CIAP Friday Member Spotlight: Celebrating the Italian-American Professionals Who Make Chicagoland Stronger

At CIAP, community is built one conversation, introduction, and shared experience at a time. The people who make those moments meaningful are our members: professionals, entrepreneurs, and community leaders who bring their knowledge and energy to Chicagoland.

That’s why we’re proud to introduce the CIAP Friday Member Spotlight as a growing collection here on the blog. Each Friday, we feature members on social media and share a little about their work, their story, and the Italian-American roots and values that matter to them. Now, we’re bringing those stories together so you can find them, revisit them, and discover the people behind our community.

Our first blog collection features two accomplished professionals: Anna Maria Kowalik, Principal and C-PACE Consultant at Curly Consultancy LLC, and Giancarlo Iannotta, a multifamily real estate broker. Their careers are different, but both reflect a spirit we value at CIAP: hard work, resilience, service, and a willingness to keep building.

Anna Maria Kowalik: Carrying Experience Forward

As Principal and C-PACE Consultant at Curly Consultancy LLC, Anna Maria Kowalik helps commercial property stakeholders understand and pursue sustainability financing. Her career has taken her through international banking, payroll and benefits at Jewel-Osco, commercial property management, sustainability initiatives, and C-PACE finance.

That range of experience matters. Anna Maria brings a practical understanding of how commercial properties are managed alongside her knowledge of financing tools that can support sustainability improvements. Her work helps clients navigate the process and make informed decisions.

When the company she worked for closed, Anna Maria didn’t leave behind the experience and relationships she had built. She carried that work forward by founding Curly Consultancy LLC. Her path is a reminder that a professional transition can also become an opportunity to build something of your own, and to keep serving a field you care about.

Anna Maria is also a long-term CIAP member. Her commitment to the Italian-American professional community reflects the relationships and values she brings to her work. Asked what being Italian American means to her, she put it simply:

“Being Italian American is EVERYTHING: Faith, Family, Food, and Fun!”

Her family roots are three-quarters Barese/Pugliese and one-quarter Cosentina/Calabrese. A heritage she describes with warmth and pride.

Anna Maria’s advice

Anna Maria’s professional advice is direct and generous: be flexible, never take anything personally, and do whatever you do wholeheartedly. It’s guidance that travels well across industries. Careers change, plans shift, and not every challenge is about you. Bring an open mind, stay steady, and give your work your full effort.

You can learn more about Anna Maria and her work through Curly Consultancy.

Giancarlo Iannotta: Building a Career in Chicago Real Estate

Giancarlo Iannotta specializes in multifamily and investment properties as a licensed real estate broker. His interest in real estate started early, growing up in Chicagoland and helping his father and uncle renovate and flip houses. Those hands-on experiences gave him a close-up look at the work behind a property, and helped set him on a professional path in the industry.

Today, Giancarlo works with clients selling multifamily properties, including multi-million-dollar apartment buildings. He also draws on his background as a former Commercial Director to create property photography and video, including drone footage. That combination of brokerage and media skills helps him present properties with care and attention to detail.

His career includes notable milestones. At the end of 2022, he closed a 26-unit building in Jackson Park for more than $3 million. He was also overseeing the development of a luxury 12-unit apartment building in Humboldt Park. These projects reflect both his focus on multifamily real estate and his continued involvement in the neighborhoods where he works.

Giancarlo’s story is connected to his family’s heritage, too. He is a first-generation Italian American; his father immigrated from Castel San Vincenzo in Molise, a small region with a strong place in the family story. That background is part of a wider Italian-American experience: carrying family history forward while building a life and career here in Chicago.

Outside of work, Giancarlo has been active with organizations including the Knights of Columbus and the Alzheimer’s Association. He and his wife Nora live in Wrigleyville. You can read CIAP’s member profile of Giancarlo or visit his Mo2 Properties profile.

A lesson for future generations

Giancarlo’s path offers an encouraging example for anyone beginning a career: curiosity can start early, and experience builds over time. Learning by doing, developing useful skills, and staying involved in your community can all help shape where your work takes you. His journey, from helping with family renovation projects to working in Chicago’s multifamily market, shows how early interests can grow into a profession.

Why We Share Member Spotlights

A professional network is more than a list of names. It grows through real relationships: learning what people do, understanding what matters to them, and finding thoughtful ways to support one another.

That’s the spirit behind CIAP’s Friday features. Whether you’re an established business owner, an independent professional, or a young professional just starting to find your footing, there’s room to connect, learn, and contribute. You may discover a future collaborator, a trusted service provider, or simply a new friend who understands the value of community. Sometimes the best connection starts with a simple hello, no elaborate introduction required.

For people looking for an Italian American Chicago community with a professional and community-minded focus, CIAP brings members together through networking, events, and opportunities to share their work. It’s a welcoming place to build relationships while celebrating the heritage that connects us. Think of it as a Chicago Italian American club with business connections, professional visibility, and community at its heart.

As the series continues, we’ll add more spotlights to this growing collection. We look forward to introducing you to more of the talented people strengthening Chicagoland: one Friday at a time.

Know Someone We Should Feature?

Do you know an Italian-American professional, entrepreneur, or business owner whose story deserves a spotlight? Reply to a CIAP Friday post, tag us, or contact Salvatore at salvatore@chicagolanditalians.com. We'd be happy to hear your suggestion. And if you’d like to get more involved, explore CIAP membership and discover how you can connect with other professionals across Chicagoland. Members can also build visibility through the CIAP Business Directory.

Stay in touch, keep sharing the good work happening in our community, and don’t miss the next Friday Member Spotlight!