Teamwork makes the dream work! Get to know some more of our staff at EEL in today’s #WeddingWednesday blog post ? Today the spotlight goes to: Jay & Valerie!
Hi I’m Jay! I started as a mobile DJ in 1993 at my Alma Mater Northwestern University in Evanston performing at Undergraduate events such as fraternity and sorority Formal Dances. During my junior year, I started my 21 year journey as the DJ for the annual 30 hour Dance Marathon held every March that raises millions of dollars for very deserving charities. Upon graduation in Chemical Engineering in 1997, I took up full-time employment as an engineer in the Chicago area and married the love of my life Tamara that same summer.
Tamara and I have a love for musical theater and admire the great production that goes into a Broadway Show. A wedding is a beautiful theatrical performance with a leading man and lady who deserve to be in the spotlight for the entire “show”. I started Elegant Event Lighting in 2009 with the goal of providing a beautiful setting for Brides and Grooms using draping and lighting to create the stage for their wedding. And just like a well staged Broadway show, the guests need to feel the emotion and love and I know our contribution to the wedding helps add to the overall enjoyment by all!
Hello everyone! My name is Valerie. I am the Social Media Extraordinaire & Event Specialist here at EEL Chicago. I started my journey as a weekend wedding decor installer. After noticing just how hard Jay works in the office, we decided I should give an internship a try and learn all about his world of sales. In May I graduated from the amazing Elmhurst College where I earned my degree in Organizational Communications. I am now a full time team member here. I love to travel and music is one of my favorite hobbies, especially listening to the Beatles! I have played the piano since I was 3! Last January I joined fellow students at Elmhurst College and taught music in the schools of beautiful Jamaica. While I was there, I also decorated my very first Jamaican Wedding! The wedding world has taught me so much and I love the excitement of it all.
Thank you for taking the time to get to know our staff! Happy #WeddingWednesday!