Fabrizio Balestri is Managing Director of the consultancy Blue Sky Initiatives. His current clients include Lorica International Corporation, a new entrant in the fire resistant fabric market, Operating Room Innovations, Clipper Pro, Salgomed Bio Sciences, and serves as interim CEO of Education Loan Source.
Prior to forming Blue Sky, Fabrizio cofounded student lender and marketer Student Loan Xpress. Under Mr. Balestri’s careful management, Student Loan Xpress became one of the top 12 national lenders within 3 years of its establishment in 2002 and was named the fastest growing company in its financial services sector during the 2003/2004 period. In 2005, the company was acquired by CIT Inc. Mr. Balestri then joined CIT’s executive management team as the President of its newly acquired student loan division.
Between 1996 and 2001, Fabrizio Balestri served as the Senior Vice President for the student lending sales division at American Express Company, the fastest growing company in the student lending space in 1998, 1999, and 2000. Before becoming the financial institutions head of sales, Fabrizio Balestri Cofounded Education Funding Company in 1994, which was subsequently acquired by America Express. Mr. Balestri began his career in 1980, at the nations premier student lending firm, Sallie Mae.
Mr. Balestri graduated from Frostburg State University in 1978, and completed the executive financial management program at Columbia University graduate school of business in NY.
While at his second home in Modena Italy, he spends time with family and friends, taking in as many opportunities as possible to enjoy the food and wine of the region.
He has a cellar rich in Barolo and Bordeaux. Breeze enjoys fine dining and entertaining at his home in San Diego County