Leadership Profile

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Chicagoland Chapter

Email: chicagoadja@chicago.adja.org
Phone: 888-312-ADJA

National Offices

Email: office@adja.org
Toll-free: (888) 723-5776

President: Peter Merkle
For more than 15 years, Peter Merkle has been helping mobile disc jockeys transform their fear of being directly responsible for ruining a unique, once in a lifetime event into a simple, fun process to achieve their clients dreams. His motivational story of rising from a cheap, low budget DJ, to a highly paid, dedicated full time professional has inspired many around the world. Peter is considered by his peers to be one of the nicest guys in the industry. He is a true industry icon, having touched many through his dedication to the art of entertainment. A long time member of the ADJA, he is one of the founding board of directors of the Chicagoland chapter. In recognition of exceptional service, dedication and commitment to the American Disc Jockey Association he is the inaugural recipient of the Peter Merry Leadership Award. Speaking of joining the ADJA he says this: “I only wish I found this sooner. Don’t wait to become a part of an organization that will change your personal and professional life as well as help influence the future of the industry.”

Vice President: Russ Heinen

Enter the Chapter Vice President Description here

Secretary: n/a

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Treasurer: Alan Brusich

Bio Coming Soon.

Membership Director: Jay Sims

Jay started to DJ as a hobby when he was in high school. He enrolled at Northwestern University in the fall of 1993, and started his DJ Company as an avenue to help pay his way through school. His initial advertising blitz consisted of going door to door to fraternities and sororities on campus and selling his service for their formal dances. Along the way, he became involved as the DJ for Dance Marathon, an annual 30-hour dance with 500 students that raises on average $500,000 for deserving charities. After graduating in Chemical Engineering in 1997, Jay took up full-time employment in the Chicago area with an oil company. Still being near Northwestern allowed him to perform at their functions and he also started to branch out into other types of events. Also in 1997, Jay married the love of his life Tamara after a six year courtship. In January of 2002 Jay left his job as a chemical engineer to turn his part-time DJ profession into his full-time career and started Something 2 Dance 2. In November 2004, Tamara left her corporate job to work as Director of Marketing for Something 2 Dance 2. Today, Something 2 Dance 2 employs 7 DJs and has an office in East Dundee, IL and performs at over 250 events annually. Tamara & Jay also celebrated 10 years of marriage in June with Jay putting on a Broadway concert for Tamara. Jay will also continues donating his time at Northwestern as the Dance Marathon DJ.

Member At Large:

Due to the size and activity of our chapter, we have elected to add to our leadership team with a dedicated Communications person, Anthony Martorano and a dedicated Public Relations person, Mike Dodson.
These gentlemen have helped us to continue our success while bringing new and fresh ideas to the table in the very short time thay have been on board. Our chapter couldn''t run without them.