Mondo Italiano - Linda Alfieri Evento

DICEMBRE 2023

The Morettis, Fincons Acquires US PDG Consulting

Mondo Italiano magazine

PUBLISHER Luxury Chamber Media Group

EDITOR Jay Parnassa Shapiro FASHION EDITOR Juliana Labonte TRAVEL EDITOR Christina RicciCampagnone CONTRIBUTING COLUMNISTS Edmondo Catania Frank LoRe Jr.

Claude Luciani Venus Baratta John P. Contini Kyle Cavaliere

ICONIC RESTAURANT RAO'S SELECTS BERK COMMUNICATIONS TO LAUNCH NEW MIAMI LOCATION Berk Communications, an award-winning, independent public relations firm, announced today that it has been retained by Rao's, the famed Italian restaurant originally opened in 1896. Berk will be primarily responsible for handling the brand's expansion into the Miami market.

Rao's is a culinary national treasure. Widely acclaimed for its authentic, southern Neapolitan Italian cooking and its home-style family ambiance.

"When we embarked on an agency search, it was essential that we found a partner that understood our dedication to quality, heritage and most importantly family, as we get ready to open in the Miami market," said Frank Pellegrino Jr. and Ron Straci, co-owners of Rao's. "Berk Communications is committed to telling our story, and we're excited to have them join our team."

Rao's opened 127 years ago in Harlem, New York and is celebrated as one of the oldest family owned and operated restaurants running in the country. Staying true to original family recipes and dedicated to honoring the restaurant's legacy, Rao's co-owners Frank Pellegrino Jr. and Ron Straci maintain a menu that pairs generations of authenticity and love with freshness and flavor. The restaurant currently has a location in Los Angeles and will expand into the Miami market in the back half of 2023.

"Rao's is a one-of-a-kind restaurant offering delicious food, meaningful history, passion and outstanding ambiance," said Ron Berkowitz, Founder & CEO of Berk Communications. "We can't wait to collaborate with this amazing team and bring this iconic brand to Miami."

Led by Berkowitz and Executive Vice President Marisa Carstens, Berk's efforts will be focused on launching Rao's in the Miami market adjacent to the Loews Miami Beach Hotel.

The agency will handle local and national media relations, event planning, partnerships, and social media management.

Berk previously worked with Rao's to support pop-up experiences at major events like the Superbowl.

About Berk Communications: Berk Communications is an award-winning, independent public relations firm with expertise across a variety of verticals including sports and lifestyle, food and beverage, travel and tourism, business and technology, and cannabis. The agency is also recognized for its reputation management practice which provides strategic communications services for high-profile entrepreneurs, athletes, celebrities, and musicians. The agency's roster of category leaders, challenger brands, and startups includes Caesars Entertainment, Roc Nation, Major League Soccer, Comcast, PUMA, Foot Locker, The Cheesecake Factory, REFORM Alliance, and a premier group of talent and executives including Aaron Judge, Alex Rodriguez, Michael Rubin, Alexander Zverev, CC Sabathia, Adoree' Jackson and Colleen Quigley. To learn more visit www.berkcommunications.com or follow us on Twitter (@BerkComm), Instagram (@BerkComm), Facebook (@BerkComm), or LinkedIn.

MarToni Pizza Lounge Wins Over Clients Underpriced and Over QUALITYfied, Marco Muscarella Wins over Guests with Great Food, a Firm Handshake and a Smile!

6 mos in and MarToni’s is winning over guests the old fashioned way.

Fair pricing, great food and quality entertainment. This already legendary burnt crust style pizza gem is located just north of Sundance Marine in Pompano Beach.

Founded by Sicilian and Proud American Marco Muscarella around April 2023 they offer: Live Music Pizza by the Slice Super Friendly Bartenders Large Space for Events including VIP area Italian-American Menu This house of pizza and music has alot to offer. An undisclosed diner we had the priveledge of speaking with recently at the 33rd Street Block Party said that: They have the best red sauce marinara I have ever tasted! We concur....

Barstools Pizza Reviewer Scott Eiss gave the establishment a solid review. Scott is a NY pizza fan and loves the well done undercarriage. That is what this place is famous for! They do also offer Sicilian Slices and anything you can imagine catering wise!

The founder Marco was born in Sicily and has worked in the Fort Lauderdale area for decades. Well known as a local DJ, producer, actor, chef and now restaurantuer.

The entertainment at this joint is top notch! Performers have included opera tenor Andrea Garofalo and other crooners. Sunday nights at MarToni are Open Jam Blues Night by Kilmo the former owner of Alligator Alley Bar on Commercial Blvd. back in the day!!

Rick Coulthurst, J. Parnassa, Marco Muscarella & Jessica Cline

Fincons signs agreements to acquire US based company PDG Consulting The Italian at heart international IT business consulting company continues to expand internationally Fincons.US, Inc., a fully owned subsidiary of Fincons Group AG, an international IT business consulting and system integration company incorporated 40 years ago in Italy, with more than 2,700 professionals, announces today that it has signed an Asset Purchase Agreement with PDG Consulting LLC, an IT, business intelligence and digital transformation company specialized in the media & entertainment sector, to acquire 100% of its assets. PDG Consulting is based in Los Angeles and has an offshore office in Mumbai (India) and accounts for over 100 professionals, 15 years of experience on the market and 13 million USD in turnover.

The closing date is set on December 31st 2023, and starting from January 1st 2024, PDG US based employees and customers will be transferred into Fincons.US, Inc, while the Mumbai office, with its 40 professionals, will form an integral part of Fincons India Private Limited, a fully owned subsidiary of Fincons Group AG and sister company to Fincons.US, Inc. With Fincons India, Fincons Group aims to further enhance Fincons' offering of IT services in SmartShore, adding a strategic option to complement the Bari Delivery Center maintaining competitiveness and customary high quality levels to the benefit of all the Group's customers.

With its first strategic acquisition Fincons Group continues its trajectory of international expansion. From 2013 to today, the Group has quadrupled its turnover and opened 8 new offices in the UK, United States, Germany, France and Belgium, in addition to the historic offices in Italy and Switzerland.

Michele Moretti, CEO Fincons Group, comments: "We have always grown organically to date, thanks to our skills, our focus on building lasting and solid relationships with customers and partners and our commitment to research and development. As a result of our efforts, we're proud to have achieved key positioning on the international market. Now the time has come to move even further forward and consolidate our expansion plans with a significant step both for Fincons, which becomes more and more a global business, and for our customers, to whom we will now offer even more experience, quality and passion everywhere in the world."

PDG was in fact selected not only for its strategic positioning on the US market but also for its affinities with Fincons' values, in particular its attention to people, customers and sustainability. Furthermore, the skill and experience of PDG Consulting's executives will complement the Fincons team in the United States, consolidating the expansion process across various target sectors.

"This acquisition will contribute to making Fincons' turnover even more consistent. Fincons' revenues in the US will in fact exceed 25 million euros. It will also strengthen the Group in terms of assets and workforce, allowing us to offer even more rounded and competitive services to our international customers, who will benefit from an even more complete team, delivering our high standards of service and forward-thinking approach to technological integration, based on the ongoing scouting of best-in-class solutions around the globe," declares Francesco Moretti, Group Deputy CEO and CEO International.

Appian Appoints Silvia Speranza as Regional Vice President for Italy Experienced leader to drive business growth and foster innovation in the Italian market with the Appian Platform.

Appian (Nasdaq: APPN), a global leader in AI process automation, today announced the appointment of Silvia Speranza as the new Regional Vice President of Appian Italy. In her pivotal role, Ms. Speranza will spearhead strategic initiatives aimed at propelling business growth and expanding Appian's customer base within the Italian market. Her mission is to enhance the competitiveness, productivity, and efficiency of Italian organisations by leveraging the power of applications built on the Appian Platform.

In Italy, the AI market in 2022 reached €500 million, with 32% growth in just one year, of which 73% was commissioned by Italian companies (€365 million) and 27% represented project exports (€135 million). To date, 61% of large Italian companies have already started at least one AI project, 10% more than five years ago, and among these, 42% have already started more than one.* Appian recently announced its strategy and roadmap for integrating AI into the Appian Platform, which provides secure, reliable private AI to protect customer data while enabling new, generative AI-based capabilities that make developers' lives easier. Appian also has shown real-world AI use cases that democratise access to AI for immediate use.

In Italy, Appian has helped Poste Italiane decrease case handling time from over 30 days to just 8 days, with a 70% improvement in production efficiency. Iccrea Cooperative Banking Group was able to create 13 enterprise banking applications in just one year on the Appian Platform by using low-code. In addition, the Municipality of Milan and its partner created an app in less than two months to help citizens obtain parking permits in the city faster and from their mobile phones.

"Ensuring our customers' success has always been a personal priority, and it remains at the forefront of our mission," said Speranza. "I look forward to collaborating closely with our dedicated team and valued business partners to help Italian organisations transform and grow with innovative technology that bolsters competitiveness."

She continued, "Appian solutions stand as the optimal choice for facilitating the digital transformation of Italian enterprises. As our country navigates this critical phase for its future, it is imperative that we streamline processes, refine methods, and optimise workflows to positively impact the lives of our users and citizens."

As an experienced professional in the technology industry, Speranza is an expert in the system integration sector and has held Italian management positions for multinational enterprise software companies. Having been part of the Appian team since 2018, she has steadily assumed roles of increasing responsibility, contributing to the management and development of several market segments in Italy. Prior to Appian, she managed the Italian market for Alfresco (now Hyland), overseeing local and national public administration projects.

Silvia began her professional career in 2004 at Accenture, where she helped Italian and foreign companies with transformation projects in operations in telecommunications and other businesses. She obtained a master's degree with distinction in electronic engineering from the University of L'Aquila.

GOOD PLANET is disrupting the food industry with the world's first olive oil cheese. With exceptional taste, meltability, and more heart health benefits, the Olive Oil Cheeses are projected to change the cheese category. GOOD PLANeT's Olive Oil Cheeses are dairy-free and better for people and the planet. This first-of-its-kind product is poised to appeal to all, especially the growing number of Americans who identify as "flexitarians." "We are thrilled to bring the world's first Olive Oil Cheese to the market," said David Israel, Founder & Co-CEO of GOOD PLANeT Foods. Made for the foodie in all of us who is looking for new and better, we're incredibly proud of our Olive Oil Cheese line that is appealing for all, not just to specific diet or lifestyle."

John Trotta Named Midwest District Leader at WSP Senior vice president and national director of client services will be responsible for growth and oversight of operations across the firm's 13-state region.

John Trotta has been promoted to Midwest district leader at WSP, a leading engineering, environment and professional services consultancy.

Trotta, a senior vice president who was recently interim Midwest district leader, has assumed this role on a permanent basis. He will continue to serve as WSP national director of client services with the government affairs team. WSP's Midwest district includes Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

In this leadership role, Trotta is responsible for growth and oversight of operations across the district. He collaborates with leaders across WSP to empower teams to reach their greatest potential for clients, cross-sell WSP's broad national and multidisciplinary expertise, recruit impressive talent and advance career growth for employees.

Trotta joined the firm in 2006 as a regional business manager. Prior to joining WSP, he served in multiple leadership and development roles during his 22 years with the Chicago Transit Authority.

"Over the past 18 years, John has brought his infectious energy to his work at WSP, and his passion and leadership make him a natural fit for this role," said Chris Peters, West region president for WSP in the U.S. "He has been a respected leader within our firm and a trusted voice of experience to our many clients who look to him for guidance."

Additionally, Trotta will continue to engage in a leadership role with WSP's national Inclusion and Diversity Council, mentor/protégé programs and the Developing Professional Network. He also serves in a strategic advisory role focused on project teaming and key client accounts and will continue as a member of the government affairs team.

Trotta is a graduate of Roosevelt University with a bachelor's degree in business administration. He was awarded the Italian American Executives of Transportation Man of the Year Award, and the Community Service Award from the Illinois chapter of the American Council of Engineering Companies. He earned the 2022 Excellence in Leadership Award from SOS Children's Villages Illinois where he is currently a board member and fundraising chair for its Evening of Hope.

Hollywood Actress and Model Sistine Stallone is the Cover Star of Dolce Magazine Fall 2023 Issue After its two recent wins for the Spring 2023 edition of Dolce Magazine at the prestigious Summit International Awards, which recognize publishing creativity and excellence from around the world, Dolce Media Group follows up on that triumph with the launch of its Fall 2023 edition that features an exclusive cover profile of Sistine Stallone, the entrepreneurial daughter of Sylvester Stallone and his wife, model Jennifer Flavin.

Stallone, the 25-year-old Los Angeles-born actress, writer, model and podcast host, is the latest member of Hollywood royalty. She enjoys 1.6 million followers on Instagram and her reality show, The Family Stallone, which dropped in May 2023 on Paramount +, features the lighter side of her life with her father and such celebrity friends as Al Pacino and Dolph Lungren.

The Fall 2023 edition of Dolce Magazine features two different covers of Stallone and one candid interview in which she discusses the influence of her parents and sisters, the start of her career and her plans for the future.

The exclusive interview and video shoot were both done on location in Los Angeles at the stunning SheatsGoldstein Residence.

Stallone's appreciation for her strong Italian heritage, especially when it comes to enjoying la dolce vita, or the sweet life, and her love of family shine throughout the feature article. "If I were to close my eyes and picture my perfect dolce vita moment, I would probably be in Tuscany with my family, perhaps with an Aperol spritz in my hand," she says. "Everyone is happy, everyone is healthy and I'm eating a lot of good pasta. That's my dolce vita."

Dolce Magazine, with a global circulation of approximately one million, is one of the world's leading luxury lifestyle publications and forms the foundation of Dolce Media Group. Founded in 1996 and based in Toronto with a global reach, Dolce Media Group specializes in print, website design, graphic design, multimedia productions, social media campaigns and marketing strategies for some of the world's leading luxury brands.

FS Collezione Hair Brushes: Where Healthy Hair Meets Italian Design Fabio Scalia Salons Announces Launch of Luxury Hair Brushes

"I have been designing FS Collezione for 10 years," says Artistic Director Fabio Scalia. "This is a luxurious brushing and styling experience that respects hair and scalp. Made of the finest materials, and designed for professionals, these are truly the 'Ferrari of hairbrushes.'"

FS Collezione hair brushes are the ultimate styling tool for professionals, but also enable anyone to maintain healthy hair and salonquality styling at home. The 12-brush line is designed for certain types of hair and usage, and to protect hair health and integrity.

The line includes: La Claudia (a paddle brush); La Chiara (an all-around brush, but also for extensions); La Monica (boar bristle and ash wood); La Sophia (boar bristle and burgundy); La Mora (boar bristle and nylon); and La Bionda (for fine and short hair).

"Hair brushes are like shoes—you use them for specific purposes. Just like you wouldn't wear a stiletto to the beach, you must use the right one for your type of hair and the desired styling result," says Fabio. "These brushes also get better over time and with use. I've had some of mine for 20 years."

A high-quality boar bristle hair brush, like those in the FS Collezione line, is also an essential tool for fall since it can help repair seasonal damage—from UV rays, salt water and chlorine—and prepare your hair for colder, drier air. Brushing with a boar bristle brush is beneficial since it distributes oil throughout the hair, which moisturizes it. The benefits are twofold, says Fabio: shiner hair, and protection from dryness and UV rays.

Fabio Scalia started styling and cutting hair at age 16 in Sicily, where salon culture required impeccable blowout skills. As an artist who is a master of his craft, he learned quickly that success required both technical skills and the right tools. It was this passion that led him to create the FS Collezione line.

MASSIMO ZANETTI BEVERAGE USA AND ULTRAMAR CAFFE' - NATURA LIFESTYLE SIGN A PARTNERSHIP FOR THE PRODUCTION OF ALUMINUM ESPRESSO CAPSULES

*Nespresso® is a registered trademark of Société des Produits Nestlé S.A. Neither MZB-USA nor La Natura Lifestyle AG (Ultramar Caffè) is affiliated with Société des Produits Nestlé S.A.