If there’s one thing the Balbonis know, it’s service. Michael Balboni has spent more than two decades in the political trenches as a New York State Senator and then as a member of the Governor's Cabinet in charge of Homeland Security and Public Safety in New York. He is all about serving others. Stephanie? She’s the talented engine behind the scenes—running a consulting firm, a condo board, and a family of six with the kind of persistence that could convince anyone (including her husband) to buy a condo they swore they didn’t need.

Flash back to February 2014. The Balbonis are in St. Pete with two of their daughters, soaking up sunsets, cocktails at The Vinoy, and a breezy boat ride around Snell Isle. They pass the under-construction Water Club. Stephanie sees a possibility. Michael sees tuition bills.

“We’re putting four kids through college. It’s not the right time,” he told her.

Cue Stephanie’s 11-month campaign. She toured the models with others. She dropped hints. She circled back. Finally, in January 2015, Michael gave in after a frigid winter’s day in New York with gray skies. 

“Alright. I give up. Go ahead,” he said. 

“Go ahead, what?” she asked.

“Buy the condo.”

She couldn’t believe it, but one thing was sure. They both wanted a taste of paradise. 

The kicker? The first time Michael actually laid eyes on their new condo was the day they closed. And they’ve been hooked ever since.

New York is fast-paced, loud, and demanding. St. Pete is slow, easy, and sun-soaked. Together, they’ve created a life that works: weeks bouncing between the two, summers fully up north, fall through spring back and forth. 

“It was the balance we didn’t even know we needed, but it was so important in our lives,” Stephanie says. It’s a very back-and-forth rhythm that seems to work for us. We love it.”

Stephanie runs daily operations for their New York-based consulting firm from anywhere, leaning into remote work. She also steers The Water Club condo board. Michael keeps himself spinning—running the firm, leading a healthcare organization, serving on boards here and abroad, and staying plugged into New York. 

To relax, Stephanie likes to play golf. “I play tennis, but badly,” she laughs, “and not frequently.” You can also find her cooking, entertaining, and having people over. “I love to gather family and friends together.” She also likes taking Pilates classes to unwind and enjoys regular walks from downtown to the condos. 

What does Michael like to do? “Anything and everything,” she laughs. He likes to run, golf, any kind of exercise and on occasion he likes to still surf when he can. 

Their four children are grown, gone, and thriving, but still glued to their parents in the best way. The oldest, Olivia, 32, works in the hospitality industry in New York City. Nick, 31, is the principal of his own law firm, also based in New York. Julia, 29, will be starting her residency in orthopedic surgery at _____________ in June of this year. Michaela, the youngest now 25 and a recent law school graduate, is completing her clerkship in Delaware for a federal bankruptcy judge and will be joining Lowenstein Sandler at their offices in New York City as a second-year associate starting in September.

“We are a very connected group,” says Stephanie. “Each of my children is on a different path with a different style and a different life philosophy. But at the core, they are connected to one another and to us. It’s wonderful that they want to spend time with us even as they have become adults themselves. It is something we never take for granted.

Over the years, the Balbonis have had three Cavaliers, a cat, and four kids under one roof. Now it’s just Leo—15 years old and still running the show.

Tiny, nurturing, and ridiculously intuitive, Leo shadows Stephanie everywhere. “He’s a gift,” she says. He snores, hogs the bed, and somehow knows exactly when it’s mealtime. Even arthritis can’t slow him down.

Stephanie is already plotting a sibling for him. Michael? Well, let’s just say he’s learned how her “campaigns” usually end.

For Stephanie and Michael, life is about balance: politics, work, strategy, travel, sunsets, family, and four-legged love. From the fast and furious nature of New York to the laidback vibes of Snell Isle, they have the best of both worlds.