Joel Colombo
CEO & Visionary
Joel holds the core value of "Do What You Say" closest to his heart. He believes that this value is the foundation for all others, emphasizing the importance of accountability and integrity in both personal and professional commitments. Joel’s philosophy is that when everyone works together with a diverse set of skills, anything can be accomplished. This belief drives him to bring experts from various fields together to create an unstoppable force at ThreeSixty, fostering growth for small businesses and, in turn, improving communities and establishing long-term opportunities for everyone involved.
At 14, Joel started writing software even before the advent of the world wide web, eventually mastering four programming languages by the time he graduated high school. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to found seven companies, with ThreeSixty being the crown jewel. Since 2005, he has been the driving force behind the company, focusing on big-picture growth, culture, and development. His leadership and innovative ideas have propelled ThreeSixty to numerous accolades, including the Best Places to Work in Buffalo and the Crystal Ethics Award for Business.
While attending the University at Buffalo, Joel opted to start his first retail business at 19 instead of completing his degree, but later returned to complete the Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership program in 2010. His expertise spans creative problem-solving, leadership, motivation, and software application design. Recognized as Entrepreneur of the Year by the regional chamber of commerce and a 40 under 40 honoree, Joel’s influence extends beyond ThreeSixty through memberships in the Entrepreneurs Organization, Leadership Buffalo, and more.
Joel’s commitment to his community is evident through his extensive speaking and mentoring at educational institutions, including over 100 hours annually on topics related to entrepreneurship, start-ups, and marketing. He has been a judge and mentor for UB's Panasci Business Plan Competition since 2012 and was involved with Brush Up Buffalo, a community revitalization organization, for many years. He also founded Buffalo Tours Buffalo, a movement to help locals discover hidden gems in their region.
In his personal life, Joel enjoys golfing and is passionate about board games, owning over 1,200 games himself. He has designed several published titles and runs a tabletop game publishing company with over two dozen titles for sale. Joel is supported by his wonderful wife and three sons, who are an entrepreneur, a Navy sailor, and an engineer in progress.
“When you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life.” —Confucius
