Peter F. Secchia
Encyclopedia
Peter F. Secchia, is an Italian-American diplomat
and businessman. Secchia served as the United States Ambassador to Italy
from 1989 to 1993.
from 1956 to 1959 and graduated from Michigan State University
in 1963 with a degree in economics
.
Secchia is a fund-raiser in the Republican Party in Michigan. He started as chairman of the Kent County, Michigan
Republican Committee and later became the chairman of the 5th Congressional District of Michigan committee. He was elected to be Michigan's Republican National Committeeman in 1980, 1984, and 1988.
Secchia was a Vice Chairman of the Republican National Committee
and headed its Midwest Region. He was host chairman of the 1985 RNC Midwest Leadership Conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan
.
Secchia was on the national advisory committee of the 1988 George Bush for President Committee. Secchia also founded the Lake Michigan Conference, and was a National Co-Chair of the Dole
for President Campaign.
From 1989 to 1993 Secchia served as the US Ambassador to Italy. He received the Cavaliere di Gran Croce (The Knight of the Great Cross). He also was awarded the Department of State Distinguished Honor Award during his service, an award given to serving ambassadors and to non-career ambassadors.
Secchia has served as the CEO and Chairman of the Board of Universal Forest Products
, a company that manufactures engineered wood components and operates manufacturing plants and distribution centers in the United States (98), Mexico
(2), and Canada
(2). He has served as Chairman of the River City Food Company which has 29 restaurants, catering facilities, and banquet locations in the states of Michigan
, Pennsylvania
, and Maryland
.
Secchia was honored in 1994 as the Master Entrepreneur of the Year for Michigan and in 1995 as the Businessman of the Year and has been involved with civic organizations promoting economics and assisting underprivileged youth. In 1994 he was appointed to chair the Secchia Commission I by Governor John Engler
of Michigan which was focused on improving government services. Secchia Commission II focused on public sector pensions.
and is the past chairman of the library's Endowment Committee and Strategic Planning Committee. He is also a member of the Board of Advisors of the Bush Presidential Library Foundation, the Baker Institute at Rice University
, and served for twelve years on the board for John Cabot University
in Rome
.
Secchia is a member of the National Italian American Foundation
Council of 1000. He was founding president of the West Michigan Lodge of the Order of Sons of Italy in America (OSIA); he inaugurated the Festa Italiana
, the region’s largest annual ethnic festival and has participated in and sponsored many Italian-American events. He was awarded the NIAF Special Achievement Award for International Affairs, The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Public Service Award, and lent his name to the The Founding Values Initiative Award... the "Secchia Award for Heartfelt Commitment."
, a 38-year old man attempted to abduct the girl. Secchia pursued the man on foot and forced him to the ground, then called out to passersby to call police.
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
and businessman. Secchia served as the United States Ambassador to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
from 1989 to 1993.
Career
Secchia served in the United States Marine CorpsUnited States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
from 1956 to 1959 and graduated from Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
in 1963 with a degree in economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
.
Secchia is a fund-raiser in the Republican Party in Michigan. He started as chairman of the Kent County, Michigan
Kent County, Michigan
-Air Service:*Commercial air service to Grand Rapids is provided by Gerald R. Ford International Airport . Previously named Kent County International Airport, it holds Grand Rapids' mark in modern history with the United States' first regularly scheduled airline service, beginning July 31, 1926,...
Republican Committee and later became the chairman of the 5th Congressional District of Michigan committee. He was elected to be Michigan's Republican National Committeeman in 1980, 1984, and 1988.
Secchia was a Vice Chairman of the Republican National Committee
Republican National Committee
The Republican National Committee is an American political committee that provides national leadership for the Republican Party of the United States. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican political platform, as well as coordinating fundraising and election strategy. It is...
and headed its Midwest Region. He was host chairman of the 1985 RNC Midwest Leadership Conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
.
Secchia was on the national advisory committee of the 1988 George Bush for President Committee. Secchia also founded the Lake Michigan Conference, and was a National Co-Chair of the Dole
Bob Dole
Robert Joseph "Bob" Dole is an American attorney and politician. Dole represented Kansas in the United States Senate from 1969 to 1996, was Gerald Ford's Vice Presidential running mate in the 1976 presidential election, and was Senate Majority Leader from 1985 to 1987 and in 1995 and 1996...
for President Campaign.
From 1989 to 1993 Secchia served as the US Ambassador to Italy. He received the Cavaliere di Gran Croce (The Knight of the Great Cross). He also was awarded the Department of State Distinguished Honor Award during his service, an award given to serving ambassadors and to non-career ambassadors.
Secchia has served as the CEO and Chairman of the Board of Universal Forest Products
Universal Forest Products
Universal Forest Products, Inc. is a multibillion-dollar corporation and the leading supplier to its five business segments. Universal is the nation’s leading manufacturer and distributor of wood and wood-alternative products, the leading pressure-treated wood producer, North America's largest...
, a company that manufactures engineered wood components and operates manufacturing plants and distribution centers in the United States (98), Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
(2), and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
(2). He has served as Chairman of the River City Food Company which has 29 restaurants, catering facilities, and banquet locations in the states of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, and Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
.
Secchia was honored in 1994 as the Master Entrepreneur of the Year for Michigan and in 1995 as the Businessman of the Year and has been involved with civic organizations promoting economics and assisting underprivileged youth. In 1994 he was appointed to chair the Secchia Commission I by Governor John Engler
John Engler
John Mathias Engler is an American politician and a member of the Republican Party. He served as the 46th Governor of Michigan from 1991 to 2003....
of Michigan which was focused on improving government services. Secchia Commission II focused on public sector pensions.
Memberships
Secchia is on the Executive Committee of the Gerald R. Ford Foundation and is the overseer of the Gerald R. Ford Museum in Grand Rapids and Gerald R. Ford Library in Ann Arbor, MichiganAnn Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
and is the past chairman of the library's Endowment Committee and Strategic Planning Committee. He is also a member of the Board of Advisors of the Bush Presidential Library Foundation, the Baker Institute at Rice University
Rice University
William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University or Rice, is a private research university located on a heavily wooded campus in Houston, Texas, United States...
, and served for twelve years on the board for John Cabot University
John Cabot University
John Cabot University is a private American liberal arts university located in Rome, Italy. Founded in 1972, it was named after the Italian explorer Giovanni Caboto.-Location:...
in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
.
Secchia is a member of the National Italian American Foundation
National Italian American Foundation
The National Italian American Foundation is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, educational foundation that promotes Italian American culture and heritage...
Council of 1000. He was founding president of the West Michigan Lodge of the Order of Sons of Italy in America (OSIA); he inaugurated the Festa Italiana
Festa Italiana
Festa Italiana is an ethnic festival held annually at the Henry Maier Festival Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It is the largest Italian-American festival in America and features Italian music, food and entertainment...
, the region’s largest annual ethnic festival and has participated in and sponsored many Italian-American events. He was awarded the NIAF Special Achievement Award for International Affairs, The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Public Service Award, and lent his name to the The Founding Values Initiative Award... the "Secchia Award for Heartfelt Commitment."
Attempted abduction incident
In February 2004 Secchia and his 3-year old granddaughter were visiting Seattle, Washington. While walking in a retail business area near the University of WashingtonUniversity of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
, a 38-year old man attempted to abduct the girl. Secchia pursued the man on foot and forced him to the ground, then called out to passersby to call police.