Mr. Amato L. Berardi was born in Longano, Italy. In 1970 at the age of 12, he came to the United States with his family.

After a successful career as a restaurant owner, Amato turned his ambitions to the financial services industry. In 1983 he founded Berardi & Associates, Inc., a full service insurance, employee benefits and retirement planning agency. Amato is a life member of the Million Dollar Round Table and recipient of the National Quality Award.

Amato is also a member of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisers. Amato received the "Humanitarian Citation" from both the State Senate of Pennsylvania and the City of Philadelphia. In 2000, Amato was honored by "The European Academy for Economic and Cultural Relations" for his distinguished efforts in preserving the Italian culture in America as well as his many successful achievements as an entrepreneur. Amato was also bestowed with the chivalric title of "Knight" by the Republic of Italy and the Knights of Malta.

Amato is also a member of SMART (Strengthening the Mid-Atlantic Region for Tomorrow) an inter-state non-profit organization which supports research, development and technology based opportunities for economic growth in the 4- State Region (DE, MD, NJ &PA). In 2006 he was honored by Boys' Towns of Italy with a Humanitarian Award. In addition to his community involvement, Amato is a member of several national, state
and local organizations.

Amato is the founder and Chairman of the National Italian American Political Action Committee. He is a member of the Union League of Philadelphia, a member and actively involved with the National Italian
American Foundation in Washington, DC. He has done numerous philanthropic activities with the Sbarro Health Research Organization, a cancer research institute.

Amato is a member of the St. Anthony Society. He is the co-founder of the Italy America Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia. On April 10, 2008 Amato was elected as a member of parliament of the
Republic of Italy.

Amato is married with two children, and resides in Huntingdon Valley, PA. He is fluent in both English and Italian.

ITALIAN

Amato Berardi nasce a Longano (IS) il 14 ottobre 1958 All'età di 12 anni emigra con i genitori a Philadelphia (USA) dove risiede tuttora.

Fin da ragazzo collabora alla gestione del ristorante di famiglia, ma la sua ambizione è quella di una nuova carriera nel settore finanziario. Consegue la laurea in Management ed Economia e Commercio ed inizia l'attività di imprenditore nel settore del commercio.

Nel 1983 fonda la "Berardi & Associates", società di servizi operante nel settore amministrazione, marketing, finanza e sviluppo commerciale. E' fondatore e chairman della Niapac (National Italian American Political Action Commitee) di Philadelphia. E' governatore dell' Aerec (Accademia Europea per la Relazioni Economiche e Culturali) distretto di Philadelphia, da cui è onorato nel 2000 per i suoi prestigiosi contributi nel preservare la cultura italiana in America.

E' co-fondatore della Camera di Commercio "Italy America" di Philadelphia. Nel 2006 riceve il premio Umanitario dai "Boys Town of Italy". Dal 5 maggio 2008 è iscritto al Popolo delle Libertà. E' componente degli organi parlamentari VI Commissione Finanze dal 21 maggio 2008.

Eletto il 23 aprile 2008 nella Circoscrizione C "America Settentrionale e Centrale" presso la Camera dei Deputati con 1200 voti con la lista Il Popolo delle libertà. La sua elezione è convalidata l'11 febbraio 2009.

(Pictured from top: Amato Berardi and singer Marco Fiorante at Festa Italiana in Washington, DC; Amato Berardi with Italy's Defense Minister Ignazio La Russa at the Columbus Day Parade in NYC; Amato Berardi with Italian television personality Simona Ventura, at Gala Italia in NYC) (Photos Francesco Isgro)

Updated April 25, 2011 |CiaoAmerica.net|