Rosanna Imbriano, founder and executive director of Sempre Avanti, Inc., has been named the 2014 Christopher Columbus Woman of the Year by The Italian Tribune Columbus Day Committee. This prestigious award is being presented to Imbriano for her success in both her work and personal life. Through hard work and determination, she demonstrates an unyielding belief in her Italian heritage and continuously contributes her time to the cause of helping others.

Imbriano will be recognized at the 44th Annual Christopher Columbus Gala Awards Dinner on October 10, at the Birchwood Manor, in Whippany, NJ. The event begins with a cocktail hour at 6:30pm, followed by dinner and the awards ceremony. For tickets, call 973-860-0101.

Born in Italy, Imbriano's passion for her culture, heritage, and empowering future generations is what drove her to establish Sempre Avanti (www.SempreAvanti.org). The nonprofit organization is a resource center for everything Italian and a place where Italians or Italian-Americans can come for information, resources, translations, products, and services, to name just a few. Under Imbriano's direction, those in need will find people willing to help who are like-minded and who speak the same language.

Imbriano also owns R.I. Consulting, LLC, of Cedar Grove, New Jersey, that she launched in 2001. As a marketing strategist, she helps business owners and nonprofits market themselves in nontraditional ways to attain optimum growth. RI Consulting guides its clients on formulating business goals, developing cost-effective strategic marketing plans, and managing the plan's implementation.

Imbriano is also a founding partner in the Contessa Club, Inc., a prestigious club for women of wealth and power. The Contessa Club is organized and centered around the splendor, luxury, elegance, and sophistication of Italy. It provides exclusive member-only access to luxurious shopping and travel experiences worldwide.

As a frequent speaker at events, Imbriano presents on marketing concepts, including marketing on a shoestring budget, how to develop win/win strategic marketing campaigns, how to foster in-kind sponsorships to grow a business or organization, and her specialty—developing strategic alliances.

Among her prestigious awards, Imbriano received the Teal Heart Award from the Essex Chapter of the New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners (NJAWBO) in 2005. She served as the chapter president of NJAWBO Essex from 2006 to 2008. She was recognized as one of the NJBiz Best 50 Women in Business in 2009, and was honored as Business Champion of the Year 2014 by Sisters United Enterprise.
Imbriano earned a B.A. in economics in 1981 from Brooklyn College, Brooklyn, New York. She began her entrepreneurial career in 1982 with the opening of Rosanna's Health Spa in Bloomfield, New Jersey. She owned and managed the health spa for eight years.

Sempre Avanti is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that serves as a resource center for the Italian and Italian-American community. Its mission is to provide support to all Italians: individuals, businesses, organizations, and associations, both in the United States and Italy. As a resource center, the organization provides a multitude of services and encourages strategic alliances that not only benefit both parties, but also strengthen a shared heritage to move Italians forward. Its executive director and founder is Rosanna Imbriano. For more information, please contact 973-444-2317 or visit www.SempreAvanti.org.