On February 13th, in Florence, the third Italian Business Forum organized by Fidaf and RGP Northwestern Ohio took place, drawing an impressive turnout of around a hundred attendees, including companies and professionals. The event was particularly enriched by speeches from the President of the Tuscany Region, Eugenio Giani, the U.S. Consul Generale in Florence, Daniela Ballard, Florence City Councilors Perini and Vicini, the Vice President of Confindustria Toscana Centro e Costa, Roberto Naldi, and the spokesperson for the Florence Chamber of Commerce, Luca Ribechini.
Fidaf expressed great satisfaction with the success of the third Business Forum, held in the beautiful venue of the Fondazione Biblioteche CRF in Florence, in collaboration with RGP Northwestern Ohio and under the patronage of the Tuscany Region, the City of Florence, the Florence Chamber of Commerce, and the U.S. Consulate General in Florence.
The event welcomed around one hundred participants, confirming the appeal of this exclusive format that seamlessly brings together sports, institutions, and entrepreneurship for an afternoon of productive synergy. Particularly well-received were the speeches from institutional representatives, especially that of Tuscany Region President Eugenio Giani, a passionate sports enthusiast and an excellent “biographer” of the Guelfi Firenze football team. He meticulously recounted the team’s 25-year history, which was celebrated at the end of the event. Equally significant was the speech by U.S. Consul General in Florence, Daniela Ballard, who thanked Fidaf for creating this vital moment of discussion and networking between Italy and the United States, extending beyond just sports.
Roberto Naldi, speaking as Vice President of Confindustria Toscana Centro e Costa, provided valuable insights into the numbers and potential of the Tuscan business landscape, with strong support from both Luca Ribechini, spokesperson for the Florence Chamber of Commerce, and Florence City Councilors for Economic Development and Sports, Jacopo Vicini and Letizia Perini.
RGP Northwestern Ohio, the title sponsor of the IFL, was represented by Paul Zito, Vice President of International Development, who illustrated the economic potential of Ohio and the Toledo area. He highlighted opportunities for companies looking to do business with and in the United States, covering aspects such as taxation, legal frameworks, and workforce dynamics.
Three case studies were presented:
- GVS Group, a global leader in filtration solutions for industries such as Healthcare & Life Sciences, Energy & Mobility, and Health & Safety, with an operational site near Toledo.
- Secur&Secur Network, a company boasting key international patents in security and safety equipment.
- NatPower H, a global leader in innovative infrastructure for green hydrogen production, storage, and distribution. It is part of the NatPower Group, an independent developer of infrastructure projects focused on clean energy, supporting businesses, utilities, and investors worldwide.
Sports, and American football in particular, provided the backdrop for the entire event. The surprise appearance of Giovanni Galli, a World Cup Champion with the Italian national soccer team in 1982 and a proud Tuscan, further elevated an already prestigious guest list. Galli was invited by NatPower to attend.
The afternoon concluded with a networking session and a celebratory moment marking the 25th anniversary of the Guelfi Firenze football team. Several team executives, coaches, and players were in attendance.
The next Business Forum is scheduled to take place in Rome on May 5th at the Rome City Institute (Lungotevere Arnaldo da Brescia, 15). This time, FIDAF will shift the focus to the world of academic training under the theme: “Working Together with Business, Academia, and Sport for the Workforce of the Future.”
The full program and registration details will be announced soon.
Per informazioni:
Barbara Allaria
Press & Communication Officer
0331-770343 / 338-6541305
press@fidaf.org
FIDAF – Italian Federation of American Football
c/o CONI – Palazzo H – Piazza Lauro de Bosis 15 00135 Rome (RM)
+39 06 3272 3221 | ufficiostampa@fidaf.org | http://www.fidaf.org
