MIT isn’t the only cultural institution in which William (Bill) Lombardi has worked. After beginning his career as a chef, Lombardi was hired to cook for and manage The Barking Crab, the celebrated seafood restaurant located on Boston’s Fort Point Channel. He transitioned from managing restaurants to working at MIT twice; he worked for the Biology Department from 2000-2004 and was recruited to manage event space for the MIT Media Lab in 2011 after its new complex opened. Bill also has a cultural icon in his family: his uncle is Vince Lombardi, the legendary NFL coach. He even has his uncle’s first championship ring from 1961.

If you need to speak with Bill, you’d be lucky to catch him in the months of April or May. In that two-month period this spring, he oversaw nearly 100 events.