Meet our Board
The N.O.I. Foundation is committed to fostering the love of the Italian language and culture within the Detroit Italian Consular Jurisdiction. We continue to create meaningful opportunities for younger generations to engage and embrace the rich legacy of Italy through strategic initiatives, community partnerships, and cultural programming support and led by our incredible Board of Directors. Learn more about each of our board members below.
Carmen De Lorenzo – President
Carmen De Lorenzo is the Coordinator of the Italian Program at Michigan State University, where she has worked for two decades, teaching Italian and French at all levels. Dedicated to inspiring students through language, culture, and global engagement, she leads MSU’s Education Abroad program in Ferrara, Italy, encouraging transformative learning experiences beyond the classroom.
Carmen also serves as a board member of the Italian American Club of Lansing and, in 2025, was appointed Vice President of the N.O.I. Foundation, reflecting her commitment to promoting Italian heritage and community leadership.
Raffaella Medoro-Naurato – Executive Director
Raffaella Medoro-Naurato is an experienced Italian educator and consultant with over 25 years of teaching in Michigan at institutions such as Wayne State University, Michigan State University, University of Detroit Mercy, and Father Gabriel Richard High School. Originally from Italy, she holds a Master’s Degree in Liberal Arts from Wayne State University, a Piano Performance degree from the Conservatorio “L. Perosi” in Campobasso, and a teaching diploma from the Istituto Magistrale “Isabella Gonzaga” in Chieti.
In addition to her academic career, she founded a fashion consulting business in 2009, combining her passion for Italian culture and personal style.
Favorite Italian superstition: Never place bread upside down.
Catherine Savone – Treasurer
Catherine Savone (née DeSantis) has been a teacher for 35 years. She has a BA and MA in
Modern Languages (Italian, French, Spanish) and professional teaching certificate from Wayne State University, MS in Administration & Leadership from Madonna University, and certificates from Universitá di Genova and Istituto Dante Alighieri – Roma.
She is Treasurer for the
NOI Foundation as well as for the Michigan World Language Association that provides a variety of professional development for language teachers.
Her family originates from Castro dei Volsci in the province of Frosinone, Italy.
Although she has traveled on foot and backpack through many countries all over the world, Italy remains her favorite place to explore! She is married to Guerino Savone and has two children, Marco and Francesca.
FUN FACT: Caterina was the first teacher to be awarded by the NOI Foundation for creating an Italian program at JO Strong Middle School in 1997!
Beth Savastano – Secretary
Beth currently lives in Plymouth, Michigan with her husband. Beth has been generous in donating her time to many foundations in the area and her passion for Italian culture, language and food allowed her to develop a special love for the N.O.I. Foundation. Beth is looking forward to her next cup of cappuccino and sfogliatella in Napoli, the birthplace of her maternal grandfather and her father-in-law.
Favorite Italian saying: Allora and Tutto Passa
Isabella Savastano Durante – Board Member
Isabella is a proud Italian American with a background in nonprofit event fundraising and a passion for preserving Italian culture for future generations. As a newly added board member, she is eager to utilize her experience and stewardship to help the NOI Foundation continue to grow.
Isabella resides in Plymouth, Michigan with her husband and three daughters. In her spare time, she enjoys expressing her art through graphic design or recharging by being outdoors soaking up the sunshine.
Favorite Italian Phrase: La Vita Bella
Lisa Bica Grodsky – Board Member
Lisa has been a dedicated member of the N.O.I. Foundation since 2004 and has been an active member of the Italian American community since her teen years. She started Italian language studies as part of the Italian Study Group of Troy and was a member of their Youth Folk Dancing Ensemble. She went on to found the FIERI Metro Detroit Chapter in 1999.
Funniest Italian Language Memory: When visiting Italy as a teen, she tried to say, “Vivo in una città del Michigan vicino Detroit,” but she mispronounced città so badly that a boy in the piazza laughed and asked if she meant Cheeta, the chimpanzee from the Tarzan movies! Safe to say she hasn’t mispronounced città since.
Gino Gaudino – Board Member
Gino is a proud Italian-American living in Michigan with his wife and three children. His parents are from the Lazio region south of Rome, steeped in ancient history and timeless landscapes.
As an international captain for a major airline, Gino frequently pilots flights across the Atlantic to favorite European destinations like Rome and Milan, keeping him closely connected to his heritage.
Among all Italian dishes, Gino believes that nothing compares to his mother’s homemade ravioli.
Gino holds a deep appreciation for Italian culture, particularly the cherished philosophy of “Il dolce far niente” — the sweet art of doing nothing, savoring life’s simple, unhurried moments with joyful idleness and presence.
Joseph Mazza – Board Member
Joseph is a proud Italian-American living in Michigan with his wife and daughter. Deeply connected to his Italian heritage, he makes it a priority to return to Italy each year, visiting Trapani, Naples, and Ischia to spend time with family and friends.
Joseph began his Italian language journey in 2017 and enjoys every opportunity to practice and improve his Italian. He credits his enthusiasm for the language in part to his favorite Italian television show, Uomini e Donne.
Outside of his professional and community commitments, Joseph enjoys cooking, following his beloved Napoli soccer team, playing his bisnonno’s mandolin, playing soccer, and dancing with his wife and baby girl.
As one of the newest members of the N.O.I. Foundation Board, Joseph looks forward to contributing to the organization’s financial planning and supporting its goals and growth for the future.
Fr. Piero Masolo – Board Member
Fr. Piero Masolo is an Italian priest ordained in 2008 as a PIME Missionary.
He worked as Director of Vocations in Milan, Italy, from 2008 to 2013, teaching in different schools.
From 2013 to 2020 he was a missionary in Algeria in Northern Africa, where he worked
with youth, especially as Director of the Italian School of Algiers. From 2020 to 2023, he
worked for the Propagation of the Faith in Italy in the Archdiocese of Milan, organizing
the Mission Festival in 2022.
In 2023-2024, he worked as a missionary in Myanmar,
serving at the Apostolic Nunciature (Vatican Embassy) of Yangon. He was assigned to
PIME’s U.S. Community arriving in October of 2024 and is currently PIME’s U.S.
Vocations Director.
OHIO MEMBERS
Anthony Di Tommaso – Board Member
Anthony is a proud Italian American living in the Youngstown, Ohio area. The son of an Italian émigré to the US, Anthony has followed his roots back to Molise, Italy and the province of Campobasso. An electrical engineer by training, Anthony has helped support Italian language development in the Youngstown area for over twenty years.
Favorite Italian word: Meravigliosa
Antonella Iacobone – Board Member
Antonella currently lives in Westerville, Ohio with her husband of 33 years, Angelo, and they have two boys, Rocco and Giuliano. She has taught Italian at St. Francis DeSales High School for 15 years. Antonella has been a member of the board of the N.O.I. Foundation since 2024.
Favorite Italian City: Alvito, her family’s hometown
Francesca Colloredo – Board Member
Francesca currently lives in Columbus, Ohio, but was born in Milan, Italy and spent many years in New York City. She has a background in Fashion Marketing and found her passion in teaching after her two sons were born. Francesca has taught Italian and Italian Cinema at Ohio University and has even translated literature and scholarly texts.
Favorite Dish: Risotto Milanese, of course.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS GUESTS
Paolo Zanotto – Consul of Italy in Detroit
Marina Lenza – Director of Office of Education