Fra Noi Embrace Your Inner Italian
“Union Proud” will be the theme of the Italian American Executives of Transportation’s 2025 awards dinner on Nov. 15 at Ashton Place in Willowbrook. The IAET will honor labor leaders Michael DiGrazia, Anthony Guida and Michael Macellaio at the event, and present John Ferrentino with its Humanitarian of the Year Award. For details, click here.
The following profiles were provided by the IAET:
Michael DiGrazia
Michael DiGrazia began his career working alongside his brothers in the logistics and warehousing industry, where he learned every aspect of transportation and distribution. As Michael often says, “There’s nothing made I can’t drive.” He proudly maintains a Commercial Driver’s License with all endorsements — including tankers, doubles, triples and hazardous materials.
Michael’s respect for organized labor was rooted early on through experiences attending union meetings with his father and uncles. They instilled in him a strong work ethic, an understanding of the power of collective bargaining and a lifelong commitment to helping others.
In 2002, Michael accepted a position with Teamsters Joint Council No. 25. Over the years, he has held numerous leadership roles within the organization, including Organizing Director, Interim Business Agent and, since 2014, Executive Director. A proud second-generation Teamster, Michael has dedicated his career to advancing the labor movement and supporting union members throughout the region.
Prior to joining the Teamsters, Michael attended Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills and South Suburban College in South Holland. He graduated in 1997 with distinction, earning the prestigious O’Shea Award for academic excellence.
Simultaneously, he completed training at the Illinois State Accredited Police North East Multi-Regional Training Academy, where he served as Section Leader and graduated first in his class.
Michael is a passionate supporter of the arts in all its forms. He enjoys live performances and embraces the full spectrum of creative expression. Mike is an avid fan of F1 racing. One of his favorite pastimes is visiting local car shows with his life partner, Donna. Together, they also share a love for the theater and often attend performances with their children and grandchildren.
On Saturday mornings, you’ll often find Michael cheering from the sidelines at his grandson’s soccer games or volunteering his time to support those in need. He has a long-standing commitment to humanitarian efforts and has played a vital role in coordinating disaster relief — from Hurricane Katrina to the COVID-19 pandemic. Michael was among the first to respond during times of crisis, working closely with the American Red Cross and United Way to deliver aid and support to affected communities.
John L. Ferrentino Jr.
John Ferrentino was born in Chicago and lived there until 1981, when he and his wife, Patricia, moved to Elmwood Park. Together they raised their two children, John and Jacqueline.
John was raised in an Italian Catholic household and was a product of Roman Catholic education in grammar school, high school and college.
John graduated from DePaul University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce, and after that passed the exam to become a Certified Public Accountant. He is still a practicing CPA.
John has always been generous at giving his time and effort back to our community and has been involved in many public service and charitable activities.
He and the IAET have been strong supporters of the toy drive for the Dreams for Kids public charity’s annual Holiday for Hope event, which benefitted more than 1,100 disadvantaged inner-city youths.
John served as President of the Columbian Club of Chicago and has held many positions on the Board of Directors for both the Columbian Club Charitable Foundation and the Columbian Club. John and the Columbian Club of Chicago have sponsored six Sunday brunch fundraisers that have generated almost $150,000 for the Misericordia Heart of Mercy Home.
John served on the Board of Trustees of the Elmwood Park Public Library for 26 years and was part of the team that built a new 43,000-square-foot library for their community. He was a board member and past chairperson of Casa Italia.
John is also an active member of the Grand Chamber by O’Hare. He continues to be active in the Columbian Club of Chicago, the IAET and IAET Charitable Foundation.
Anthony “Tony” Guida
Anthony “Tony” Guida has been a proud union carpenter for more than 40 years, dedicating his life to building not only structures but also stronger unions and communities. His hands-on work helped shape some of Chicago’s most iconic landmarks, including River City, Lake Point Tower and Soldier Field during preparations for the World Cup.
The building trades are in his blood. Tony is a second-generation carpenter whose father, along with his uncles in the trades, instilled in him at an early age the importance of working hard and being a skilled professional.
Tony’s dedication to the labor movement led him to serve as Business Agent for Carpenters Local 1 for 25 years and as a Delegate to the Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters for over 30 years, where he has been a steadfast advocate for workers’ rights, fair contracts and safe job sites.
Tony continues to serve as President of Carpenters Local 1, a position he has held for more than 25 years, and as President of the Italian American Labor Council, where he’s proudly served for over a decade, championing union values while celebrating Italian heritage.
He currently serves as Senior Regional Director for the Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council, helping oversee operations for 53,000 members across Illinois, Missouri, Kansas and Eastern Iowa.
Tony has always been committed to giving back and has volunteered for years with Rebuilding Together, a nonprofit that provides essential home repairs to those in need. He also serves as a Delegate to the Chicago Federation of Labor, working to build solidarity across the trades and construction industry.
Outside of work, Tony volunteered for the local youth hockey program, where he coached for over 17 years. What started as a way to help turned into a memorable experience coaching his two sons, something he still cherishes today.
Above all, Tony is a devoted husband to Silvana and proud parent to Nancy and Vince Aiello, Dominic and Karley Guida, and Johnny and Franca Guida, and a blessed Nonno of Luca, Micah and Gino.
Mike Macellaio
Mike Macellaio was born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, where he still lives with his wife, Megan, and two sons. He attended Marist High School, Moraine Valley Community College and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Mike grew up in a Building Trades home, where his father was an active member and instructor for the Pipefitters Local 597. He has been involved in the Chicago and Cook County Labor movement and politics for most of his life. His grandmother Eleanor served as Committeewoman for the 19th Ward and State Central Committeewoman for the 3rd Congressional District. Attending Union rallies and events, knocking on doors, and volunteering for campaigns was a way of life in the Macellaio house.
Mike served as the Labor Liaison and Prevailing Wage Enforcement Officer for former State Comptroller and Deputy Governor Dan Hynes. He then went to work for James Connolly and the Chicago & Vicinity Laborers’ District Council, a proud member of Laborers’ International Union of North America. As Director of Government Affairs, Mike worked on governmental, legislative and industry issues for the Building Trade Unions.
In a voluntary capacity, Mike has served as President of the Illinois Prevailing Wage Council for several years. The Council continuously works with our team of Sisters and Brothers from the Building Trades throughout Illinois for safe working conditions, fair wages and benefits on publicly funded construction projects. The Prevailing Wage has a major impact on private projects and is a critical factor in assuring the survival of America’s middle class.
In February 2016, Mike was elected to proudly serve as Secretary Treasurer, and in 2022, he was elected President of the Chicago & Cook County Building Trades Council. He works with Building Trades Leadership, developers, contractors, and officials at the municipal, county, and State levels on industry and governmental issues. Mike’s consistent goal is to provide a positive impact on the Union Construction industry and the proud Union Building Trades families we serve.
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