Meet The Experts

Our highly trained and dedicated staff is what sets Bowlers Advantage Pro Shop apart from our competition. Each staff member is an IBPSIA Certified Pro Shop Technician (International Bowling Pro Shops & Instructors Association) – for this certification each staff member attended an intensive 32 hour hands-on training class. We also stay “in the know” by attending manufacturer seminars and industry training clinics on a regular basis to ensure continued education in our ever evolving sport.

We are extremely proud of our staff as we believe that without them, we would not be successful at providing “Experienced Striking Results” for our customers!

Donnie Richardson has been with Bowlers Advantage Pro Shop since 2000. Donnie has completed Ebonite’s Powerhouse pro shop training program and has earned his IBPSIA Pro Shop Technician Certification. He actively attends as many industry seminars as possible to keep informed on the ever changing technology in today’s bowling game and to keep up his IBPSIA continuing education requirements. Donnie is a USBC Bronze Certified Bowling Instructor/Coach and is available for lessons. Donnie began his love for bowling when he picked the game up in 1978. He has rolled games of 299, 300 and an 801 series. Donnie is passionate about helping others enjoy the game of bowling. He has stepped down from full-time to part-time as he starts his well deserved retirement plans.

Darnail Ray joined Bowlers Advantage Pro Shop as a part-time employee in June, 2020. He grew up in the Memphis area and now lives in Smyrna. He works full-time for the state as an accountant.

“Bowling for me began as a family fun event enjoyed with my parents and brother for as long as I can remember being able to pick up and throw a bowling ball. It was all about a little family friendly competition between just the four of us. It wasn’t until high school that I began to take bowling more seriously as a competitive sport. I then joined the youth league at Winchester bowl and my high school team at Ridgeway. From there I began to bowl at high volumes and received my first ever 300 on Nov, 8th 2012. After high school, I went to college at Bethel University receiving my bachelor’s degree for Business Administration Accounting in 2017. Bowling with Bethel’s bowling team began my joy for learning the more technical side of bowling. With the help from my teammates I was blessed to start drilling and doing other various pro shop tasks with the equipment that Bethel had. I took time to really learn the hows and whys of drilling and bowling ball layouts. I was then assigned the responsibility of helping our team with drilling up bowling balls and any pro shop needs that we had. I am very thankful to be given the opportunity with Bowlers Advantage to increase my knowledge and be able to help all bowlers with their bowling needs.”

Owner/Operator

Michelle Rakow is the owner/operator of Bowlers Advantage Pro Shops, LLC. She has been in the bowling business since working at a bowling center when she was a youth bowler.

She is an IBPSIA Certified Pro Shop Technician and currently serves as a board member on the IBPSIA board of directors. Michelle is also a USBC Bronze & Silver Certified Bowling Instructor/Coach and is available for bowling lessons. Michelle was named to the Bowlers Journal Top 100 Coaches List in 2012 & 2013. “I really enjoy learning about our sport and teaching it. I strive to work with and learn from as many top coaches within our industry in an effort to add more knowledge and tools to my teaching toolbox. So far I have had the privilege to be mentored by Del Warren, Lou Marquez, Joe Slowinski, Steve Richter, Randy Stoughton, and Kelly Kulick.”

Michelle attended both Vincennes University and Indiana State University on full academic/athletic scholarships where she studied for her Associate, Bachelor, and Masters degrees. While at both Universities she bowled on the women’s collegiate bowling teams. Michelle and her college teams enjoyed great success winning several collegiate tournaments along with winning berths into the National finals all four years. She also enjoyed many individual collegiate accomplishments such as being named Collegiate All-American. She has since won numerous singles/doubles/team/all-events titles throughout the Southeast and continues to bowl.

Michelle founded Bowlers Advantage Pro Shops with her husband in 1993. Along with running her pro shops and giving bowling lessons/clinics, Michelle also teaches aspiring pro shop operators how to run successful pro shops through one on one training, seminars, and classes that she conducts within the industry as an IBPSIA Certified Instructor.

Michelle strives to offer the best customer experience possible at her pro shops by providing her top notch staff on-going training on important topics such as excellent customer service and up to date industry knowledge.