From Italy to Willoughby By Mike Neundorfer
How did I, Mike Neundorfer, founder of
Advanced RV (ARV), and my wife, Marcia, end up in Rome, Italy, staying in one of the best hotels in the world, and interviewing a Master Upholsterer in a cafe next to the Spanish Steps?
5
It was 2018 when Alex LLacsahuanga was thinking about his and his family’s future. He had been working for the Hassler Hotel in Rome for 10 years. His responsibilities were broad, including interior design, sewing, upholstery and supervision of renovations, but he was ready for other opportunities. After discussing with his wife, Mariela, he answered an internet job posting from ARV in Cleveland, Ohio, for a Master Upholster position. Two days later, he received an email from me asking him to schedule an interview. Alex was agreeable, but he wanted to make sure
that I understood that since he was living and working in Italy, and he was not presently allowed to work legally in the US. I immediately started preliminary investigations about what the immigration process entailed. Marcia and I were scheduled to attend the RV expo in Dusseldorf, Germany, followed by a visit to Ireland to see friends, so a trip to Rome seemed feasible. We could combine this with a visit to my sister, Martha, who had been living with her husband, Claudio, in Rome for over 30 years. We set up the visit for August, 2018. Alex arranged a special rate for us at the Hassler Hotel for three nights in a room recently redecorated by Alex and his team. The room’s comfort, design and details were world class. The day we arrived, we met Alex, Mariela, Martha, and Claudio for lunch at a cafe near the hotel. Mariela spoke Spanish, Italian, French, and English, but Alex spoke only Spanish and Italian, so Mariela and Martha helped with translation. Early in the conversation, I asked Alex why he wanted to move to the US. He answered, without hesitation, “For my children.” Mariela and Alex have three children, then ages 17, 15 and 6, and they were concerned about the limited opportunities for them in Rome. Over the next few days, we shared several meals with Alex, Mariela, and their children, twice at Alex and Mariela’s apartment. Mariela and Alex are originally from Peru, where Alex worked in several Peruvian restaurants, and he is an excellent chef. After only a couple of days together, we
