Chicago True Advocates - Meet the Staff

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Meet the CTA Staff

CTA Staff Member Biographies

Bob Dillon - President

BobBob is an unofficial member of the band.


Ronni Sternfeld - Assistant to the President & Ticket Manager

RonniRonni was born on September 4th. She is a stay at home mom that enjoys working with Chicago True Advocates doing tickets or whatever else she can do to help this wonderful fan club. She has been a Chicago fan way back from their beginning and loves to see the band at different venues especially ones she has never been to before. Ronni enjoys the game of hockey and loves to go the games to watch the team she roots for play whether they win or lose, although it’s more fun when they win. She is married to her husband Kenny and has two girls, Amy and Emily and two cats.


Hal Atzingen - Scrapbook Editor

HalHal was born and raised in Holmdel, New Jersey. A drummer since the fourth grade, he had the opportunity to study with Jazz Drummer Joe Morello during his high school years. He was actually introduced to the music of Chicago by his first drum teacher and has been a devoted fan ever since. He first saw Chicago in 1975 at Madison Square Garden.

Hal moved to Naples, Florida in 1981 and lives there today with his wife Renee and two daughters, Samantha and Jenna. Hal’s happy to say that both of his daughters are big Chicago fans and that Chicago was the first concert they ever attended.

In his spare time he enjoys music, tennis and scuba diving.


Janet May - Treasurer

JanetJanet is the Club Treasurer.


Karen Thompson - Membership Coordinator

KarenKaren was born and raised in Quincy, Massachusetts and has lived in Florida since 1991. She has been a Chicago fan since she was ten-years-old. Her dream was to meet Chicago, and that dream came true at her first convention in 2000. From that day on, her life was forever changed!

In addition to being the Membership Coordinator, she teaches English for a community college in Florida.

Karen's children, Kelley and John and her husband, Dave, are all big Chicago fans as well. In her spare time, she writes, reads and spends time with her family and Cocker Spaniel dogs.


Ed Bindler - Webmaster

EdEd has been the webmaster for Chicago's Official website, Chicagotheband.com, since 2001 and has become the new webmaster for CTA.

Born in Queens, NY, he now calls Somerville, NJ home. A graduate of Ramapo College, Ed works as a PC/Network analyst at ThermoFisher Scientific in Bridgewater, NJ.

He is single, an avid hiker and Letterboxer. 25 or 6 to 4 is his favorite Chicago tune.
Ed's websites are BluArcher.com and CyberClipper Web & PC.


Marianne Jarzynski - Ticket Assistant

MarianneMarianne is Ronni's ticket assistant.


Nick Monteparo - Feature Writer

NickNick Monteparo, March 15, 1959, grew up in a small town along the New Jersey shore. In 1972, at the age of 13, he discovered the “Chicago V” album, finding himself fascinated with the tightness of the band and especially intrigued by their unique horn section. Listening to the exciting blend of rock with horns throughout each Chicago album provided the foundation for his lifelong love of music.  However, his love for brass instruments probably came from a sax-playing Uncle who came to live with him while he was still very young. This particular Uncle was a huge fan of Sinatra and big band music, and Nick was being influenced by his Uncle’s record collection at an early age without even knowing it.

While still in elementary school, Nick began writing critiques of Chicago albums and concerts, a habit which continues today. All through high school and college, he managed to have his Chicago reviews published in every school newspaper he wrote for. One review, on the release of “Chicago 13,” was even published in the newspaper of a college attended by a close friend!

Nick especially enjoys researching and writing for CTA, as he strives to accurately document the extraordinary history of Chicago. In addition to his time supporting CTA, he also writes for local Florida entertainment magazines and has interviewed noted celebrities including Dan Fogelberg, Boz Scaggs, Ted Perlman, Eric Marienthal, and Joyce Randolph (The Honeymooners). However, he is quick to note that the opportunity to have interviewed several Chicago members for CTA have been the highlights of his writing career.

Nick is a graduate of Seton Hall University and has a degree in Communications and a minor in Marketing. He is employed as a Data-Communications Specialist for a Chicago-based network connectivity manufacturer. Being on the road as a territory rep affords him ample time to enjoy his large collection of Chicago material as well as jazz, blues and other forms of great music.   Nick lives in Melbourne, Florida with his wife Anne, and two sons, Christopher and P.J.


Mike Bagan - CTA Staff Advisor

MikeMike is a CTA Staff Advisor.


Mark Hall - CTA Staff Advisor

MarkMark is a CTA Staff Advisor.