On Thursday, February 26, OSDIA National Executive Director Shayla Kaestle and OSDIA State Lodge of Pennsylvania President James Santilli met with Nico Frandi, Consul General of Italy in Philadelphia, and Steve Mancini, Honorary Consul of Pittsburgh and OSDIA Italian Government Relations Subcommittee Chair.
During the meeting, which took place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Kaestle and Santilli welcomed Consul General Frandi to the position and engaged in dialogue about how OSDIA can work with the Consulate General to achieve shared strategic goals in the coming years.
Among the topics of discussion were: Maintaining a visible and sustained Italian presence in Pennsylvania. Launching business networking opportunities for Italian and Italian American professionals in the region. Promoting awareness of Italian and Italian American history during this year's America250 celebrations. Supporting Italian language instruction and roots tourism initiatives.Enhancing collaboration among the Consul General, his honorary consulates, and OSDIA lodges within his jurisdiction.
"It was a pleasure to meet in-person with the Consul General and to formally welcome him to this important role, said Kaestle. "As the largest and oldest Italian American organization in the U.S., we deeply value building strong relationships with the Italian government and its consular network in the United States. We look forward to continuing a fruitful relationship with Consul General Frandi, who represents millions of Italian Americans across seven U.S. states."
Consul General Frandi is a career diplomat with more than 25 years of experience. Appointed to the position on October 6, 2025, Frandi is responsible for overseeing the Italian consular network across Pennsylvania, Delaware, North Carolina, West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia, and New Jersey.
