Originally a native of Italy, Mario grew up in Rochester, New York, where he attended public and parochial schools before joining the Navy. After completing his tour of duty for the Navy, Mario returned to Rochester, New York, where he joined the Xerox Corporation and attended Rochester Institute of Technology.

Mario began his insurance career in 1965, when his brother-in-law, who, upon being discharged from the Coast Guard, got a job as a Debit Agent with the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. He referred Mario to the management of his agency and Mario was hired in September of 1965. Mario attained the second leading agent status in his agency the following two years in a row, passed L.U.T.C, attended and passed part one and two of C.L.U. He was then promoted to the Metropolitan, Quinsigamond Agency in Worcester, Massachusetts, in July 1969, where he held the position of Sales Manager.

Since 1969, Mario spent six and one-half years as a leading Sales Manager and trained over 200 agents. He attended all parts of C.L.U., all industry and company courses offered on all aspects and all forms of Insurance and Agency Management. Mario was the first to be licensed for National Association of Security Dealers in his agency at the Metropolitan and the Guardian Insurance companies. While at the Metropolitan he also acquired his certifications for Property and Casualty, Agent and Agency Management training.

In the time Mario spent as a Sales Consultant, he achieved many leaders conferences qualifications, Agent of the year awards, M.D.R.T. and many other sales recognition awards. His most prized awards are the perennial National Quality, and National Sales Achievement Awards he has received. The list is long.

Around July of 1978, a friend introduced Mario to Ballooning. He started Bella Via Balloon Company in 1982, had a mid-life crisis in 1985, and went Ballooning full time. Mario is well known by many in Worcester County through his insurance notoriety and Balloon experiences. Mario became one of the most popular Balloonists in communities in the Northeast United States and Canada and has made thousands of friendships.

Dennis Molinari and A. Mario Di Stefano have been friends since Mario started Dennis in the business in 1970. When Dennis needed help to evolve his agency to other levels, Mario agreed to help. After being around the Molinari Insurance Agency for a few months, it seemed a good idea for Mario to stay around. Thus, a new arm was added to the agency, providing advanced services and products for its clients and assistance in growing the Agency. With his experience as an entrepreneur, a good deal more maturity, and the wisdom of years, Mario has brought a new and greater vision to the Agency and the Industry.

As Mario expresses it: All things are impermanent and transitory. Although real growth and worthwhile change is hard for all of us, I have realized that it must happen and I must be vigilant and committed to be ready to do so when it presents itself. Therefore, when I do a profile and/or affect a relationship with my clients, I must do so with a compassionate state of mind. Their well-being is my well-being. Their growth is my growth. The results I create for them are the manifestation of all of the development in my own life. For that, I am responsible.