep love for Italian traditions and values.
Jo Ann attended Marquette University and graduated from Worsham College of Mortuary Science. Aside from her extensive history of serving the Italian community, Jo Ann also served as a Leyden Township Republican committee woman, a village of Elmwood Park trustee, and a registered sanitarian with the Illinois Department of Public Health. Jo Ann is a Registered Sanitarian for The National Environmental Health Association, as well as a former State of Illinois Public Health Surveyor
and former Elmwood Park Health Inspector.
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A widow of an Elmwood Park firefighter, Phillip Serpico, Jo Ann is a proud mother of three sons: Philip, Joseph and Christopher. She’s also a proud grandmother of four grandchildren: Joseph, Philip Anthony, Tylor and Ella.
FRANK SOMMARIO
Legal Counsel
Memberships
President of the National Italian American Bar Association (NIABA)
Legal Counsel to the Joint Civic Community of Italian Americans (JCCIA)
Past President / Comptroller of the Justinian Society of Lawyers
Chairman of the Justinian Endowment Fund
Past President / Comptroller of the Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Association (WCLA)
Member of the Board of Managers of Illinois Trial Lawyers Association (ITLA)
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A bit about Frank
Frank A. Sommario is a Senior Partner at Romanucci & Blandin, LLC in Chicago, where he practices as a petitioner's workers' compensation lawyer. Frank was admitted to the Bar in Illinois (2000), Minnesota (2001), and District of Columbia (2001). He received his Juris Doctorate from DePaul University College of Law in 2000. He is a Certified Public Accountant (1998), who received his Bachelor’s degree in Commerce/Accounting from DePaul University in 1997. He became a Registered Investment Advisor in 2003.
In addition to practicing law, Frank is active in several professional organizations. He has served two three-year terms on the Board of Governors of the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA). He acted as the Board Liaison to the Workers' Compensation Law Section Council, the Federal Taxation Section Council, and the Standing Committee on Law Office Management & Economics. He is a Silver Fellow of the Illinois Bar Foundation, the charitable arm of the ISBA. Frank is a member of the ITLA Board of Managers for the years 2016-2023.
Frank is a past President of the Justinian Society of Lawyers and currently serves as its Comptroller. He has served on the Executive Committee since 2009, and was elected Secretary in 2011. In addition, he currently is the Chairman of the Justinian Society Endowment Fund since 2018, where he has served as the Treasurer from 2012-2017. Frank is also the Executive Vice President of the National Italian American Bar Association (NIABA), where he has served on the Board of Directors since 2017 and as Secretary for 2019-2021.
He also serves as the Legal Counsel for the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans (JCCIA) since 2021 and has serves as a Delegate for the Justinian Society of Lawyers since 2015.
Frank is also a past President of the Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Association (WCLA), where he currently acts as the Comptroller. He is also a member of the national and state trial lawyers’ associations (AAJ and ITLA, respectively). He is a member of the alumni associations of DePaul University, DePaul University College of Law, and Fenwick High School.
For his successes representing injury victims, Frank was named one of The Best Lawyers in America © in 2017-2023, an Illinois' Super Lawyer by Super Lawyers ® for the years 2016-2023, and an Illinois Top 100 Super Lawyer by Super Lawyers in 2019 and 2022-2023. He was previously named an Illinois’ Rising Star by Super Lawyers ® for the years 2010-2015. He also was also named a Leading Lawyer for 2016-2022 and an Emerging Lawyer by Law Bulletin Publishing Company’s Leading Lawyers Division for the year 2015. In addition, in 2012, Frank was named one of 40 Illinois Attorneys Under Forty to Watch by Law Bulletin Publishing Company.
Born in Melrose Park, Illinois, Frank was raised by his parents, Frank and Mary Jo. Frank currently resides in Elmhurst with his wife, Gina, and children, Angelina, Isabella, Sophia, and Frank, Jr.
DOMINIC GAMBINO
Executive Committee Co-Chair
DOMENIC STRAMAGLIA
Executive Committee Co-Chair
SERGIO GIANGRANDE
Executive Committee Co-Chair
MARIANN GULLO
Columbus Day Parade Committee Chair
ENZA RAINIERI
Government Relations Committee Chair
CHRIS DESANTO
October Italian-American Heritage Month Chair
ROSE MARY RANALLO
Columbus Day Queen Pageant Co-Chair
PASQUALE GIANNI
Columbus Day Queen Pageant Co-Chair
LOU SCARAMUZZO
Member Relations Committee Co-Chair
SAM CANIZZARO
Member Relations Committee Co-Chair
LAURA ORRICIO
Publicity Committee Chair
DOUG OLSEN
Scholarship Committee Chair