Romana Bracco

Born in a small town in the province of Salerno, Italy, Romana has lived in San Francisco since 1990, and brings a long history of historic “firsts” in her career. During her 25-year career with Alitalia Airlines, Romana shattered the glass ceiling as one of the first women in a managerial position, first in Los Angeles, and then in San Francisco, where she met her husband, John Bracco, owner and president of Bracco Distributing Co. 

Romana has dedicated much of her work to supporting charitable and civic organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area. She served as president of Comites (Committee for Italians Living Abroad) until 2005, the highest elected position in the Italian communities outside of Italy, and as the first woman president of the Italian Community Service Agency, founded to help Italian immigrants arriving in the Bay Area. 

Romana has received honors from the Republic of Italy for her service to the Italian community, as a Cavaliere in 1998 and as a Commendatore in 2005. Other recognition includes the Special Achievement Award from the National Italian American Foundation, the Achievement Award by the Columbus Day Committee, and nomination for Person of the Year by Il Cenacolo.

She currently serves on the boards of the San Francisco Opera, the Museo Italo Americano, and of Second Opinion, whose mission is to help cancer patients as they face treatment decisions. She also is a member of the Assisi Sister City Committee. A longtime supporter of Festival Napa Valley, Romana joined the Board of Directors in 2021.