Board of Directors 2007/2008
President
Nawal Felippone
I spent my youth in Beirut, Lebanon. I got
my high-school diploma from the British
School for Girls and graduated from the
American University in Beirut with a B.A.
degree in English literature. At present, in
spite of its difficulties, life in Beirut is still
very interesting; people are very sociable and friendly. That is
how I got to know my Italian husband who was on assignment
with IBM. After our marriage, we traveled a lot in the Middle
East and Europe for his work and even when we had three children,
it did not prevent us from accepting a one year assignment
in the States. I enjoy living in Milan. When I chose the apartment
where we've been living for the past thirty years, I made
sure it was close to the children's schools, supermarkets, gym,
etc. as I didn't have any help at the beginning. Slowly, life
became smoother and through a friend, I got to know about
Benvenuto which brought an important change into my life. That
was way back in 1996 when I called Marilyn Tambling and asked
if I could join the Club. She warmly invited me to attend the
Main Coffee and here I am, organizing and enjoying Benvenuto
activities: first as a NTN zone coordinator for the Loreto zone,
then as Vice President with Siran Rastelli as President of Orientals
Abroad, then as President of OA for two years. The Board
positions of Community Services Director and Membership
Director kept me quite busy and obliged me to improve and perfect
my computer knowledge. Currently as the Secretary, I am
equally busy but I do enjoy contributing to the Club, at the same
time making friends, enriching my knowledge of the country I
am living in and the culture of the various nationalities which our
Club represents.
Last April, my daughter celebrated her first year of marriage and
the news of my becoming a "grandma" next September couldn't
have made me and my husband happier. Now I have another job
to look forward to: babysitting..."
Vice President
Luisa Dassi
I was born and raised in Milan; I travelled
worldwide but never settled abroad. I got
married, I have no children, but am very
much concerned about everything that relates to family and
friendship. Since I joined the Benvenuto club about nine years
ago, I have contributed first as a volunteer for Alzheimer Italia,
then for two consecutive years on the Orientals Abroad Board
as Secretary and Membership Director (2004-2006). It was a
valuable experience for me, getting to know various nationalities
and cultures, attending their lectures, making friends. I
have been the coordinator for the Language Exchange group
since 2004 and I would like to continue doing so even after
accepting the challenge of the Vice President’s position.
I am looking forward to this opportunity to get even more
involved in the Club, to get to know my fellow members better
and to organize various activities at the Main Coffee to render
this event more interesting. This, of course, I hope to achieve
with everybody’s help. I enjoy meeting people and there is no
better place than the Benvenuto Club to provide such a valuable
opportunity. I look forward to taking an active role on next
year’s Board and will do my best to work harmoniously with all
of my colleagues to offer our members a culturally and socially
enjoyable Benvenuto Year.
Other than travelling, I enjoy the seaside, mountain walks,
reading and taking care of my lovely terrace which offers me a
lovely view early in the morning to start my day.
Membership Director
Rossana De la Espriellano
My Name is Rossana De la Espriella. I was born far away from here, close to the ocean in a
beautiful colonial city, Cartagena, in Colombia. I have been living in Milan for over 10 years now.
I am married to an Italian, and have two wonderful
daughters, Camilla (5) and Maria Margarita (14 months).
My professional training is in Marketing Communication. I worked for over 8 years
for Digital Bros, a key player in the italian market in the
videogame and entertainment sector. I enjoyed
working in the marketing team and also had the chance
to have an experience in purchasing.
I'm looking forward to working for Benvenuto club
in this challenging position. I will try doing my very
best as your new Membership Director.
Special Activities Director
Diane Saà
I was born and raised in New Jersey,
U.S.A. After graduating from college
and working 3 years as an elementary
school teacher, I met my Italian husband
in the States. We decided to
marry and live in Milan where I also
taught at the American school for 3 years. When I had my 2
sons I decided to become a full time Mother. When I quit
teaching, I discovered the Benvenuto club and have been involved
ever since being the Special Activities Director, Chairperson
for the Neighbour to Neighbour events, Newcomers
Director, Vice President and the Liaison to Alzheimer Italia.
These jobs have always been interesting and rewarding. Benvenuto
offers so much by allowing you to meet and work with
women from all over the world. It opens up one’s horizons
and therefore has made my life here more stimulating. With all
of your help and advice, I hope to organize events that will
make your lives more enjoyable too. Don’t hesitate to come up
to me with your ideas! I was your 2006-2007 Special
Activities Director. I enjoyed it very much and so I am coming
back for more!
First Public Relation Director
Anna Albini
I’m Italian, grown up in Milan, where I've been working as a Public Notary since
1994. I am 42 and single. I joined the Benvenuto Club in 2006, and al
though I can’t go to many events as I work fulltime, I found the people
very welcoming. A good number of you are women coming from all over the
world, and are no doubt used to moving to other countries, to experience
different cultures and ways of life. At times, this could create some problems for
` you, until you find a Club like Benvenuto to help and "hug" you. I really
find your commitment of great interest in enhancing and strengthening relations
between different cultures: you've really succeeded in your endeavours thanks to your dedication and passion in
creating a strong community of citizens of the world in this city. I'm thankful to Nawal for having invited
me to accept the position of Fundraising Director and I look forward to doing my very best in swamping the Club
with new sponsorships, in other words with "money, money, money money............" quoting a famous American
song by Liza Minnelli in a legendary movie
Second Public Relation Director
Grazia Masala
Siena is my native home town and it is
where I grew up. I received a scholarship
from the university in Perugia, and it is
there where I earned my degree in Political
Science. I became an assistant Professor of Sociology for
two years, then worked at the Buitoni factory in the Marketing
Sector for the following 4 years. In 1968, I got married , settled
in Milano and I have two grown daughters. I joined the
Benvenuto Club in 1999 and I soon found myself involved in
the Club’s various activities. I was Treasurer for Orientals
Abroad for 2 years, Vice President of the Club for two years
(2003-05), and I was the Special Activities director for OA last
year. I am currently the Vice Public Relations Director which I
will be repeating my position for the next Benvenuto year.
I love to travel, to meet new people and to take photographs
(especially on travels to different countries). I also enjoy
dancing, cooking, gardening and music. I look forward to
doing my very best as the 1st PR Director for the Benvenuto
Club. Thank you for placing your confidence in me.
Secretary
Sandhya Gupta
I was born in New Delhi and graduated in
Indian Literature with Honours. I also have
a
degree in Textile Designing from Delhi University.
I am married and have 2 grown children. My husband
was working for one of the largest travel companies in India and
was posted in Milan as the Director for Southern Europe in 1992.
Prior to that he was the Director for Northern India based in
Delhi. We also lived in the United States before coming to Milan.
Presently, I own an Indian Restaurant in Milan and my husband
has his own tourism company. I have been the member of
the Benvenuto Club from ‘92 and was the Special
Activities director of Orientals Abroad twice. Presently, I am
completing my second term as the President of Orientals Abroad.
I must admit that having joined the Benvenuto club shortly after
my arrival in Milan has helped me to adjust to my new surroundings
tremendously. I was able to make a lot of friends and I
never felt lost in this new place in spite of the fact
of not knowing the Italian language.
Newcomers Director
Anne-Marie Peyron
I am 29 years old, am married to an Italian and have a two year old
daughter. I am French, Italian and English and have lived in Paris, New
York, Rome and London. We moved from London
to Milan about a year and a half ago and here I
discovered the Benvenuto club. From
the moment I walked through the door I have
felt a part of a very warm and welcoming group of women. Which is why I
jumped at the chance of becoming an active part of the
club. As Newcomers Director I hope to extend to all
those who join us the warm welcome I received and to
help provide that safety net of friendship where you
can find a helping hand and practical advice which one
so needs when first arriving in a new city.
Community Services Director
Bianca dal Bianco
I was born in Milan 67 years ago and it is here
where I grew up, studied, got married and had our
two sons (37 and 33 years old). I have a university degree in
Agriculture and worked as a technician in the pesticides and
fertilizer field for many years. I was also a journalist for
gardening magazines. Some time later, I became a teacher and
taught for a few years.
Editor
Anna Rowsell
I was born in Holland and lived in Italy,
Germany and England too. I got a degree
in French and Italian at Sussex University and stayed on in England
to gain my post-graduate certificate in Marketing. I worked
for a financial firm in London till my marriage, at which point I
became a full-time mother with 3 step-children. Last August my
husband and our two girls moved to Milan once the last step-son
had finished school to give the girls a chance to explore their italian
heritage. My mother is Italian and father is English so luckily
I already speak the language and the girls now go to an italian
school so they can be bi-lingual. I'm very much looking forward
to editing the Benvenuto Magazine and am fortunate that Maggie
Zanenga will be still involved as my Vice-Editor as she has done
such a fantastic job this year.
Treasurer
Jeryl Jackmuff
I am an American, and grew up on Long
Island, New York. I graduated Hofstra
University with a B.B.A. and I am a
Certified Public Accountant in the State
of New York. In the past, I had the opportunity to work as an
auditor in Frankfurt, Germany. It was there that I fell in love
with Europe. I stayed on for three years immersing myself in
the German language and culture. When I returned to
Manhattan, I worked as an audit manager for Price Waterhouse
Coopers and in the private sector as an internal audit manager
for CBS. In 1997 I came to Italy and worked as a Budget and
Forecast Manager for Coca Cola Italia. I am married to an
Italian and have 3 young children. In 2001 I joined Benvenuto
and have served in the past as the Club Treasurer as well as the
the A.I.M. Treasurer. I have been a member of the Professional
Women’s Association and the American Business Luncheon
Group. In 2005 I founded the Benvenuto Sanremo Group.
It would be a pleasure to serve the Benvenuto Club as
Treasurer. The club has given me so much since I joined:
friendships, access to cultural and philanthropical events, and
an opportunity to be surrounded by a great number of fantastic
women!
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