Elevating children, the community and the world through the power and grace of Irish dance.
TBC MISSION STATEMENT
"We are an organization of parents committed to providing and supporting activities that enhance the Irish Dancing experience for our children, teachers, and families of Trinity. Through communication, coordination, and team building, we consistently support the Trinity teaching staff's unique mission."
Booster Club Staff
Anne Leonard
Booster Club Manager
Booster Club Board
Dustin Baker
Dustin Baker and his wife Denise have been involved with Trinity since 2017 since their daughter Ashlynn had started dancing out of Palatine. Dustin has been involved in parade planning for Palatine since 2018 as well as EmCee for various events. He currently helps in graphic design for Trinity Wear as well as new branding for the Trinity Dance Academy. As a new member to the Booster Club, Dustin is excited to help bring the Trinity Irish Dance name to new heights. Outside of Trinity, Dustin works in marketing as well as a freelance illustrator.
Jeanna Gunville
Jeanna Gunville has two daughters who dance out of the Trinity Lakeview and Elmhurst locations, Corinne and Bridget, and lives in the North Center neighborhood in Chicago. She and her husband Mike have both enjoyed getting more involved with Trinity through various opportunities, as a Class Representative, a TPT parent volunteer, volunteering at Trinity feiseanna, as an Oireachtas team mom, as MLB baseball game fundraiser volunteers, and as drivers of carpools and movers of Marley floor! The best part has been making great friends with other Trinity families along the way! Along with other members of the Trinity Booster Club Communications Committee, Jeanna helps coordinate parent mentors and volunteers, and supports communications between Trinity families and the Academy. She also is an attorney and helps with the Trinity Booster Club corporate records as Board Secretary. If you have an interest and want to learn more about volunteer opportunities please reach out to her!
Tricia McAdams
Tricia and her husband Tim have been Trinity Parents since
2019 when their daughter Samantha began dancing out of the
Third Ward studio. They share another daughter Allyson who
has yet to get the bug for Irish Dancing and instead enjoys
soccer and karate. Tricia’s first involvement in Trinity came
early-on helping as a Backstage Mom at some of Samantha’s
first feiseanna. Most recently, she volunteered as Hospitality
Chair and then as Co-Chair for the Wisconsin Spring Feis. At the
encouragement of other TBC members, Tricia joined the board
in 2022. Tricia’s history is in event management and hospitality
with an emphasis on creating a world-class client experience.
Her passions and personal values align very closely with
Trinity’s mission of elevating and supporting others to help
them realize their potential. Tricia is excited and honored to be
entrusted with helping guide the future of Trinity’s dancers and
their families.
Michael McHugh
Michael McHugh has been on the Board since 2020. He and his wife, Kristen, and their two dancers, Madeline (8) and Kasia (6), are out of the Lakeview location. Their family currently lives in Chicago, and their daughters attend a local parish school. They were introduced to Trinity in 2017 when the dancers performed during St Patrick’s Day at their daughters’ school, and they have not looked back. They were, and continue to be, drawn to Trinity not only for the dance but also the characteristics and empowerment the Academy employs into every dancer as well as the community of parents, teachers, and dancers. As we have endured a very distant and isolated 2020/2021, Michael’s hope as a board member is to generate the enthusiasm for performances and opportunities to come together as a community.
Melissa Ohlquist-Meeks
Melissa and her husband, Josh, have twin daughters, Greer & Elliot, who dance out of the Western Springs location in the Limerick County level. Melissa has extensive experience advocating and working with children. She was formerly an Attorney and Guardian Ad Litem for children who were DCFS wards at the Cook County Public Guardian's Office. Melissa and her family truly believe that Trinity is a special place that gives children the opportunity to grow and succeed, while making friends and having fun in the process. She looks forward to contributing to Trinity's mission as a member of The Booster Club Board.
Joe Pitterle
Joe Pitterle joined the Trinity board in 2022. He and his wife Karen have 2 children, their son Jake who told them "some boys dance, this boy does not", and their daughter Bella who started Irish dancing thru a local park and rec program at age 4. Initially starting in county levels, Bella has recently moved to the province program. She LOVES seeing her friends each and every week. She enjoys not just competing as a soloist and on Team Trinity, but the performance aspects. At a young age she has gained confidence by dancing on some of the biggest stages in the area, including Fiserv Forum, the St Patrick’s Day Season and of course Irish Fest. Joe's exposure to Trinity initially started with a cousin who danced for Trinity in the 90s-00s, and was accelerated when a colleague of his was also heavily involved in Trinity. Joe is a Wealth Management Advisor for Northwestern Mutual, based in SE Wisconsin. He, Karen, the kids and their new doggie Kinzie (an adorable Golden Retriever) live in New Berlin. As a member of the TBC Joe is excited to work for the benefit of the dancers, the families, and the community. “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together”. Let’s do this together!
Therese Plunkett-O'Brien
Therese Plunkett-O’Brien has been a Trinity parent for over 10 years. She has been a TBC board member for 4 years. She is the proud mom of two trinity dancers, Gabby and Maddie. Her Trinity experience started at the Lakeview location when Gabby was 4 years old and her little sister Maddie soon followed in her big sister's footsteps. The girls currently dance at the IAHC. The Trinity friendships formed over the years are those that will last a lifetime. Outside of being a Trinity mom she works as an assistant principal. She has always felt very honored to be given the opportunity to work with and support young people. As a TBC board member her goal is to support the Trinity Irish dancers and their families.
Lauren Smith
Lauren Smith is dedicated to all things that elevate children to reach their full potential. She has an undergraduate degree in Secondary Education from DePaul University and a Master's of Mathematics. She taught all levels of mathematics for 10 years at Oak Park and River Forest High School. She currently runs her own standardized test prep and mathematics tutoring business. Lauren resides in Western Springs with her husband, Joe Smith. He teaches the MOT program for the Academy and was a member of the TIDC. Their daughters Clara (10) and Tessa (7) are both proud Trinity dancers in the Province Program. Lauren brings a unique perspective to the board as she has been part of Trinity’s past through her relationship with Joe and is invested in its future!
Megan Williams
Megan and her family have been enjoying watching Kathryn dance with Trinity since 2017. She loves watching her daughter and friends shine on stage but more so watching them gain valuable life lessons and friendships. As a teacher, she pushes her students to set goals, and seeing how Trinity helps kids make and break their goals is amazing. Being part of the Trinity family celebrates the things that are important and by joining the board, Megan hopes to help that tradition continue.