Category: DLTS2022

Bri Nguyen

Posted on Updated on by Kasia Zega

Meet the Dancer

Bri Nguyen

Bri was born in Denver, Colorado and grew up in Austin, Texas, moving here to the area about 8 years ago. She is currently a Marketing Specialist for Trinity Displays, but has also done work for The Women in Business Organization as an executive administrator, and co-founded the initiative “Project Pink”.  From a young age, Bri realized she loved all forms of art, but the artform she loved most was dancing. She took ballet and jazz classes growing up, but realized those weren’t really her “cup of tea.” When she got older, she transitioned to hip-hop and heels classes, but had to stop while studying in college since she didn’t have the time between juggling two jobs and taking 20+ credit hours a semester. Bri is excited to dust off her dancing shoes and make her way back onto the dancefloor to not only represent  Trinity Displays, but also to be a part of an event that is all about giving back to the community!
 
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Dan Marchetti

Posted on Updated on by Kasia Zega

Meet the Dancer

Dan Marchetti

Dan has worked in finance most of his career and is currently the CFO of Urschel Labs. As a resident and worker here in the Duneland Community, Dan cares deeply for the area and is always looking for opportunities to get involved and help. His wife Trudy, and children Daniel, Briana, Brittany, and Belle had grown up utilizing the YMCA and the programs offered. By experiencing firsthand the work the YMCA does, Dan says he is happy to support Dancing Like the Stars and the YMCA’s philanthropic initiatives. While he believes Dancing Like a Star is a great way to raise money for the Y while also having fun, it was Dan’s wife, Trudy, who initially volunteered to dance, but due to health challenges she is unable to participate and Dan has volunteered to take her place! As a board member for the Boys and Girls Club of NWI as well as the VNA Hospice of NWI, Dan understands the importance of philanthropy and donating to great causes, and hopes to help the YMCA achieve their fundraising goals this year!
 
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Jim Anton

Posted on Updated on by Kasia Zega

Meet the Dancer

Jim Anton

Jim is a huge advocate for the Duneland Family YMCA. As an Insurance Advisor who works in Chesterton, he will do just about anything to help further the Y’s cause to benefit the people in the Duneland Community, which is why he is choosing to participate in Dancing Like the Stars. He is married to his wife, Nicole, and has 3 children: Abigail, Sophia, and Patrick.  His experience with the Y includes watching his daughters graduate at the Forchetti Center, but began at the early age of 8, as a member of the Indian Guides. He is finishing his second term on the Y board and is proud to have played a small part in the hiring of Dave Kasarda, who has evolved into a tremendous asset to the Duneland community.
 
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Traci Urban

Posted on Updated on by Kasia Zega

Meet the Dancer

Traci Urban

Traci is a Reading Specialist at Jackson Elementary School who was “so wonderfully volunteered” to dance by her husband, Marc. She met Marc in high school when he was playing basketball and she was a cheerleader. Basketball still plays a huge role in their lives, as he is currently the Chesterton Boys’ Basketball Coach.  Their daughters, Grace (10) and Averie (7) are their biggest fans! Besides basketball, Traci loves to travel, spend time with family and friends, and anything true crime. Initially, Traci adamantly rejected the thought of dancing in front of a crowd of adults, saying this was WAY out of her comfort zone. However, after learning about all the ways the Duneland YMCA helps adults and children alike throughout the community, she says she realized the importance of this fundraiser and decided to step out of that comfort zone and go for it!

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Jenny Soffin

Posted on Updated on by Kasia Zega

Meet the Dancer

Jenny Soffin

Two things that sum Jenny up is her love for her family and her obsession for the outdoors! She says she is lucky to live so close to the Dunes and Lake Michigan with her husband, Eric, and children Maddie (15) and Max (13). Her love for the Duneland area inspired her to create the local apparel brand “The IN Coast” and to volunteer for Save the Dunes, a local organization dedicated to preserving, protecting, and restoring our dunes and waterways. Her family also started volunteering this year for Porter County Special Olympics to inspire and coach athletes of all ages. Jenny believes that if you love and feel proud of where you live, it creates a ripple effect that naturally inspires others along the way, building a true sense of community.  She is putting on her dancing shoes for the YMCA because she loves the Duneland Community and because she is passionate about people being happy and active! Jenny says her son loves to shoot hoops at the Y with his friends, but at the end of the day, the Y is a place for everyone to enjoy no matter what age and she is ready to shake her tail feathers for that!

Click Here to Vote or Buy a Ticket to Support Jenny

Cami Osborn

Posted on Updated on by Kasia Zega

Meet the Dancer

Cami Osborn

Cami was born and raised in Duneland Community and currently lives here with her Husband, Greg, and her two dogs, who are her world. She is a sucker for a good reality TV show, and would eat ice cream everyday if she could.  Cami loves being a part of this community, working in it as a Dental Hygienist at Precision Dental, and staying active as a member of Chesterton Fit Body Bootcamp, hiking, and being outdoors. She is a recipient of the American Heart Association Heart Saver Award, as well as the Community Service Life Saving Award. It’s her love for the community, the people living here, and shared value for healthy living that made her decide to join Dancing Like the Stars to support the Y in its efforts to continue to positively impact the area.

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Aimee Monik

Posted on Updated on by Kasia Zega

Meet the Dancer

Aimee Monik

Aimee is an Administrative Assistant by day, but by night she is leading classes here at the Duneland YMCA! She and her Husband, James, and children, James Allen, Max, and Ryder have been a part of the Duneland Family YMCA since 2009. They have all participated in many of the programs the Y has to offer as members, volunteers, and employees. She says her children have many awesome memories from their time at the Center for Early Learning, and she is honored to join Dancing Like the Stars because of the Y’s continued involvement in the community and its’ impact to her family and many others.

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Corey Hecht

Posted on Updated on by Kasia Zega

Meet the Dancer

Corey Hecht

Corey is no stranger to the stage. He has performed in a number of musicals over the years and has had some close calls on rolls with Disney Cruise and Wicked when it had its run in Chicago around 2007- and he is excited to be back and performing for this event! Corey is a Wealth Management Advisor/First Vice President at Merrill Lynch, and decided to dance after seeing the impact the Y has made in the Duneland community. Corey has two daughters, Riley and Gemma,  a wife, Shannon, and two step-daughters, Lorelai and Audrey, through whom he learned more about the organization, got to know the board members, and saw how much the kids enjoyed Y Care and camps.

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Jim Crawford

Posted on Updated on by Kasia Zega

Meet the Dancer

Jim Crawford

Jim is a lifelong resident of Chesterton, a business owner of Lakeshore Mechanical, Inc.   here in Chesterton, and a member of the YMCA for most of his life. Growing up right down the street from the Duneland YMCA means Jim spent many hours as a youth and as an adult enjoying the facility and all the programs and activities it has to offer. His long history with the Duneland Y (going back to when the YMCA was located in the old Thomas School on Indiana Ave.) Is one of the reasons Jim decided to Dance Like a Star, he believes the Duneland YMCA is a great asset to the Duneland community and truly benefits many families, children and teenagers. He doesn’t mind stepping out of his comfort zone to help this worthwhile cause.

Click Here to Vote or Buy a Ticket to Support James

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