News: Charles Bernardini receives Italian American Chamber of Commerce award for Excellence in Law

Charles R. Bernardini, a former Streator resident, graduate of Streator Township High School and the former St. Mary's Grade School, has been awarded the Excellence in Law award by the Italian American Chamber of Commerce.

The award recognizes Bernardini, a partner in the Chicago-based law firm Ungaretti & Harris, for his work and community achievements.  It was presented Oct. 1 at the IACC's 104th annual Anniversary Gala and Awards at the Drake Hotel in downtown Chicago.

Other recipients included Home Run Inn Pizza CEO Joe Perrino (Excellence in Business); Cook County Commissioner-Ninth District and Elmwood Park Village President Peter Silvestri (Excellence in Government); and Carl Scianna, president and CEO of PolyBrite International (Lifetime Achievement).

Before joining Ungaretti & Harris, Bernardini served 12 years on the Chicago City Council and the Cook County Board of Commissioners.  He was managing director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Milan, Italy, from 1992 to 1994 and currently is honorary legal adviser to the Italian Consulate of Chicago.

Bernardini received a Bachelor of Science in communications from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Illinois College of Law.  He and his wife, Patricia Heimann, and children Alessandra and Carlo, live in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood.