The team at La Voce regularly receives inquiries from our readers regarding issues that involve Italy in some manner. They range from questions concerning travel document requirements and suggested itineraries, importing or exporting goods to Italy, attending schools in Italy, the availability of dual citizenship, details about specific regions of Italy (usually the area from which their ancestors migrated), how to find family in Italy by tracing genealogy, and many other areas of concern. Sometimes we are asked to assist with translations, notarizing official Italian documents, even transporting the remains of the deceased back to Italy for burial. Many times we will refer the inquiries to the Italian Embassy, Italian Consulate, National Italian American Foundation, or some trade or travel organization with specialized informational databases.             As I was having a wonderful pranzo with Stefano Ripamonti at Valentino’s a few weeks ago, and later meeting with the gracious Lela Ripamonti, a thought occurred to me. Sadly, the structure and personnel of the Italian government’s representatives in the United States is not generally known to even Italian immigrants, much less to the average Italian-American in Las Vegas. That should come as no surprise, given that the last Honorary Vice Consul in Las Vegas didn’t even speak Italian. Learning of his presence in Las Vegas was, for the most part, accidental. But things have recently changed — and much for the better.             Stefano Ripamonti, who along with his family operates many different businesses at the Venetian, has been featured in La Voce previously. Many of you will remember the cover photo of him with a most lifelike and artfully hand-carved replica of il burratino Pinocchio photographed by Barbara Santora several years ago. That article featured his Ripa di Monti shop, which focuses on beautiful blown Venetian glass from such renowned artists as Seguso, Cenedese, Formia, and Salviati. In it, we pointed out that one does not have to spend a fortune to possess a beautiful work of Venetian glass artistry — some pieces, like hand-crafted champagne flutes, sell for under $40.             We also published an article about the fabulous Venetian masks that are among the items sold at Il Prato, which is next to Ripa di Monti. Those of you who have visited the Venetian or Palazzo have seen and perhaps enjoyed a true espresso, tramezzino, or panino at Espressamente Illy or a gelato at Cocolini. Maybe you had lunch at Santa Lucia or a cocktail at the Very Venice Bar. If you haven’t, you should. There is nothing in Las Vegas more authentically Italian than what these establishments provide. The Ripamonti family also operates Harlequino, the kiosks featuring the colorful baubles and beads that you pass as you meander along the canals at the Venetian.             But most important for Las Vegans, Stefano Ripamonti is now the Honorary Vice Consul of Italy. He recently received his credentials from the Italian government through the Ambassador to America, Giovanni Castellaneta, who has held his post since late 2005. Ambasciatore Castellaneta previously served as Ambassador to Iran, Australia, and the Pacific Islands, was Prime Minister Berlusconi’s representative to the G8 summits, and headed Italy’s efforts in the reconstruction of Albania after its civil war. He has been Spokesman and Chief of Press and Communication for the Italian government in historic events such as the Gulf War, the final days of the Soviet Union, and the reunification of Germany. A very experienced diplomat, indeed.             The Italian Embassy operates through a system of Consulate Generals located in Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and San Francisco. In turn, each of these Consul Generals has Adjunct Consular offices in cities in their region. Las Vegas is within the jurisdiction of the Los Angeles Consul General, currently Nicola Faganello, who is dedicated to bringing the existence of his mission and the services that the consulate provides to the attention of all people living in the southwestern United States.             Since taking his post in August of last year, Consul General Faganello has oversight over Arizona, the southern half of California, New Mexico, and Nevada. Other Adjunct Consular Offices are in Reno, San Diego, Phoenix, and Albuquerque. He joined the Italian Government Foreign Service in 1993 and has since held posts in Athens, Greece, and Jakarta, Indonesia. From 2003– 2007, he served with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Rome. Shortly after his appointment, he assisted in organizing a reception for Ambassador Castellaneta in San Diego and was instrumental in the creation and facilitation of the first Italian Film Festival ever to take place in San Diego. Named Cinema Sud, it consisted of a series of 13 films provided by the Italian government through the consulate in Los Angeles. The films were made in the southern regions of Italy, the areas where most of the immigrants to the United States trace their roots — Campania, Puglia, Basilicata, Calabria, Sicilia, and Sardegna.             Honorary Vice Consul Ripamonti is in the process of organizing a reception such as this for Las Vegas and will keep you posted of its progress through La Voce. Given his background and level of energy, there is no doubt that our community will be enlivened by his presence in this post.             After serving in the Italian Air Force, he was hired in 1966 as export manager by Universal Footwear S.A., an Italian-Swiss company that specialized in high-fashion women’s shoes, with a strong market in the United States. This job gave him an opportunity to interact mostly with American business people and fostered a strong affinity toward America. In one of his business trips to New York for a shoe manufacturers’ convention, he met Sally, his wife of 38 years and the mother of his four sons, at the Plaza Hotel. They married in Rome, had their first child there, and as he says, “enjoyed the closing act of ‘la Dolce Vita’ for five years.” In 1970, with a partner, he started a new-concept company that provided advertising and promotional services to United Artists, Twentieth Century Fox, Columbia, Paramount, and Walt Disney, for the launching of their motion pictures in Italy.             Attracted by the dynamism of the American business life, he sold his shares of the agency to his partner in 1975 and moved to Chicago, where he became the exclusive United States licensee of Halston, the most prominent fashion designer in America, who dressed most of the celebrities of his time, and opened Halston and Stefano boutiques in Chicago (Water Tower Place), New York (Madison & 68th), Costa Mesa (South Coast Plaza), and Detroit (Renaissance Center). In 1980, he left Chicago and moved to New York where, with two other partners, he developed an international operation that opened offices in New York, Milan, London, and Frankfurt, providing correspondent banking services to 25 Italian banks, along with marketing consulting assistance to their corporate customers seeking to enter the U.S. market.             In 1987, he joined American Express, at the World Financial Center in New York, as First Vice President and Managing Director of I.T.C. International Trade Consulting. He created this division as a competitive tool for American Express Bank, allowing it to offer a wide package of marketing and consulting services to 30 financial institutions in Europe and South America, which in turn would offer it to foreign small- and medium-sized companies seeking market entry in the U.S.             In 1991, Stefano accepted a position as President and C.E.O. of Illy North America, Inc., and developed the Illy coffee brand in the U.S., Canada, and South America, positioning it as the most prominent premium coffee in the market. Since 1998, along with his two oldest sons, Simone and Anthony, he has focused upon his operations at the Venetian and Palazzo. He is already active in assisting Italian citizens who need consular services; in fact, I learned of his appointment when he phoned my law office for assistance in a matter in which an Italian tourist died while engaged at the tables in a major Las Vegas casino. He handled the matter with the aplomb that one would expect from a man with his worldliness and experience in dealing with crises.             Vice Consul Ripamonti is in the process of organizing an office where he will receive the public three days a week, by appointment. Through periodic columns that he will write and which will be published here, he will keep our readers abreast of international developments between Italy and the United States and of opportunities for travel, education, and doing business in Italy. With the advent of our new airport terminal and the addition of more international flights, the presence of an active Vice Consul and Adjunct Consular Office in Las Vegas will surely make it easier to attract additional Italian tourism and commerce through direct flights by Alitalia and other airlines.             And make it easier for us to get to Italy, as well!