Lucy Calautti Joins American Italian Food Coalition as Co-Chair

Calautti To Work Alongside Former New York Congresswoman Susan Molinari

Media Contact: press@aifcoalition.org

WASHINGTON – Today, the American Italian Food Coalition (AIFC) announced Lucy Calautti, prominent businesswoman and seasoned federal affairs strategist, as the group’s new co-Chair. Lucy will serve alongside former New York Congresswoman Susan Molinari.

“It’s an honor to be a part of the American Italian Food Coalition, and I look forward to working to showcase the critical alliance and strong cultural bonds between the United States and Italy,” said Calautti. “I am encouraged by the Biden Administration and our European allies in their recent announcement of a 5-year reprieve from the long-standing Airbus-Boeing trade dispute. The ties that bind the United States and Italy are deep and strong cemented in our shared cultural experience that I know so well growing up a proud Italian American.  I couldn’t be happier to be working with Susan Molinari as we work to highlight the importance of Italian food and culture to American officials.”

Launched in 2019, the AIFC is an alliance of more than 450 Italian companies, manufacturers, and trade associations dedicated to ensuring that American consumers continue to have access to high-quality, affordable imported Italian products including pasta, coffee, biscuits, and wafers. Former New York congresswoman Susan Molinari, who joined the group last March, serves as Co-Chair alongside Calautti.

 “As two Italian-American women from New York, I am thrilled to work and partner with Lucy,” said Molinari. “Our shared Italian heritage and our commitment to strengthening the Italian-American relationship will be at the heart of our work as co-Chairs of the AIFC. ”  

Lucy Calautti was born and raised in Queens, New York in an Italian American family. Her great grandfather was the mayor of Rosetto, Puglia and she credits her commitment to public service, political experience, and enjoyment of cooking to her deeply-rooted Italian family heritage.

While in her teens, Lucy joined the U.S. Navy and was trained as a photographer, taking intelligence photos of ships at sea. After the navy, Lucy headed west for her education and eventual work in political campaigns. In 1986, she ran the successful come-from-behind U.S. Senate campaign of Kent Conrad. The North Dakota media called the race one of the most consequential events of the century. In 1987,  Lucy joined the office of Congressman Byron Dorgan (D-ND) as Chief of Staff, overseeing policy and politics in an office that represented the entire state. She managed Dorgan’s successful campaign for the U.S. Senate in 1992, and became the new senator’s Chief of Staff.

In 2000, Lucy left government service to become one of the only women executives in Major League Baseball. She headed the sport’s government relations and served as special assistant to Commissioner Bud Selig for nearly 20 years. Lucy’s lifelong love of baseball stems from her father, Pasquale, with whom she grew up attending New York Mets baseball games as a child.

Today, Lucy presides over her own strategic advisory business, Dakota Strategies, representing the Children’s Hospital Association and Baltimore Orioles baseball. She served on the Board at the Center for Native American Youth, a national organization devoted to the education and well-being of native children on reservations. She was also President of the historic National Woman’s Party, devoted to the memory of women’s suffrage. Lucy is married to United States Senator Kent Conrad (Ret.) and is mother to one grown son and one grandson.

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