Frank Buffa, founder of Buffa Distribution in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, has been selected as the 2025 recipient of the Billiard and Bowling Institute of America’s Industry Service Award. Buffa becomes only the third non-American selected for the award, joining Ewa Mataya of Sweden (professional pool player, writer and television commentator; 1993); and fellow Swede Jorgan Sandman (long-time billiards coach, pool-room operator, author, and national and international federation director; 1998).
Although Buffa became synonymous with the bowling business in Canada, he was born in Italy, emigrating in 1959 as a young boy. He earned a master’s degree in physics and then spent more than 20 years teaching high school physics and math. The scarcity of bowling ball drillers in Quebec at the time prompted him to embark on becoming proficient at the craft. He would go on to achieve the highest coaching certifications in both Canada (Level 3) and the United States (USBC Gold), and to coach Canada’s national team, as well as the national teams of Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and his native Italy.
He founded Buffa Distribution in 1995 and added The Studio Buffa — a four-lane training center no longer in operation — in 2003. He turned over the reins of the company to his son, Mark, in 2012, but still serves on its board of directors.
Buffa will be honored during the 2025 BBIA Annual Convention, to be held May 13-15 at the Fairmont Tremblant in Mont-Tremblant, Quebec, Canada, which is 82 miles (132-km) northwest of Montreal.
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