Ask Michael J. Billoni to describe himself and most often he will answer with one word: “Rainmaker.”
It’s a word Native American in origin and became part of the English language around 1775 with a meaning of, “… a professional who is great in his field—seemingly magical.” Today that definition has evolved a bit to include, “… a person whose influence can initiate progress or ensure success.”
Either way, if you know Mike, you know he is a guy who can initiate progress in any kind of project, employing creative ways and means that always ensure success.
Mike learned the value of hard work at a young age when he began doing odd jobs at his family’s Colvin Cleaners business in Kenmore, New York. The business was founded by his Uncle Phil in 1931 and continues today under the leadership of his brother Paul and his family. Mike credits those early life responsibilities— working side-by-side with his dad, Tony, and his mother, Josephine—with schooling him in community relations and customer service skills.
Those skills formed the foundation of Mike’s early career as during his sophomore year of high school he became a “Clark Kent” sports stringer for The Tonawanda News. That experience led him to a degree in journalism at the State University of New York at Morrisville and a fulltime position as a sports writer and editor at The Tonawanda News. In 1977, he stepped up to a sports writing job at The Buffalo Courier Express, until its closing in September 1982. He next became a stringer of Western New York news and sports stories for The Rochester Democrat & Chronicle.
It was an “inside scoop” which Mike reported in January 1983 for The Democrat & Chronicle that changed the
direction of his career The story was about Buffalo’s Class Double A professional baseball franchise, The Buffalo Bisons, and their immediate need for a buyout angel. That story led to the young sports writer to an introduction to one of Buffalo’s well-known, leading business executives, Robert E. Rich Jr., president of his family’s Rich Products Corporation.
A professional relationship developed between the two men that expanded upon Rich’s purchase of the Bisons and his decision to hire Michael as the Team’s Director of Publicity, Promotions, and Marketing. To no one’s surprise Mike quickly earned the unofficial title of the ” P.T. Barnum of Minor League Baseball,” as he produced imaginative marketing programs that led to the Bisons drawing the highest-attendance records in Minor League Baseball history, with more than 1 million fans in attendance for six consecutive years from 1988 to 1993.
From there Mike’s career has grown into an impressive list of clients and projects as a Public Relations/Media specialist, working with a diverse range of clients and businesses includingErie County Clerk Michael P. Kearns, The Food Bank of Western New York, Try-It Distributing, The Buffalo Black Billion, and J.C.
Seneca/Native Pride Travel Plaza, to name a few.
Mike has expanded his professional outreach by assembling a team of talented experts under the banner of Billoni Associates, LLC. Together, they have become a leading force in PR/Media, Event Planning and
Execution, Writing, and Advocacy. Billoni Associates LLC provides specialty services including:
- PR/Media outreach
- Book Writing and Publishing
- Integrated print, broadcast, and social media marketing
- Digital design
- Video production
- Online programming
Mike also proudly supports his family’s owned and operated, Colvin Cleaners by managing the publicity for its two philanthropic programs, Coats 4 Kids and Gowns for Proms. He has given his heart to his favored community nonprofit, St. Luke’s Mission of Mercy.
In addition to his professional and philanthropic work, Mike is currently authoring a autobiography based on a near fatal bicycle accident he suffered on September 17, 1992. The accident seriously impacted his mind and body, causing lingering effects that still challenge his daily life. The book is scheduled to be published in the fall of 2025.
Mike resides on Grand Island, NY where he is a member of the Rotary Club. He also serves as secretary for the Board of Directors of Recovery Options Made Easy (ROME) and a founding board member of Boss Because.
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Deborah A. Billoni
(1966-2024)
Deborah A. Billoni
Deborah A. Billoni, was the founding Chief Financial Officer of Billoni Associates. She was an expert in finance and tax preparation with three collegiate degrees, including a master’s in accounting from Hilbert College.
Deborah and Michael Billoni married in 2006 and shared a life blessed by family, friends and business associates.
After the Lord called Deborah on August 22, 2024, Michael established the Debbie Billoni Food Fund under the stewardship of St. Luke’s Mission of Mercy and the direction of St. Luke’s Founder, Amy Betros.
The goal of the fund is to encourage donations to St. Luke’s to help defray their annual $1.2 million budget that provides more than 1.000 free meals at their East Buffalo Campus to those in need every day of the year.
Today the fund serves as a strong support to St. Lukes through the generosity
of the Western New York Community and beyond.
To donate, visit: https://www.stlukesmissionofmercy.org
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