Eugene Nifenecker II is the CEO and Founder of Balloon Kings®, who helps spread joy and happiness throughout his community. King Gene believes that work should be a fun, positive, and comfortable environment for himself, employees, and customers. The King believes in paying it forward.

King Gene was born and raised in Amityville, Long Island. At the age of 17, he joined the Marine Corps and was a part of the first tank battalion in California. Soon after he was in Desert Storm from 1990-1991. King Gene became a cancer survivor at the age of 23 and went into the family business of sign making in 1992. Balloon Kings® began in 2011, when Gene left his job as a third-generation sign maker to become the king of his own kingdom by opening a retail store for balloon creations on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.

King Gene is a father of three and a grandfather of four grandchildren. The King enjoys going to his son’s baseball games, barbecuing, and boating in his free time, when he is not at the Balloon Kings kingdom. Gene can be described as humorous, crazy, and creative. His main goal for his company in the future is to continue spreading as much joy and happiness as possible to a wider audience.

King Gene’s favorite balloon product is the smile of a happy customer!