Sergio’s European roots trace back to Burgenland in southern Austria and the Veneto region of Italy, where the Simon family is spread. He grew up in Chicago in a multilingual environment, exposed to German through his Austrian father and Lithuanian through his mother. He later studied Latin, French, and German—skills that proved valuable during his work in technical industries across Europe.
A strong desire to expand the presence of Italian in everyday life in the United States led to a partnership with the instructor Kelly Lombardo and the launch of Italia in Ohio (IIO) in 2012. Over the years, the school has played a key role in cultivating a vibrant and growing Italian community in Columbus.
In 2021, Italian Dream Academy (IDA) was born from Rosa Di Grottole’s vision to expand the program beyond its original scope – broadening the curriculum, introducing initiatives such as a Book Club, cultural events, and study abroad experiences, and creating more opportunities for connection. In partnership with Sergio Simon, this vision took shape as a dynamic and evolving program.
With the addition of online classes, IDA extended its reach well beyond the Midwest, while its in-person events helped build and strengthen a close-knit local community. The Academy also developed a curriculum aligned with CEFR standards, further enhancing the quality and structure of its offerings.