Jon Earnst
PresidentJon is a lifelong Bills fan and a former season ticket holder who endured many of the infamous drought years. While living in the Finger Lakes region of New York, he missed just one home game across eight playoff-less seasons, enjoying countless great tailgates despite the often-mediocre football.
He moved to New Jersey 12 years ago, and one of the first things he did was find the local Bills Backers crew.
His first few Jersey friends were some of the same people you still see every game day, and they immediately welcomed him into their close-knit group. “Bills fans are some of the most loyal and welcoming people around.”
Jon works as a financial advisor in Hackensack, and when he isn’t cheering on his beloved Bills he enjoys fishing and experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen. His dedication to the club and his passion is unmatched and is never afraid to offer the officials some "constructive feedback" from his lucky seat at Stone & Rail.
Nader Ashway
Vice President & Philanthropist Nader Ashway has been a Bills fan for four decades, after his first visit to Buffalo in 1987. There, he met Western New Yorkers who showed him what being a committed fan was really like.
From that moment on, he was hooked. After watching his beloved team go to the playoffs six straight years, and enduring the losses of four straight Super Bowls, he never abandoned the team or his commitment. He stayed loyal through the “drought,” and became a regular at Buffalo home openers starting in 2001, always spending the Saturday night before each game at the Anchor Bar.
Over the years, he followed his team throughout each season at various Bills Backers bars, starting at McFadden’s in New York City, then to Hoboken, and finally found his way to Paterson, where the North Jersey Bills Backers had its humble beginnings.
He’s been with NJBB since 2009, and has helped grow the group to where it is today. You an thank him for being responsible of the famous “first down” chant and having the time of his life tailgating, watching games with many new members and visitors for years to come. When he isn’t watching games, Nader is a “MadMan”, having spent his entire career in marketing and advertisement, he is also a graduate professor of marketing at NYU.
Gianna Volino
Social Media Manager - Content & DesignGianna, better known as The Bills Babe, is a 29-year-old born and raised in the small town of Hawthorne, NJ and one of Josh Allen’s BIGGEST fans. When she's not consumed by sports, she's behind the lens as a Wedding Photographer, perfecting her craft and growing her successful photography business for the past five to six years.
Outside of football and work, Gianna can usually be found exploring new café shops in search of the perfect iced coffee, spending time with friends, tackling a good puzzle, loving on her niblings, or convincing herself she needs another camera to add to her ever-growing collection.
Although she didn't grow up a Buffalo Bills fan, she can thank Sidney for changing that. On a random Sunday, Gianna stopped in the NNJBB’s original home to hang out with friends, and she left as a Buffalo Bills fan. What started out as helping run the club’s social media pages, she began curious about the organization, the owners, the players, and her life was forever changed. Between the incredible community and electric energy inside that bar each and every game, Gianna fell in love with the team almost instantly.
Nearly ten years later, Gianna has become one of the familiar faces of the club. On game days, you'll likely find her sprinting around the bar capturing content, interviewing fans, celebrating touchdowns, or hiding under a table during a nail-biting fourth-quarter drive.
Josiv Krstinovski
HistorianJosiv's journey to becoming a Bills fan started with a bit of irony. His older brother, a lifelong Dolphins fan, introduced him to football during the Jim Kelly and Dan Marino era, hoping to create another Miami fan. Instead, Josiv fell in love with the Buffalo Bills—and he's never looked back.
He's experienced the highs and lows of Bills fandom, from four straight Super Bowl appearances to the 17-year playoff drought and the team's exciting resurgence. In 2017, the same year Buffalo returned to the playoffs, Josiv joined the North Jersey Bills Backers and has enjoyed watching the club grow.
Away from football, Josiv is the owner of a technology and cybersecurity company, a business he's built over the past 16 years. His passion for technology began at a young age and has grown into a successful career rooted in hard work, curiosity, and a desire to help others.
Today, his favorite role is being a dad. His 10 month old daughter is already being raised as a member of Bills Mafia, and he's looking forward to sharing the traditions, friendships, and unforgettable memories that come with being part of the Bills family.
For Josiv, the North Jersey Bills Backers are more than just a fan club—they're a community built on loyalty, friendship, and a shared love for Buffalo and loves to be apart of it!
Josiv continues to give back to the club in a new role as our Historian, helping preserve the memories, traditions, and stories that have shaped the NJBB into the community it is today.
Nick Wallwork
Secretary, DJ & Operations CoordinatorBorn in Buffalo, Nick moved to New Jersey as a child, bringing with him a lifelong passion for the Bills and strong opinions on chicken wings (flats over drums, Anchor Bar is overrated, and neither blue cheese nor ranch). Spending holidays at his grandmother's house on Big Tree Road in East Aurora, he attended countless games at Rich Stadium throughout his childhood and grew up steeped in Bills tradition.
Nick joined the Bills Backers when his entire family visited the bar after Thanksgiving in 2016, and he immediately embraced the group’s energy. He loves the hospitality of a tailgate and the camaraderie found at games, in parking lots, and with the North Jersey Bills Backers.
There is nothing more exciting to him than cracking open a Labatt at 8 a.m. with the club and sharing the moment with fellow fans. After convincing his wife to join the Mafia, he is raising two girls to proudly rep the red and blue.
When he is not enjoying Sunday Football, Nick dedicates his to event planning and non-profit management.
ABBY Krautheim
Social Media Manager - Community & EngagementAbby was raised in River Edge, NJ where she developed a love for sports at an early age. Through athletics, she gained a strong appreciation for teamwork, commitment, and the sense of community that sports create.
A dedicated student, Abby graduated from college with two majors and three minors. Today, she works as a Marketing Specialist for a luxury security company, where she combines creativity with strategic communication.
Although she grew up cheering for the New York Giants, her NFL loyalty shifted about four years ago after a friend invited her to watch a Buffalo Bills game at Stone & Rail.
The energy of Bills Mafia was contagious, and she found herself surrounded by an incredible community of fans who shared her passion for athletics.
Today, she's proud to call herself a Bills fan and appreciates that the team's colors still let her wear blue and red on game days.
She has recently joined the club’s board as a Social Media Manager alongside Gianna. When she's not working or watching football, Abby thoroughly enjoys reading, crafting, having random adventures with friends, and catching up on sleep.
harry smith
Director of Merchandise & PromotionsHarry, also known as “Patches” is a lifelong Buffalo Bills fan born and raised in Closter, NJ. Harry called Closter home until 16 years ago, when he moved nearby New Milford with his family.
For the past 25 years, Harry has worked in the healthcare field, a career that reflects one of the qualities that means the most to him: helping others. His caring and compassionate nature carries over into everything he does, including his time with the Bills Backers and the friendships he has made along the way.
If you’re ever trying to find Harry in a crowd, there’s really no need to look too hard. Just keep an eye out for the guy wearing the jacket covered in Buffalo Bills patches — hence the nickname, “Patches”! His dedication to the Bills is quite literally worn on his sleeve. And if the game isn’t going the way we hoped, you might even spot Harry taking a knee and saying a little prayer for a Bills victory. At this point, we’ll take all the help we can get!
Harry says his favorite part of being a member of the NNJBB’s is the community. Sundays are about more than just watching football — they’re about coming together, sharing laughs, cheering on the Bills, and spending time with the incredible people who make this club feel like family. Whether he’s at the bar watching the game or out at the tailgate, Harry is always happy to be surrounded by fellow Bills fans.
His passion for the team, his love for the Backers community, and, of course, that legendary patch-covered jacket make him a familiar and beloved face around the club which led him to volunteer his time as a new officer this season and the club is so thrilled and grateful to have him!
YASEMIN ustunluk
Events CoordinatorYasemin has been a passionate Buffalo Bills fan since 1994. Introduced to football at a young age by her enthusiastic uncle, she grew up surrounded by seven sports-fanatics, where football was more than just a game—it was a way of life. From the very beginning, the Buffalo Bills became a huge part of her life, and that passion has only grown stronger over the years.
Now 32 years old, Yasemin proudly bleeds red, white, and blue. Her journey with the North Jersey Bills Backers began on a random Sunday afternoon in her hometown, when she met this incredible group of fans and instantly felt at home. Since then, she has never looked back. She eagerly looks forward to football season each year and is excited to continue getting to know every member of the Bills Backers family even better.
Outside of football, Yasemin has a true passion for hospitality. She loves creating memorable experiences, meeting new people, and making others feel genuinely welcomed and included. Whether it’s through conversation, event planning, or simply bringing people together, she takes great pride in helping create an atmosphere where everyone feels like part of the family.
When she’s not cheering on the Bills, Yasemin enjoys traveling, exploring new places, trying different foods, and discovering all the beauty this country has to offer. Her adventurous spirit and love for connecting with people make her a wonderful addition to the NJBB community as this years first Events Coordinator.
Yasemin is looking forward to an amazing season filled with great football, new friendships, unforgettable memories, and plenty of opportunities to celebrate alongside the best fan base in the NFL.
sidney ruiz
Executive FounderSidney, better known as Sid, is the founding father of the North Jersey Bills Backers. In 2005, he took a chance on an idea that would eventually grow into one of the most passionate Bills Backers clubs in all of North Jersey.
The club started at Duffy’s, where most nights was just Sid and a few people huddled around a small TV in a corner of the bar. What started as four members, grew as word spread. Season after season, more fans joined, turning a small group into a lively Bills Mafia family. At first Sid ran nearly everything himself but as the club grew, he began recruiting members to become officers, creating the volunteer team that supports the club today.
For more than two decades, Sid proudly served as President, guiding the club through unforgettable victories, heartbreaking defeats, countless tailgates and lifelong friendships. After 20+ years, he passed the torch to the club's next generation, leaving behind a legacy that helped shape what the club has become.
Sid enjoys cooking, staying active at the gym, training in mixed martial arts, and spending quality time with his girlfriend, family, and friends. He has spent the majority of his career in IT, leading teams on technology projects. He currently works as an Agilemanagerfor a team of developers focused on fighting fraud.
There is no doubt you feel the difference in energy when Sidney is not present at the bar. If you don’t know him already, just look for the guy running around waving our flag, yelling first down chants into the mic, and simply just a friendly face that makes everyone feel seen, included, and comfortable.
We love Big Kid Sid.
INTERSTED IN BECOMING AN OFFICER?
Fill out this form and one of our members will get in touch with you!
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Being an officer means volunteering your time, talents, and passion to help our club thrive. Each officer takes on unique responsibilities—from planning events and managing social media to organizing game days and supporting our members—all with the shared goal of creating an unforgettable Bills Backers community. Behind every event, post, and tailgate is a team working together to make this club feel like home for Bills Mafia!
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There is always room for more officers! While we do have someone for each of our current positions, help is always needed. There’s no harm in inquiring!
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Although this is volunteer, unpaid work, we strive to make all members and participants feel included and valued. From exclusive club experiences and member recognition to opportunities that arise throughout the season, we are committed to giving back to the people who help make our community what it is—whenever possible.