There is an abundance of businesses in Kansas City with ties to Italy. For those businesses
that fall outside the categories listed on the home page, below is a listing by type of business
or product
The Italian Chamber of Commerce for a region is generally located in the biggest city (for the
region including Kansas City, the chamber is located in Chicago.) Other cities have managed
to convince the Italian government to open up branch office in their cities. Wisconsin is one
such city --- read their story for inspiration and hope.
Photography
Photo Mementos. Set in the heart of downtown Lee's Summit is Photo Mementos, run and
owned by Marco and Jan Simonelli. Marco, who lived in Padova, moved to the U.S. in 2001 to
pursue his specialty of e-commerce solutions. Jan is from the area, having worked with
graphics at Hallmark and Kodak. They opened the store in June 2002, specializing in modern
portraiture and digital collaging. Read the article n the Kansas City Star.
Insurance
Generali USA Life Reassurance Company. A wholly owned subsidiary of Assicurazioni
Generali S.p.A., Generali USA (8330 Ward Pkwy, Kansas City, MO) specializes in providing
reinsurance for Individual Life and Group Life & Accident products. Assicurazioni Generali S.p.
A. is a leading international insurer based in Trieste. It was established in 1831and has now
grown to a conglomerate of 175 insurance and financial services companies worldwide.
Assicurazioni Generali S.p.A. acquired Business Men's Assurance Company of America, a
Kansas City-based company whose core business was reinsurance, in 1990 and renamed it
Generali USA Life Reassurance Company.
Construction
Tegola Canadese. A. G. Forbes & Co. (5800 Reinhardt Drive, Fairway, KS) is the local
representative for an Italian company, Tegola Canadese (www.tegolacanadese.com/intro.
aspx), that manufacturers unique roofing products, including a copper-clad bituminous shingle
system in their 'Prestige' line.
Apparel
Luxottica Group SpA, the world's largest eyewear company founded in Belluno, Italy, is the
owner a number of U.S. retailers, including LensCrafters (purchased in 1995) and Sunglass
Hut and Watch Station (purchased in 2001). Luxottica Group is headed by Italy's second-
richest man, Leonard Del Vecchio. His son, Claudio Del Vecchio, owns Brooks Brothers
(purchased in 2001), Casual Corner (purchased in 1997 from Luxottica, which itself purchased
it a few years earlier in the LensCrafters acquisition), and Adrienne Vittadini (purchased in
2001) through his company, Retail Brand Alliance, Inc. All these companies have stores in the
Kansas City area.
Plaster
Pasta equipment
Landucci America. Manufacturer of industrial pasta equipment, including dies and cutters.
15151 W 154th Terrace, Olathe, KS. (913) 254-1133. www.laducciamerica.com.
sales@landucciamerica.com Contact: Ottavio Mecca.
BDM. Pasta processing equipment. Represents Ricciarelli - combination scales, vertical
bagger, case packers; Anselmo - dry pasta processing equipment; and IPM - pasta stamping
machinery. 13333 Switzer Road, Overland Park, KS. (913) 814-0040. www.bdm-america.
com. Contact: Alessandro Gioacchini.
