Tag Archives: Giuseppe Finocchiaro

Three Midwestern luminaries were knighted by Italian Consul General Giuseppe Finocchiaro at a special ceremony on Dec. 12. Chicago-area activist Lissa Druss and Milwaukee stalwart Pietro Tarantino earned the rank of Cavaliere dell’Ordine della Stella d’Italia and longtime Loyola University language instructor Anna Clara Ionta ascended to the higher rank of Ufficiale dell’Ordine della Stella d’Italia. Lissa Druss Lissa Druss is founder and CEO of Strategia Consulting, a government relations, U.S. and international business relations, and crisis communication firm based in Chicago, DuPage County and Washington, D.C. Strategia relationships are spread throughout the U.S. and Europe. Lissa spent 21 years …

  A pair of Chicago-area titans and a compatriot in St. Louis have joined the ranks of the Cavaliere dell’Ordine della Stella d’Italia. Consul General Giuseppe Finocchiaro knighted Ron Onesti, Pat Capriati and Rio Vitale on behalf of Italian President Sergio Mattarella at an Oct. 18 ceremony at the consulate. RON ONESTI Entertainment industry powerhouse Ron Onesti is recognized as an innovative leader in the entertainment industry across the country. With a passion for his heritage, he is also renowned as the “go-to-guy” for entertainers from Italy who want to perform here in the States. He has provided enjoyment for …

  The Italian Consulate General in Chicago marked the 70th anniversary of the Festa della Repubblica in grand fashion on June 4. Held for the first time at Casa Italia, the celebration featured an audience filled with community leaders, a host of dignitaries from Illinois and Italy, and delicious food served by some of the Chicago area’s finest purveyors. The event marked the first public appearance of newly installed Consul General Giuseppe Finocchiaro, who spoke on behalf of recently appointed Italian Ambassador Armando Varricchio, who was unable to attend due to a flight cancellation. On hand was a delegation from …