Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans Officers

Ron Onesti

President

Memberships
President, National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame
Italian American War Veterans Museum
Fra Noi, Member of Board of Directors
Chicagoland Italian American Charitable Organization (CIACO)
Italian American Police Association
Old Neighborhood Italian American Club
Italian Americans for Better Government
Chicago West Suburban UNICO
National Italian American Foundation (NIAF)
Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations

A bit about Ron
In his third 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, 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.
Ron 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.

Phyllis Schoene

Executive Director

jcc@jccia.com

Memberships
JCCIA Women’s Division Since 1968
Past President, JCCIA Women’s Division
Past Chairman Italian Heritage Ball
Chairman Impresa Award Since 1993

A bit about Phyllis
Phyllis attended the University of Illinois, Navy Pier and graduated from Patricia Stevens School of Fashion Merchandising.
In 1961 as a senior in high school, she attended a JCCIA “Man of of the Year” dinner honoring her family attorney Peter Scalise. She was so impressed with the event that she wanted this “Expression of Her Heritage” to be a part of her life. In 1968, she became a member of the Women’s Division of the JCCIA. And thus, this began the journey of her life. She became the president of the women’s division in 1978 and chairman of the Italian Heritage Ball in the same year and again in 2009. During this journey, she chaired numerous fashion shows and with her “side kick” Judy Guzaldo became the co-chairman of the Impresa Award since its inception in 1993. Phyllis also volunteered in the community. Most notable, she was the president of the Auxiliary of Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove from 1994-1996. In addition, she served as a board member of the American Lebanese Christian Society.
When her children Justine and John were in college, she became the business manager of their seventy year old family business, Bardach-Schoene Prosthetic Lab, Artificial Limbs. In 2016 after the death of her husband Harold, she began volunteering at the JCCIA office. Moreover, Phyllis enjoys cooking and entertaining and “mingling”in the lives of her grand-children: Gianna, Francesa, Giancarlo and Gatelle.

Christopher DeSanto

1st Vice President

vp1@jccia.com

Memberships
President, Calabrese in America Organization
Casa Italia Board Member
Italian American Civic Organization of Berwyn

A bit about Chris
Chris DeSanto 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. 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.
Chris remains connected to his community by supporting various charitable causes and initiatives that support our Italian American Heritage. Currently, Chris lives in Woodridge with his Wife Barbara and two Sons, Nicholas and Joseph.

Pat Capriati

2nd Vice President

vp2@jccia.com

Memberships
Regione Puglia Consiglio Generale Pugliesi nel Mondo
President, Federazione Regione Puglia
Roselle Sister Cities Association Italian Committee
Executive Committee, Società Maria SS Addolorata Mola di Bari
Mazzini Verdi Club
Società Maria SS della Croce Triggiano
Società Maria SS del Pozzo Capurso

A bit about Pat
Pasquale (Pat) Capriati was born in Mola di Bari (BA) and is a dual citizen of the United States and Italy. He currently resides in Wood Dale, IL 60191. Pat earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Loyola University of Chicago in 1977. Representing the Region of Puglia, he is a member of the General Council of Pugliesi in the World. Additionally, he serves as the president of the Federazione Regione Puglia Chicago.
In his professional career, Pat is the Senior Manager of Marketing Promotion at the Italian Trade Agency, working within the Trade Promotion Section of the Italian Government (Ministero Affari Esteri).
Over the years, Pat has received several notable awards, including being bestowed the title of Cavaliere (Knight) from the President of Italy, Sergio Mattarella, in the Order of Stella d’Italia. In 2014, he received the Medaglia di Riconoscimento from the Confederazione Siciliana in America. In November 2008, Pat was honored with the Madre Cabrini Award, which recognizes couples in the Chicagoland Community for their humanitarian and apostolic contributions. Furthermore, Pat was presented with an award from the President of the Region of Puglia for his efforts in promoting Italian culture and language. Pat also played a leading role in establishing a dual MBA program between St. Xavier University of Chicago and Università Cattolica (del Sacro Cuore) in Milan, Italy.

Kathy Wolter Mondelli

3rd Vice President

vp3@jccia.com

Memberships
3rd Vice President of JCCIA
Member of the JCCIA Woman’s Division
Past Executive Committee of JCCIA
The Service Club of Chicago Member
The Service Club of Chicago Board of Managers
Member of the Illinois Club of Catholic Women
Past Member of the Evening Associates of the Chicago Art Institute

A bit about Kathy
After school, Kathy Wolter Mondelli started her career in the marketing industry by growing a team of 80+ employees to represent and promote National Brands throughout the country. Kathy is also a former print and runway model now active in the TV and movie industry. The past 13 years she has been a Stand-in on a local TV show which is syndicated worldwide.
Kathy is the third Vice President of the JCCIA, a member of the Women’s Division and served as a Judge for the Columbus Day Parade. As a 4th generation Italian-American she joined the JCCIA to proudly honor her Italian heritage. Kathy is thrilled to be part of this amazing group of talented individuals and contribute to our shared goals!
Kathy is married to an excellent cook who’s a proprietor of LaScarola Italian Restaurant for almost 30 years. Her personal interests include travel, philanthropy, volunteering, reading/writing, music, dancing and all her children have 4 legs.

Sam Cannizzaro

Secretary

secretary@jccia.com

Memberships
President, Sicilian American Cultural Association
Justinian Society of Lawyers
Illinois State Bar Association
Wish grantor, Make-A-Wish Foundation

A bit about Sam
Sam Cannizzaro enters his second term as Secretary of the JCCIA. He is very proud to be a part of this great organization, and he takes his role seriously. Sam truly loves this Organization and all the people he has met and worked with. In addition, Sam has been the President of the Sicilian American Cultural Association (“SACA”) for many years.
Sam was born and has lived his whole life on the Northwest side of Chicago. Practicing Family Law and Litigation, Sam has been an Attorney for 40 years, with offices in downtown Chicago. He worked for 11+ years through high school, college, and law school (Loyola Academy, Loyola University, and Loyola Law School) at Monastero’s Ristorante as a singing waiter and bartender. Sam has been a weekly song leader at one or both of two Catholic Parishes (Queen of All Saints and St. Mary of the Woods) continuously since 1972 (when in eighth grade). Furthermore, he has been a Wish Grantor for Make-A-Wish Foundation since 2002, and he is still involved in The Edgebrook-Sauganash Chamber of Commerce, where he had served as President for several years. Overall, Sam loves seeing the good in people and furthering the traditions and causes of the Sicilian and Italian American Community. He has a daughter and son, Francesca and Vito, and in December 2024 was blessed with his first grandchild, Cori Rose.

Mario Cinardi

Treasurer

treasurer@jccia.com

Memberships
Treasurer, JCCIA
Treasurer, San Giovanni Bosco Society
National Eagle Scout Association

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. Additionally, 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. For instance, 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. Currently, he 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.

Ron DiMichele

Sergeant at Arms

Memberships
Past President, Ceasare Battisti Lodge
Board of Directors, Ceasare Battisti Lodge
President, Italo American National Union Foundation
Board of Directors, Italian Sons and Daughters of America
Board of Directors, Advance Financial Federal Credit Union

A bit about Ron
Ron DiMichele is a life-long resident of Lake County, Indiana and holds a Bachelor Degree in Sociology from St. Joseph College. Throughout college, Ron worked as a laborer at Inland Steel.
He is married and has two adult children. Ron is retired from the East Chicago Police Department, where he worked as a patrolman, accident investigator and a detective. In addition, Ron is retired from the Indiana Department of Revenue, Criminal Investigation Division as a Special Agent Supervisor. Subsequently, Ron became a Security Manager/Instructor at Ameristar Casino, and retired in 2015.
During Ron’s time with the Police Department, Department of Revenue and Ameristar Casino he received numerous commendations and awards for his dedication and service to these three agencies.

Rose Mary Ranallo

Women’s Division President

womensdivision@jccia.com

Memberships
President, JCCIA Women’s Division

A bit about Rose Mary
Rose Mary Ranallo is the chief financial officer and manager of her family businesses, NS Builders and Arno Decorating. She 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.

Pasquale Gianni

Avanti Group President

avanti@jccia.com

Memberships
President, JCCIA Avanti Group of Young Italian American Professionals

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. Furthermore, Pasquale is 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.

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 AssociationMember of the Board of Managers of Illinois Trial Lawyers Association

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. He was admitted to the Bar in Illinois (2000), Minnesota (2001), and District of Columbia (2001). In 2000, Frank received his Juris Doctorate from DePaul University College of Law. In addition, Frank is a Certified Public Accountant (1998), who received his Bachelor’s degree in Commerce/Accounting from DePaul University in 1997. During 2003, he became a Registered Investment Advisor.
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). Furthermore, Frank 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. Since 2009, Frank has served on the Executive Committee, 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. Additionally, he is 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. Additionally, Frank was also named a Leading Lawyer for 2016-2022 and an Emerging Lawyer by Law Bulletin Publishing Company’s Leading Lawyers Division for 2015. Moreover, 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.