WHO WE ARE

Cav. Franco Giannotti, Founder and President Emeritus of Club Italiano Per Piacere

Giovanna Leopardi, Director of the St Louis Italian Language Program

Scott Hoff, President of Club Italiano Per Piacere with his wife Katie

Concetta Lo Iacono Gabriele, Vice-Director, St Louis Italian Language Progam

Giorgio Bucci, CEO of Arteco Global and President of Italian Business Association

Michael Cross, President of St Louis - Bologna Sister Cities

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ITALIAN COMMUNITY OF ST LOUIS
​​(COMUNITÀ ITALIANA di ST LOUIS)
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Giovanna Leopardi - St Louis Italian Language Program
Scott M. Hoff - Club Italiano Per Piacere
Michael Cross - St Louis - Bologna Sister Cities
Giorgio Bucci - Italian Business Association of St Louis
Carmelo Gabriele - Young Italian Alliance - St Louis
Barbara Klein - Italian Film Festival - St Louis
Kayla Vitale - Saint Louis University Italian Club
Celia Mullikin - Italian Exchange Student Coordinator
Marco Permunian - Italian Citizenship Assistance
Rebecca Messbarger, PhD - Washington University Italian Program
Elizabeth Bernhardt, PhD - Saint Louis University Italian Program

WEBSITE PERSONNEL 
​
Antonio Pieron - Website/Social Media Coordinator
Rosanna Cerutti - Graphic Designer
Denis Alessio - Italian Language Editor

EVENT COMMITTEE
​
Federica Bertolini, Elena Bray, Elizabeth Bernhardt, Giovanna Leopardi, Concetta Gabriele, Roberto Lanzara,
​Michael Cross, Alessandro Valentino, Tiziana Orsini, Vito Alu, Carmelo Gabriele

 A special word of gratitude to Cav. Franco Giannotti and Cav. Michele Lombardo for the work they have done for Italians in St Louis for the past three decades not only in representing Italians but especially in promoting the Italian language.  
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Club Italiano Per Piacere
 (the only exclusively Italian speaking club in the U.S. Midwest)
​
Dr. Franco Sicuro - Chairman of the Board
Scott M. Hoff - President 
Giovanna Leopardi - Secretary
Fabio Giannotti - Treasurer 
Roberto Lanzara - Consigliere 
Michael Cross - Consigliere
Elizabeth Bernhardt, PhD - Consigliere
Cav. Franco Giannotti - Past President and Founder 


St Louis - Bologna Sister Cities Organization
(The Sister Cities falls under the jurisdiction of the World Trade Center - St Louis)
​  
Michael Cross - President
Elizabeth Bernhardt, PhD - Vice-President
Giovanna Leopardi - Secretary 
Members of the Board: Benedetta Orsi Aquino, Cav. Franco Giannotti, Francesca Giacomozzi
Honorary Members of the Board: Lyda Krewson, Virginio Merola, Sam Page, Joseph Colagiovanni


St Louis Italian Language Program

Giovanna Leopardi - Director
Concetta Lo Iacono Gabriele - Vice-Director
Members of the Board: Donatella Tecchio Lanzara, Federica Bertolini, Michael Cross 

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​Representatives for Italians Living Abroad

Hon. Thomas Botzios - Consul General of Italy in Chicago
Hon. Joseph Colagiovanni - Honorary Vice-Consul of Italy in St Louis
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Please note that all visa and passport related questions and concerns must be communicated directly with the Office of the Vice Consulate of Italy in St Louis or the Office of the Consulate of Italy in Chicago.  For further information, please send an email to: italcons.chicago@esteri.it.

Hon. Thomas Botzios

Hon. Joseph Colagiovanni

Meet the Founder

Michael J Cross

Born in St Louis, Michael was raised in an Italian speaking household. With an Italian-born mother from Trieste and frequent trips to Italy to visit family and friends, he fell in love with the Italian language and culture. During his university years, Michael lived in Europe, obtaining an MA in International Relations and European Studies while spending his summers in Italy. After returning to St Louis, he was inspired to provide a home away from home for Italians living in the St Louis area. In October 2017 along with several other Italian expats, the Italian Community of St Louis was born with a mission to connect Italians in St Louis and introduce them to the Gateway to the West, while also introducing St Louisans to Italians and contemporary Italy.  

Read Michael's Interview with "We the Italians"