Our Team
William M. Hassebrock
Co-Founder, Managing Partner
A co-founder of Ventura Verde, Bill has more than 30 years of experience as an executive, entrepreneur, board member, consultant     and venture capitalist in a wide range of technology-related industries and corporate environments. After starting and building four successful entrepreneurial ventures, he founded and now serves as CEO of Venture Catalyst Partners, a unique consulting firm that provides "hands-on" strategic services to start-up and emerging growth companies in exchange for equity rather than consulting fees.

Bill first visited Italy in the summer of 1979, spending two weeks backpacking from Venice to Sicily. Like so many others over the centuries, he fell in love with the country and almost immediately began dreaming that someday he would have his own home in the Italian sun. For years, he had to settle for short, infrequent visits, but they only whetted his appetite for more.

Then, in 2001, the stars aligned, and Bill decided it was time to realize his Italian dream. He moved to Italy, rented a wonderful apartment in a stone country house in Umbria, and began looking for his own ruin to restore. During his 2-year Italian sojourn, as he drove and cycled many of central Italy's highways and byways, he discovered that Italy was a cornucopia of amazing but abandoned properties that only needed love and attention to become wonderful vacation homes.

Energized by what he had learned, he recruited Tyler Phillips and Mike Meyers, two friends who share his love of Italy, to join him in founding Ventura Verde, a company dedicated to helping other foreigners realize their dream of owning a vacation home in Italy.

San Francisco remains Bill's home, but he now gets to spend 3 to 6 months a year in bell'Italia. Che fortuna!
Education
Princeton University, A.B. (Economics)
University of San Francisco, M.B.A. studies
Languages
English (native)
Italian (basic)
Tyler Phillips
Co-Founder, Partner
A co-founder of Ventura Verde, Tyler has 35 years of experience in strategic planning, international business development and management of organizations providing extraordinary customer service. In 1998 he retired from leadership of a corporate concierge firm that he founded in 1983.

An expert in customer service, productivity, and organizational change he is a frequent speaker at business groups. Prior to forming his own company he worked as a strategic planner and international business development executive with the General Electric Company.

One of his recent creations was an Italian Farmhouse on the hills overlooking San Francisco Bay. It sold for the highest per square foot price ever recorded in Tiburon. He and his wife Jill currently reside in Charlotte, NC where they cook, garden, bike and travel – often with their grandchildren.

In 2006, he joined Bill Hassebrock and Mike Meyers as a co-founder of Ventura Verde.
Education
Drexel University, MBA
Lynchburg College, B.S. (Economics)
Languages
English (native)
Michael L. Meyers
Co-Founder, Partner
A co-founder of Ventura Verde, Mike has more than 30 years of experience in commercial real estate law.  He retired from the San Francisco law firm of Coblentz, Patch, Duffy and Bass LLP at the end of 2005 after practicing with the firm for 34 years. He was a partner with the firm for 29 years and served as the firm's Managing Partner through much of the 1980's.

Mike also has many years of “hands on” real estate development experience. Since 1990, he has been a senior executive of Home Construction & Finance, Inc, a successful custom home building company in Portland, Maine.

In 2006, he joined Bill Hassebrock and Tyler Phillips as a co-founder of Ventura Verde.
Education
University of California, Berkeley –School of Law,
        J.D., Law
Stanford University, A.B. (Political Science)
Languages
English (native)
Peter M. dePenaloza
Partner
Peter is an executive and entrepreneur with more than 25 years of marketing and sales experience in consumer products, banking, technology/e-commerce services, and franchise operations.

Most recently, in 2002, Peter founded P&D Ventures, an owner and operator of franchises in the building maintenance industry. Peter grew the franchise operations from start-up to more than 1500 customers and 250 crews in Northern and Southern California. P&D Ventures was named to the Bay Area Fast 50 (the fastest growing companies in the Bay Area) three years in a row. 

After earning his MBA from Washington University in St. Louis, Peter worked in consumer products advertising at Leo Burnett’s
headquarters office in Chicago. His clients included Proctor and Gamble and the United Distillers Group.

In 1991, Peter met the executives putting together America3, a team to compete for the 1992 America’s Cup in San Diego. As an avid outdoorsman and sports fan, he jumped at the invitation to join the team. He was charged with creating, leading and implementing the team’s corporate marketing and fundraising strategies, which yielded sponsorships from  AT&T, Coors Light, Corvette, and Ralph Lauren. America3 ultimately won the America’s Cup, first beating Dennis Conner, the American sailing icon, and then the Italian team.

Soon thereafter, Peter moved to San Francisco to join the burgeoning internet and e-commerce market, eventually co-founding two venture-backed start-ups and a digital marketing agency.

Peter lives in San Francisco with his wife and two children.
Education
Washington University - Olin Business School, MBA
University of the Pacific, B.A. (Finance, Marketing)
Languages
English (native)
French (fluent)
Vincent Rinaldi
Partner
Vince is President of Rinaldi Construction in San Francisco. He began his career in the construction industry in 1986 at the ground level and has worked in every aspect of the business from labor, building and estimating to project management and eventually business ownership.

Born in Italy, Vince came to San Francisco with his family when he was just five years old. His father was a cement mason who trained his son at an early age in the basics of good construction. Vince is now a licensed general contractor in California who has managed more than $40 million in construction projects. 

Vince is very actively engaged in the local community and
serves as a member of the Golden State Builders Exchange, a non-profit organization. He provides extensive support to local causes including the completion of numerous pro bono and discounted construction projects for local schools.

Vince lives in San Francisco with his wife and three daughters.
Education
University of California, Berkeley, B.A.
Languages
English (native)
Italian (fluent)
Spanish (fluent)
Gary Marenzi
President, Marenzi & Associates
A third-generation Italian-American, Gary's family never lost touch with its roots. Today, Italy is, quite literally, his second home. 20 years ago, he and his wife bought once-magnificent property high in the hills above Lucca, in Tuscany, then spent a decade restoring the property to its former glory.

Although his heart may belong to Italy, Gary's career has been focused on Hollywood. After serving as president of MGM's Worldwide Television Group, President of Paramount Pictures International Television division, and President of United International Pictures Pay TV division, he founded Marenzi and Associates, a consulting firm providing CEO-level advice and implementation strategies to global entertainment, sports and digital media companies. 
Education
Stanford University, B.A.
Stanford University, M.B.A.
Languages
English (native)
Italian (fluent)
Daniel L. Wilkowsky
Enviromental Engineer
Dan is an environmental engineer with experience in worldwide design and construction. He has had positions with CRB Consulting Engineers in San Jose, California, and CH2M-IDC. Dan was the Director of Environmental and Safety Services for National Semiconductor for 16 years. He has specialized expertise in site selection and environmental permitting, auditing, design and construction of waste treatment and abatement systems, chemical recycling, and environmental management systems for industrial facilities. His previous experience includes engineering positions at East Bay Municipal Utility District, Jacobs Engineering, and the California Regional Water Quality Board.
Education
San Francisco State University, M.B.A.
University of Southern California, M.S.
        (Environmental Engineering)
Auburn University, B.S.
        (Aerospace/Mechanical )
Languages
English (native)
Italian (improving)
Paul J. Henderson
Consulting Architect
Paul has over 30 years experience in all aspects of architectural planning, design, and management. He joined Cannon Design in 2001 to expand its capabilities in areas of land planning and architecture for corporate and commercial clients. Prior to joining Cannon Design, he was managing principal of Henderson Group for over twenty years. During this period his firm provided a wide variety of architectural design and master planning services for projects large and small including office buildings, hotels and restaurants, retail, warehousing, up-scale condominiums, hospitals and medical clinics, and private clubs (yacht clubs and golf club houses).
Education
Washington University, M.A. (Architecture)
 Washington University, B.S. (Architecture)
Registrations
States: AL, FL, IL, KS, LA, MO, WI
Affiliations
American Institute of Architects
National Council of Architectural Registration Boards
Languages
English (native)
Gayle Delaney
Cultural Ambassador
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Education
Princeton University, A.B.
Affiliations
???
Languages
English (native)
Italian (fluent)
Robert K. Mah
Managing Partner, Mah & Associates
Bob has over 30 years of public and corporate accounting experience and is currently the Managing Partner of Mah & Associates, LLP, a CPA firm in San Francisco.

Bob spent the first seven years of his career with with Arthur Andersen & Co., one of the largest international CPA firms, before he founded Mah & Associates in 1976. His firm has provided services to many publicly-traded companies, closely-held businesses and high net worth individuals in industries such as real estate construction, real estate development, manufacturing, wholesaling, retailing, import/export, not-for-profit organizations, service industries such as architectural, engineering firms and law firms, and start-up businesses in e-commerce.

Bob and his firm have been providing financial consulting and accounting services to Ventura Verde since its founding in 2001.
Education
University of California, Berkeley, M.B.A.
 Golden Gate University, M.S. (Taxation)
 University of California, Berkeley, B.S.
Credentials
Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
 Certified Financial Planner (CFP)
 Personal Financial Specialist (PFS)
Affliations
California Society of Certified Public Accountants
 Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants
 Financial Planning Association (FPA)
Languages
English (native)
Mandarin (fluent)
Cantonese (fluent)
William M. Scherer
Founding Partner, Scherer SMith & Kenny
Bill Scherer, a 5th-generation San Franciscan, founded Scherer Smith & Kenny, a San Francisco law firm, in 1993. His firm specializes in business, real estate, licensing and intellectual property, and trusts and estates issues, as well as dispute mediation.

Bill acts as general corporate counsel to businesses of all sizes and across a
range of industries. In addition, he is one of the Bay Area's leading real estate attorneys providing counsel on real estate purchases and sales, subdivision development, tenants-in-common, and homeowners associations. 

Bill and his firm have been providing legal services to Ventura Verde since 2005.
Education
University of California, Berkeley,  Boalt Hall School of Law, J.D.
University of California, Davis, (Economics)
Languages
English (native)
Federico Mauri
Partner / Landscape Designer
Since 1988, Federico has been a registered landscaping professional in the Viterbo province (northern Lazio) providing a wide range of landscape design, irrigation and agriculture services to public and private clients. In addition, he is a consultant for investments in the agriculture field.

From 1982 to 1988, Federico served as the resident manager for many landscaping and land reclamation projects in the Middle East where he gained substantial expertise in desert irrigation. He was also an F.A.O. consultant in 1985, 1989 and 1991. Over the last four years, he personally restored a medieval castle tower in the town of Vitorchiano.
Education
University of Agriculture
Languages
Italian (native)
English (fluent)
French (fluent)
Alfredo Ricci
Partner / Commercialiste (CPA)
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Vehicula ac metus semper.Vestibulum velit aliquam risus. Turpis blandit nec purus nulla amet suspendisse gravida. Urna nunc metus potenti. Aptent ut purus ac. Nam accumsan mollis at. Vestibulum viverra fusce pellentesque. Nonummy montes sollicitudin in. Erat integer integer phasellus amet amet et aliquam sed neque non tempor. Voluptas magna accumsan sollicitudin.
Education
Unknown
Languages
Italian (native)
English (fluent)
Riccardo Marini
Partner / Business Consultant
Riccardo, a native of Rome, Italy, is the founder and CEO of KOOFIN, a  consulting and business brokerage company based in Rome and London.

Since 2010, Riccardo has served as a consultant with GOPI Holding Energy, a boutique consulting and brokerage firm operating in the physical commodity business, renewable energy market and complex real estate development projects. In recent years, he has served as a strategic consultant to Italian real estate developers on projects throughout the greater Rome area.

Riccardo specializes in finding, analyzing and managing real estate development and restoration projects. Through his large network of professional contacts, he is adept at  promoting real estate joint ventures.

Recently, Riccardo became a Senior Consultant at Valida Gmbh, International, a corporate finance advisory firm specialized in M&A transactions, capital fundraising, and restructuring and strategic consulting with a focus on European businesses and foreign investors.
Education
Law Degree
LUISS Guido Carli University (Rome)
Languages
Italian (native)
English (fluent)
French (fluent)
Luca Sorge
Property Management
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Vehicula ac metus semper.Vestibulum velit aliquam risus. Turpis blandit nec purus nulla amet suspendisse gravida. Urna nunc metus potenti. Aptent ut purus ac. Nam accumsan mollis at. Vestibulum viverra fusce pellentesque. Nonummy montes sollicitudin in. Erat integer integer phasellus amet amet et aliquam sed neque non tempor. Voluptas magna accumsan sollicitudin.
Education
Unknown
Languages
Italian (native)
English (fluent)
Benedetta Tintillini
aVVentura Editor / Cultural Ambassador
When Benedetta moved from Rome to Umbria in 1997, she became deeply involved in cultural events, hospitality and tourist services in her home town, Todi, and throughout Umbria.

Benedetta is an expert in social media marketing and has lent her many talents to a wide range of businesses and organizations including the Todi Tourist Information Office, the Todi Festival, the Infiorate di Spello. regional hotels and resorts, and various organizations in the arts and theater. 

In 2013, she founded her own web magazine, Umbria e Cultura, where she writes about and promotes the secret treasures and special events of Umbria. She is also a contributor to the web magazine Goodmorningumbria.it and TamTam, a monthly
free press newspaper.

Benedetta has been an essential member of the Ventura Verde team since 2007, sharing her tourism and cultural insights, helping with administrative tasks, and serving as a translator and interpreter.
Education
Istituto Tecnico per il Turismo (Rome)
Languages
Italian (native)
English (fluent)
French (fluent)
David Titman
Retired Attorney / Business Executive
Ultrices a nam mattis nulla justo auctor accumsan. Nulla rhoncus aenean amet dui pede wisi ac. Wisi nisl lorem sodales. Egestas platea pulvinar sit non sapien sodales pellentesque. A wisi libero in. Pharetra dictumst turpis vestibulum est nonummy cras et. Aliquam et lectus rhoncus. Nam in et amet nunc ligula quis elit. In elit pharetra feugiat.

Vehicula ac metus semper.Vestibulum velit aliquam risus. Turpis blandit nec purus nulla amet suspendisse gravida. Urna nunc metus potenti. Aptent ut purus ac. Nam accumsan mollis at. Vestibulum viverra fusce pellentesque. Nonummy montes sollicitudin in. Erat integer integer phasellus amet amet et aliquam sed neque non tempor. Voluptas magna accumsan sollicitudin.
Education
University of Michigan, School of Law, J.D.
Languages
English (native)
Italian (fluent)
French (fluent)
Maurizio Giannini
Attorney / Resort Property Owner
Maurizio is both an attorney and the owner of a small boutique resort just outside of Todi, Umbria. Professionally, he works as an independent consultant and as a consulting partner in an international law firm in Rome. He provides private companies and public entities with strategic consulting services in the fields of tourism, local development, business internationalization, and optimization of national public community funding. 

Maurizio has served as President of the National Association of Italian LAGs (a European Community association of local leaders), as President of the equivalent European association, as a member of the Monitoring Committee of the Ministry of Agricultural Policy. In addition, he served as a director of a promotion and marketing planning company in New York and of EPTA, the marketing company of Confcommercio.
Education
University of Rome ("Sapienza") (Law)
Languages
Italian (native)
English (fluent)
Nicola Neri
Structural Engineer
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Vehicula ac metus semper.Vestibulum velit aliquam risus. Turpis blandit nec purus nulla amet suspendisse gravida. Urna nunc metus potenti. Aptent ut purus ac. Nam accumsan mollis at. Vestibulum viverra fusce pellentesque. Nonummy montes sollicitudin in. Erat integer integer phasellus amet amet et aliquam sed neque non tempor. Voluptas magna accumsan sollicitudin.
Education
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Languages
Italian (native)
English (fluent)
Rosa Topputo
Founder, D'Arc Studio / Architect
Born in Altamura (BA)
Graduated in 2003 at “Sapienza” University of Rome, Faculty of Architecture.
Qualified as Architect in 2003.
2013 Founder of Millepiani Coworking
Works between Rome and NYC.
Adjunct Professor from 2005 to 2009 for the Industrial Design course
at “Sapienza” University of Rome, Faculty of Architecture L.Quaroni.
She deals with Sustainable Architecture, Interior Design, Product
Design, Researches in Design for Extreme Environments, innovative
materials.
Collaboration with Walzworkinc., Batani Studio, RDM Studio, Zuccon International Project.
Education
University of Rome ("Sapienza") (Architecture)
Languages
Italian (native)
English (fluent)
Alessio Tommasetti
Founder, D'Arc Studio / Architect
Born in Rome
Graduated in 2003 at “Sapienza” University of Rome, Faculty of Architecture.
Qualified as Architect in 2004.
Ph.D. in Science of Representation and Survey in 2008.
Adjunct Professor for the Architecture course at “Sapienza” University of Rome, Faculty of Architecture L.Quaroni.
Teacher at IED, Fashion and Industrial section.
He deals with Interior Design, Product Design, Prototype quick production, Computer Graphic, Animation and Comics.
Education
University of Rome ("Sapienza") (Architecture)
University of Rome ("Sapienza"), Ph.D., 
        (Representation and Survey)
Languages
Italian (native)
English (fluent)