About Us

Bianca Ottone

Italian Roots

My name is Bianca Ottone and I grew up in Genova, home of navigators Cristoforo Colombo and Andrea Doria, composer Niccolo’ Paganini and architect Renzo Piano. It is there that I earned a University Degree in Foreign Languages, which eventually took me to Rome where I spent my early career working at Citibank. The day I decided to leave the financial industry was not received very well by my family members. After all, resigning from a good job sounds a little crazy, does it not? Perhaps, but big changes were on the horizon for me from earning a Master’s degree in Management at the London Business School to founding an online business (www.myitalianfamily.com). All of that happened just 20 years ago…

Accomplishments

Today, My Italian Family has helped many people with an Italian origin trace back their roots, reconnect to their living relatives, follow their Ancestors’ steps onsite in Italy and become Italian Dual Citizens. We continue to employ the knowledge and professionalism of our Italian researchers in creating wonderful family histories that will be cherished by our clients and their future generations. In addition, our in-house Italian and American lawyers provide expertise and know-how in assisting applicants successfully going through the process of becoming Italian Dual Citizens. Not a single day goes by where I regret my decision to make a change in my life and be what I am today. Do you want to talk to Bianca? Call her at 1-844-745-1123!

James Chinnici

Italian Roots

My name is James Chinnici; I was born in Cleveland, Ohio, where my Grandfather and Father had settled after coming to the US in 1920 from Sicily. Although my Father was born in Sant'Agata di Militello, my Grandfather’s family lineage was from Cesarò and San Teodoro, Northwest of Mount Etna. I am a graduate of Miami University (Oxford, Ohio), and also earned an MBA from The Ohio State University.

Accomplishments

My business career first was in Human Resources and Training & Development, which led to consulting and sales roles in a number of major Management Consulting firms, including Cap Gemini, Accenture, and HCL-America. I have helped numerous businesses as a turn-around specialist in merger & acquisition implementations and in helping manage large scale systems implementations in the US, Canada, UK, and Europe. About 20 years ago, after my parents had passed away, I began a serious genealogy hunt for my roots in Sicily. I even traveled to the towns where my family was originally from, an experience I will never forget. Since Genealogy and Dual Citizenship are so tied to each other, I have become an expert in both. Today, I head the Italian Dual Citizenship Service Department at My Italian Family assisting fellow Italian Americans in their journey to Italian citizenship. Do you want to talk to James? Call him at 1-844-745-1123!

Marco Mazzeschi

Italian Roots

I was born in 1961 and grew up in Scorgiano, a tiny “borgo” in the heart of Tuscany with only 44 inhabitants. Including all surrounding families of farmers who worked for the estate, population was about 600 people. The farmers in Scorgiano (in some cases a family was composed of more than 20 siblings) used to cultivate the land with the method of “Mezzadria”, a system of land tenure whereby a farmer was given a plot of land with a house by a land owner and paid a proportion (originally half, which in Italian is “mezzo”) of the farm’s produce as a rent. Despite the fact that many left, my family stayed in Scorgiano and in 1988, we were able to purchase and renovate one of the houses nearby located in Casanova, where I currently live. After Law University, I spent two years as lieutenant of the Italian Fiscal Police and I was posted in Predazzo, a small village in the Dolomites. In 1988 I moved in Milan where I worked for 20 years with some of the largest law firms.

Accomplishments

Marco has more than 30 years’ experience in corporate immigration and commercial law. He is “an absolute top name” who stands out as “the most prominent attorney in Italy” in the area, according to Who’s Who Legal’s Corporate Immigration and he has also been selected in the list of Thought Leaders - Global Elite 2020. He has been admitted with the Milan Bar Association since 1988 and as foreign practicing lawyer in Taipei since 2016. He founded Mazzeschi SRL in 2007 and since then, he offers immigration and legal services to multinational companies (more than 100 of the Fortune 500 companies) and to foreigners in the entire Italian territory. Currently, Mazzeschi SRL has developed a consistent Citizenship department to help foreigners acquire their Italian citizenship and its experts are mostly specialized in 1948 cases and fast-track procedures. Marco is also a member of AILA (American Immigration Lawyers Association) since 2001. He speaks frequently at international conferences and seminars and has written several articles to international journals. He is a regular contributor to Lexisnexis and Thomson Reuters publications.

Eric Buonamassa, Esq.

Italian Roots

My name is Eric Buonamassa. I am the grandchild of Italian-born grandparents who emigrated to the United States in the early 1900’s from Matera (Basilicata), Petrignano d’Assisi (Umbria) and Cuneo (Piemonte). Growing up, my grandparents and parents kept in touch with the family in Italy, and I continue to maintain a relationship with i miei cugini italiani. I travel to Italy with my wife and son frequently to spend time with them, and they often visit us here in New York. I’m constantly striving to improve my Italian language skills and broaden my knowledge of Italian culture. As part of that, my wife and I recently rented an apartment in Firenze for a month and lived la vita italiana (see photo!).

Accomplishments

I have lived my entire life in the New York City area, receiving my undergraduate degree from New York University and my law degree from Brooklyn Law School. After 25 years of practice in New York law firms and corporations, I joined the staff of My Italian Family. I went through the process of obtaining my Italian citizenship and after receiving it I took the steps necessary to obtain Italian citizenship for my wife and son as well. In doing so I learned the legal ins and outs of the documentation required for Italian citizenship. I also enjoy doing genealogy research and have expertise in reading old handwritten Italian birth, death and marriage records. I use all of that knowledge in my work for My Italian Family, and I am happy to share my skills and experience in helping clients obtain their Italian citizenship. Do you want to talk to Eric? Call him at 1-844-745-1123!

Valeria Sammartano

Italian Roots

My name is Valeria Sammartano. I was born and raised in Castelvetrano, province of Trapani, in the south-western coast of the beautiful Sicily. My home-town is especially known for its “Nocellara del Belice DOP” olive oil and for the archeological site of Selinunte, one of the most important Greek colonies in Sicily, with great remains of the temples centered on the “acropolis”, beside the Mediterranean Sea. This is the land where I have been living with my family for 27 years and where I have been studying to become an attorney, like my father, from whom I inherited my passion for the law.

Accomplishments

I received my Master’s Law Degree from the University of Palermo in 2015; I worked as a lawyer apprentice in my family law firm for about two years and I was also a judicial intern at the local Courthouse of Sciacca, province of Agrigento. In 2017 I received my license to practice law after successfully passing the Italian State Bar Exam. In 2017 I also got married to my German husband Kay, whom I met in New York City on a summer vacation and who was already working in the U.S. as a Sales Manager for a German company. This is the reason why we decided to establish our permanent residence in New Jersey, where we currently live together with our two children, Francesco and Alexandra. Two years ago, I joined the staff of My Italian Family to use my legal knowledge and expertise to assist our Dual Citizenship Applicants and to combine my work as a full time Project Manager with my great love for the law and for Italy. Do you want to talk to Valeria? Call her at 1-844-745-1123!

Melissa Barnes

Italian Roots

My name is Melissa Barnes; I was born and have resided in the greater Houston area my entire life. My Grandmother relocated here from West Virginia where my paternal Great Grandfather settled from San Giovanni in Fiore in the Calabria region of southern Italy in the early 1910’s. My entire extended family get together often, and I enjoy learning more and more about our Italian genealogy from my Grandmother,and teaching my son about his ancestry.

Accomplishments

I attended Sam Houston State University studying two majors and eventually started working at a local law firm during my senior year in 2012. I have worked as a legal assistant for the last eight years for a Criminal Defense attorney, Family Law attorney and most recently, a Construction Defect attorney. Over the years, I found the most joy in giving clients a personalized and positive experience in everything that I do. This has led me to join My Italian Family as a full time Project Manager two years ago; using my legal experience to provide our clients with an effortless dual Italian citizenship process from start to finish. Do you want to talk to Melissa? Call her at 1-844-745-1123!

Jillian Palisano-Au

Italian Roots

My name is Jillian Palisano-Au. I am 50% Italian. My father is 100%. I was born and raised in Buffalo, NY where the Italian side of my family settled after immigrating from Sicily. I currently reside in Buffalo, NY with my husband and 2 children.

Accomplishments

I attended the State University of New York at Fredonia where I earned a Bachelor of Arts with a Major in English and a Minor in Criminal Justice. I also obtained a Paralegal Certificate from the State University of New York at Buffalo. I have been working as a Legal Assistant/Paralegal for 8 years. I am very excited to be part of My Italian Family and assist clients with finding out more about their family heritage as well as obtain their Italian Dual Citizenship. Do you want to talk to Jillian? Call her at 1-844-745-1123!

Katarina Sivakova Venturelli, Esq.

Italian Ties

My name is Katarina Sivakova Venturelli. I come from a small historical town in Slovakia, situated just a short drive from the capital Bratislava. I immediately fell in love with Italy as a small child during summer vacation. Since then, I have traveled to Italy countless times and learned Italian fluently. In fact, I have seen more places in Italy than my Italian husband, who was born and raised near Bologna. For one year, I also lived in the magnificent city of Turin where I studied for my second Master’s degree in Comparative Law, Economics and Finance. I am a huge fan of Italian cuisine and love making homemade gnocchi and risottos.

Accomplishments

I received my Master’s Law Degree from the Komenskeho University in Bratislava in 2007; and worked in multiple law firms in Bratislava for about 10 years as an attorney at law, primarily dealing with transactional agenda and litigation. My rather straightforward career was interrupted in 2019 when I moved to California to join my Italian husband who had been already living in San Francisco and working as a scientist for NASA. I studied at the UC Hastings College of the Law where I have obtained an LL.M. in US Legal Studies. After that, I worked for a data protection company and successfully sat for the California Bar Exam. I am very happy to be part of the staff of My Italian Family as it combines both of my passions – Italy and immigration law!

Timea Galoppo

Italian Ties

My name is Timea Galoppo. I was born in the beautiful Transylvania and am a dual citizen of Hungary and Romania. After graduating from University, I spent a few years working in accounting, then took some time to travel around Europe. I even lived in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region in Italy for a short while. I immediately fell in love with its culture, food, and people, and I just knew that I would have a long-lasting connection with Italy for the rest of my life. Shortly after immigrating to the United States with the purpose of advancing my education, I met my husband Ciro, who is originally from Naples. We now reside in Richmond, VA with our "pack" of Boston Terriers. We love to travel internationally and visit family in Italy as often as we can.

Accomplishments

After obtaining a degree in Business Administration and Management, I have been working as a Paralegal in Virginia for several years, with a focus in immigration law. I speak four languages, including Italian. I am very excited to be part of My Italian Family, where I am utilizing my skills, passion and experience to assist all who wish to pursue Italian citizenship and live the “Dolce Vita” in the beautiful Italy!

Tamara Chirico

Italian Roots

My name is Tamara Chirico. I was born in Asuncion, Paraguay. My family and I moved to Los Angeles, CA when I was one year old. At the age of eight, we moved back to Paraguay where we resided until I completed high school at the American School of Asuncion. The Italian side of my family arrived in Paraguay in the 1890’s from Sicily. My husband is also of Italian descent, his family immigrated to Brazil from Trento in the late 1860’s. I currently reside with my husband Samuel and our furry baby Bella in Miami, FL. We love to travel, spend as much time as possible with family, and share a passion for Italian food.

Accomplishments

I attended the University of California in Irvine where I earned a Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Criminology, Law, and Society, and a Minor in Italian Studies. I began my professional career as a law intern with the Orange County Public Defender’s Office in Newport Beach, CA. I inherited my love for law from my mother, who is a criminal attorney. In 2014, my husband and I relocated to Aspen, CO, where I worked for an immigration law firm. I quickly discovered that my heart was in immigration law and developed a deep interest for helping others achieve their dream of immigrating to the United States. In 2015 we moved to Miami, FL, where I began working for a boutique immigration law firm, grew professionally and became the Director of Legal Operations for the firm.  I am thrilled to be part of the My Italian Family team and assist you in becoming Italian citizens. Do you want to talk to Tamara? Call her at 1-844-741-0848!
 

Laura Garriga

Italian Ties

My name is Laura Garriga, and I am originally from a small town in the Pyrenees of Catalonia, Spain, named Campdevanol.  While growing up, I read books that told stories about other countries; Italy became one of my favorites, along with the United States (where I currently reside). As a matter of fact, if you were to stroll through Campdevanol, my hometown, you would think you were staying in a little remote Italian town; after all, our cultures and languages are so similar! The first time I went to Rome, it was after reading the book “Scusa ma ti chiamo amore,” by Federico Moccia. I visited all the neighborhoods and landmarks that I fell in love with, while reading about them; Via Vittorio Emanuele, Trastevere... it was truly a blast. If I were ever to settle in Europe again, Italy would be my first choice (my husband and I always say that we will buy a castle in some remote Italian or Spanish town when we retire). The dream!

Accomplishments

After working as a translator and interpreter for about five years, my eagerness to continue to learn and further my career objectives took me to the beginning of my journey as an Immigration Paralegal; that was four years ago. Being able to help people obtain residency status in a country where they would love to settle and start a new life is truly an honor.
Two years ago, I accomplished my dream and enrolled in Law School.  Law is always evolving and changing, and that is one of the reasons why I enjoy it. Furthermore, I am an immigrant myself who went through the naturalization process here in the U.S.; I know how important it is to have someone knowledgeable to help you through this amazing process.
Upon my graduation from Law School, I am planning to take my LLM in American Legal Studies, and eventually become a licensed U.S. lawyer. I am so excited to be able to apply my knowledge about immigration to assist applicants achieve their Italian citizenship dream and help them reconnect to their European Roots!

Matthew Caruso Dolson

Italian Roots

My name is Matthew Dolson. I am 50% of Italian descent; my maternal grandfather’s parents are from the Calabria region (Crotone) and my maternal grandmother’s parents are also from the Calabria region (Cosenza). My great grandfather, Demetrio Caruso, came to the United States in the early 1900s and settled in Brooklyn with my great grandmother Rosina. His son Joseph (my great uncle) was on a plane that was shot down in World War II in an area South of Rome; just a few hours north of where his parents were born.  My mom was able to visit the Calabria region a few years ago and was also able to visit the site of the crash.  I hope to one day have that incredible experience.  I grew up just north of New York city in a predominantly Italian-American neighborhood and will always miss food there (but especially the home cooked kind from my mom). I currently reside in Newark, Delaware.

Accomplishments

I graduated from High School in Mahopac, NY and received a BS degree from the University of Delaware in history, with a minor in political science. I attended and graduated from Widener University School of Law with a Juris Doctorate degree. I spent the last nine years working in a small firm in Elkton, Maryland working on a variety of cases including civil litigation, family law, real property, and criminal defense. I am looking forward to the next challenge of helping United States citizens attain dual citizenship with Italy and all the benefits that go along with it! Do you want to talk to Matthew? Call him at 1-844-741-0848!

Maria Biancardi

Italian Roots

My name is Maria Biancardi. I was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. At the age of five, I moved with my parents and siblings to Miami, Florida, where I currently reside. Like many other Argentinians, I have ties to Italy (on both my mother and my father's side). My family and I are also in the process of applying for Italian citizenship. Recently, my father found his second-cousin on Facebook and visited his home in Castelmassa. We hope to make a family trip to Italy soon to meet my father's cousins, as well as my mother's relatives.

Accomplishments

I graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminology and Law and a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology. Currently, I am a fourth-year law student at Florida International University. I have two years of experience as an immigration paralegal working on humanitarian, family, and employment-based cases. I am excited to be part of My Italian Family and help others obtain their Italian citizenship. Do you want to talk to Maria? Call her at 1-844-741-0848!

Giselle Arellano

Italian Ties

My name is Giselle Arellano.  I was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska and I am currently living in Alabama with my family. Both my parents are 100% Mexican and although I do not have any direct ties to Italy that I am aware of, our cultures are very similar in the sense that we value family and the celebration of life.

Accomplishments

I received my Bachelor’s Degree in Paralegal Studies and a minor in Business Administration from College of Saint Marys, in Omaha, NE.  I have been a paralegal for the last nine years.  The majority of my career has been immigration law.  My first job was with a nonprofit organization that allowed me to become fully accredited by the Department of Justice to represent clients in Immigration Court and USCIS.  I have also worked in the private sector with private immigration attorneys.  I found it to be both fascinating and enjoyable in helping my clients.   I am happy to be able to utilize my experience and skills with My Italian Family assisting applicants in their pursuit of Italian Citizenship.

Michael F. Petta, Esq.

Italian Roots

My name is Michael Francis Petta. I am 100% of Italian descent, the grandchild of my paternal Italian-born grandparents who emigrated from Campobasso Italy. My grandfather initially came to the US via Ellis Island in the early 1900s alone, until he was able to establish himself in Mechanicville (NY), gain employment, save money, and have my grandmother immigrate here. They never learned to speak English too well and prided themselves in their Italian heritage. On my maternal side, my great-grandparents emigrated from Italy in the late 1800s and settled in Mechanicville too. By the way, both my grandmothers (including my mom) were phenomenal cooks, a talent that, I hope, I inherited from them and a tradition that I would like to pass on to my children and grandchildren.

Accomplishments

I graduated from High School in Mechanicville, NY with high honors, received a BS degree from the Rochester Institute of Technology in Criminal Justice/Pre-law, with a minor in psychology. I attended and graduated from Pace University Law School in White Plains, NY with a Juris Doctorate degree. I passed both the NY and CT bar exams and am admitted to practice law in both of those states. I have work for many employers, primarily in the private sector - but also for New York State and a non-profit entity as well. For New York State, I worked for the Office of the State Comptroller, as well as for the litigation bureau of the Department of Health. I am currently a supervisor of tax experts for an online tax preparation software company, in addition to being the attorney for My Italian Family, LLC - helping United States citizens attain the coveted status of dual citizenship with Italy. Do you want to talk to Michael? Call him at 1-844-745-1123!

Joanne Messina

Italian Roots

My name is Joanne Messina. I reside in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. My mom immigrated as a young girl with her family to Germantown, PA from Volturara Irpina, in the province of Avellino, Italy. Years later she traveled back to Italy and met my dad, also from Volturara Irpina. Like myself, my husband Frank was also born to native Italian parents. We still continue to uphold our many Italian traditions from eating pasta on Sundays, to growing a large vegetable garden, to canning my own tomato sauce. Most importantly we love passing our Italian traditions on to our children because family means everything when you’re Italian!

Accomplishments

I hold a Bachelors degree in Finance from Temple University. I worked in the insurance and health research industries doing Dividend & Financial Reporting, Quality Assurance, and Data Management. I then took some time to raise my family. Prior to coming to My Italian Family, I worked for over a decade with clients located all over the U.S. on a consulting basis. I am very excited to be a part of My Italian Family and to help others achieve their goal of receiving their Italian citizenship. 
 

Cristiana La Selva

Italian Roots

My name is Cristiana E. La Selva. I was born in Philadelphia (PA) to Italian parents. My whole family is from Pescara (Abruzzo) where I lived most of my life. I moved to Philadelphia in 2015, but I visit my family in Abruzzo every summer. Pescara is located on the Adriatic Coast, about two hours away from Rome, and it is known for the great poet Gabriele D’Annunzio and the playwright Ennio Flaiano, as well as for amazing food like pasta alla chitarra and arrosticini. I grew up speaking Italian and I learned the dialect of Abruzzo from my grandparents. 

Professional Background

In November 2009, I graduated in Language Mediation and Intercultural Communication from the University G. D’Annunzio (Pescara) with a thesis on bilingualism. I then moved to Rome, where I lived for five years and earned my MA in Modern Languages, Literature and Translation Studies from La Sapienza, University of Rome, in July 2014. While living in Rome, I taught Italian and English as a Second Language. I am a dual Italian American citizen and I specialize in the translation of vital records for dual citizenship applications. 

Laura De Santis

Italian Roots

My name is Laura De Santis. I was born and raised in the beautiful city of Milan where I received my high school degree in Accounting. I worked there in Human resources for 15 years. When I met my husband Stefano our passion for travel bloomed. Later on, our two children Chiara, now 25 and Daniele, 21 were born.

Accomplishments

In 2001 we moved to the United States. I became a massage therapist while also working part time as a teacher’s assistant at the Waldorf School of Princeton. Eventually, I became a pastry baker in Princeton and then I met My Italian Family over three years ago. It was love at first sight! I work mostly as a translator of US documents to Italian in conjunction with Italian Dual Citizenship applications. I also assist our Research Team in putting together these beautiful reports for customers who authorize the research of their Family History onsite in Italy. Do you want to talk to Laura? Call her at 1-844-745-1123!

Walter Santantonio

Italian Roots

My name is Walter Santantonio; I was born in Switzerland where my Italian parents had migrated for work. When I was six, we all returned to my paternal ancestral town located in the province of Treviso, part of the beautiful region of Veneto. It is there that the Santantonio Family settled for generations in the town of Colle Umberto.

Accomplishments

After high school, I immediately developed an interest in genealogy; I was in my 20s when I started a family research in the church archives of the town where my grandparents lived, and for me, it was like discovering the Holy Grail. From there, I perfected my interest and made it into a profession. In the early 2000s, I started offering my genealogy services to Newsgroups, and then I slowly graduated to offering services to all people whose roots hailed from the North of Italy, including clients from My Italian Family. Today, after more than 500 genealogy research projects successfully completed, I also specialize in finding heirs, locating ancestral homes, and procuring Italian Vital Records for the purpose of Italian Dual Citizenship. My collaboration with My Italian Family is almost two decades long and still ongoing.