Andrew Yonke

Chief Executive Officer

Well I ain't always right but I've never been wrong, and it seldom turns out the way it does in a song. Once in awhile you get shown the light, in the strangest of places if you look at it right!

Favorite Gear: 1959 Gibson ES 355 in FACTORY BLACK!!

Favorite Concert: 2017 Farm Aid
- Neil Young's set with Promise of
the Real as his band. INSANE.

Jonathan Urban

Store Manager

Jonathan is dedicated to making CME one of the coolest places to work and your best local music store no matter where you live. On the weekends you might catch Jonathan blowing out his eardrums through a series of old Marshalls with his local tribute band. He is an avid AC/DC, Gibson SG, and Mini Cooper fanatic, so be sure to not mention any of these things to him.

Favorite Gear: 1965 Gibson SG

Favorite Concert: AC/DC at Wrigley Field 2015

Jason Freeman

Phil Hunger

Customer Experience Lead

 A hoarder of gear and records, Phil is often found riding motorcycles, baking pastries, and  playing psych rock and ambient electronic music.

Favorite Gear: Korg Monopoly, Vox Royal guardsman, 2002 MIM Strat, Jordan bosstone fuzz

Favorite Concert: Damo Suzuki, Empty Bottle 2007

Mario Rodriguez

Guitar Sales Specialist

Hailing from the Chicago land area, this singer/songwriter and headbanger began playing guitar at the age of 12 after his Uncle exposed him to thrash metal and NWOBHM. Mario's main areas of expertise are most genres of hard rock/heavy metal, high gain amps, and effect pedals. You can catch Mario fronting his folk band or standing too close to loud amps for his own good. 

Favorite Gear: Dunwich DA120, Strymon Timeline, Friedman Butterslax, 1975 Les Paul Custom

Favorite Concert: Gigantour 2008: Megadeth, In Flames, Children of Bodom, High on Fire

Eric Rejzer

Bass & Guitar Sales Specialist

Born and raised in Chicago, Eric has spent most of his life with drums, guitars, and in a mixed martial arts gym. He is a Street Fighter and Marvel vs Capcom enthusiast, and a brother to all. Forever remorseful of selling: DW Collectors 3pc (10x8, 14x11, 20x18) natural with gold hardware 1999.

Favorite Gear: My Mayones Duvell Black Limba 7-String

Favorite Concert: Ozzfest 2004 and An Evening w/ Opeth March 2nd 2006

Daniel Escauriza

Vintage Inventory &
Purchasing Manager

As the manager and head buyer of the vintage and used inventory here at CME, Daniel tells people all the time that he has the best job on planet Earth. He enjoys working closely with his fantastic team as they acquire inventory and obsess over curating the best vintage collection possible, while sharing enjoyable experiences through transparent transactions with clients.

Favorite Gear: Gibson L-00 from 1932 and Carstens Black Flag

Favorite Concert: Gillian Welch and David Rawlings at the Vic in Chicago (2011)

Mike Larsen

Used & Vintage Buyer

Born & raised on Chicago's Northside, Mike is a lifelong bassist & vintage gear fanatic. Specializing in Fender & Gibson history, he's also a connoisseur of the rare & obscure. When he's not scouring the earth for the the coolest vintage gear, you can probably find him watching the Hawk's game, playing bass in local alt-rock band, LFN, or hanging out with his english bulldog.

Favorite Gear: 61 Stack Knob Jazz Bass

Favorite Concert: Fearless Flyers at Concord Music Hall (2018)

Joseph Soldati

Customer Service Team Lead

Favorite Gear: Fender Jazz Bass & that new pedal that does the thing.

Favorite Concert: Pat Metheny Unity Band, 2012

Miles Eddy

Customer Service

Meat and potatoes bassist, session player, and folk instrument enthusiast with a love of makin' records. Miles seems pretty smart until you get to know him. 

Favorite Gear: When I finally have enough dough for a custom Serek Midwestern, I'll let you know what's all on it! 

Favorite Concert: Weird Al Yankovic

Bob Mullaney

Outbound Manager

Grown from spores that fell from space, Bob has lived in Chicago all his life and wouldn't want to live anywhere else. He received a bass from his Gram-Diddy (grandma) for his 20th birthday and it was all over from there. "I love all music!"

Favorite Gear: Darkglass microtubes 900

Favorite Concert: Summer Slaughter 2009 or The Black Crows and Tom Petty

Aaron 'A.C.' Coleman

Operations Specialist

Aaron is a Michigan transplant. He loves the Detroit Red Wings and is a Prince super fan.

Favorite Gear: Gretsch drums, Dream Cymbals, Fender basses, Technics 1200

Favorite Concert: The Specials on Warped Tour '98

Jimmy Jawicki

Shipping + Receiving

Born into a family of musicians and producers, music and its creation has always been a part of Jim's life. Since 2011 he has been an intricate part of the growth of CME and he is 100% dedicated to getting you the right gear, faster than anyone else in the business.

Favorite Gear: Blue Hofner Shorty

Favorite Concert: 1st Concert - Evanescence

Anthony Krecioch

Inbound Manager

Warehouse Lead

Bill is a professional musician and educator in the greater Chicagoland area. He received a Bachelors in Music from Elmhurst College and a masters from DePaul University. Primarily a guitarist, Bill enjoys performing all styles of music and geeking out about music theory and harmony. 

Favorite Gear: Gibson L-4 CES, natural finish.

Andrew (Dodd) Smith

Assistant Outbound Manager

Dodd is a lover of music- from Black Metal to R&B, and everything in between! He is a  proud dog dad to his standard poodle, Boogeyman.

Favorite Gear: His 2003 graffiti yellow Tom Delonge Fender Stratocaster

Favorite Concert:  Any of the many times seeing Rancid with his Dad

Dave Johnson

Warehouse Shipping + Receiving

I'm Dave. I grew up in the south suburbs of Chicago. I play bass in Two Moms. I live in Wicker Park with my partner Sarah, and my step-dog Thor. I love music, comedy, and French onion soup.

Favorite Gear: Fender Player Jazz Bass in 3-tone Sunburst

Favorite Concert:  Weird Al at Vic Theater in 2018. Incomparable.

Mike Vinopal

Outbound Lead

Chicago native. Music Machine. Bandleader of Local Motive, purveyors of "funk for all." Lead guitar player in female-fronted band, badcandy. Former CPS special education teacher. Mental health advocate. Dachshund dad to Professor Minerva McGonagall. Cat dad to Luna Lovegood & Gandalf the Grey. 

Favorite Gear: My tattered stratocaster, my workhorse, a Japanese made Fender with the controversial Foto Flame finish from the early 90s.

Favorite Concert:  Either Medeski, Scofield, Martin, & Wood at a smaller club in Indianapolis called The Vogue in 2007 or Childish Gambino at Lollapalooza in 2019.

Colin Thomas

Warehouse Shipping + Receiving

Chicago native. Bass player first, pesky noise maker second. 

Favorite Gear: All fuzz, all the time. 

Favorite Concert:  Toss up between Dillinger Four and Jawbreaker. 

Ty Anderson

Warehouse Shipping + Receiving

Noah Smith

Warehouse Shipping + Receiving

Professional moron. Amateur life force

Favorite Gear: Spaceman Apollo VII

Favorite Concert:  Kenny Hoopla at Schuba’s Tavern

Josh Pierce

Warehouse Shipping + Receiving

Chicago born and raised. Music maker and record collector. Support local music!

Favorite Gear: Dunable Gnarwhal

Favorite Concert:  Within the past 5 years it has to be the REZN/Lume show at the Empty Bottle in 2019

Tom Galvin

Operations & Integration Specialist, Tech Wizard

Born and raised on Chicago's South Side, Tom was snuck into bars and pubs by his parents on school nights to play covers since the age of 14. While his main instrument is guitar, he will try to play anything he can get his hands on. When he is not optimizing business processes, you can find him backpacking or fishing in the north woods or wherever he can get off the grid.

Favorite Gear: Tom does not play favorites.

Favorite Concert: Neil Young - Chicago Theatre 2008

Laurel Scott

Inventory Specialist

Disco made me do it.

Favorite Gear: 1969 Gibson SG Standard Walnut

Favorite Concert: Christian McBride's New Jawn (2018)

Agata Potyra

Maintenance

"Hey Buddy..."

Favorite Gear: Gibson SG

Favorite Concert: Bon Jovi or Rolling Stones

Alec Johnson

Lead Guitar Technician

Alec was raised on a small farm in Iowa. He studied anthropology in college, but followed his love of music and lutherie to Chicago. Now he spends his days finding the perfect combination of neck relief, string action, and intonation that makes a guitar feel and sound phenomenal.

Favorite Gear: His own one-of-a-kind creations

Favorite Concert: Daddy-O and the Demolition Band at the Yacht Club in Iowa City

Phil Glodek

Guitar Technician

"I fix broke stuff."

Favorite Gear: Fender J Bass

Favorite Concert: Radiohead, Lolla ‘08

Dustin Martin

Guitar Technician

An Illinois native and University of Illinois alum, Dustin began working on guitars from a lifelong interest in taking things apart and putting them back together. He developed his tech skills while an apprentice at Specimen Products in Chicago, and now makes sure every guitar he touches at CME plays and sounds the best it can. He's also big on cats and can absolutely crush some Simpsons trivia.

Favorite Gear: Skreddy Lunar Module fuzz

Favorite Concert: Glen Hansard at Millenium Park in 2014

Brody Vukobratoich

Guitar Technician

Brody was born and raised in Naples, FL and loves to work on guitars.

Favorite Gear: My 2016 Gibson Flying V

Favorite Concert: Metallica, Orlando 2017

Alec Moore

Guitar Technian

From Minneapolis,  Alec likes playing tasty tunes and hanging out with his dog.

Favorite Gear: my 1974 Fender Twin Reverb Silverface amp

Favorite Concert: Ty Segall and The Muggers at First Avenue in Minneapolis. 2016

Ryan Smith

Guitar Technician

"Distort everything."

Favorite Gear: Fuzz

Blake Kobiska

Guitar Technician

Blake was raised in Florida and started playing guitar when he found his dad’s copy of the Back In Black record at 11. He followed music and guitar to Chicago at 20, then to Seattle, and found his way back. He loves old Marshalls, coffee, and working on amps and guitars. Blake plays guitar in his local AC/DC cover band on the weekends. He attended Galloup School and is incredibly proud to be part of the CME team.

Favorite Gear: 1962 Gretsch Duo Jet

Favorite Concert: AC/DC in Orlando 2009 

Brian Fong

Guitar Setup & Quality Control Tech

Matthew Bactat

Guitar Processing

Peter Isaac

Guitar Setup & QC Technician

Country/Blues enthusiast with a love for guitars! 

Favorite Gear: Gibson Hummingbird

Favorite Concert: The Rolling Stones @ Desert Trip fest 2016 

Daniel Johnson

Guitar Setup & Quality Control Tech

Chris Rohner

Guitar Setup & Quality Control Tech

I live to get home and play my guitar. Being able to work on some of the best in Chicago is always a treat. 

Favorite Gear: Jerry Garcia's Wolf guitar, or Alligator strat that was his first custom guitar.

Favorite Concert: Grateful Dead Fare thee well concert at Soldier Field in 2016 with Trey Anastasio. It was a magical night.

Gavin Chavez

Guitar Setup & Quality Control Technician

Olivia Volpendesta

Guitar Setup & Quality Control Technician

Daniel Bordonaro

Director of New Product

Dan is a songwriter who has been in music retail virtually uninterrupted since the ripe age of fifteen! He is an uncompromising fan of the Buffalo Bills and all of his favorite music is Canadian.

Favorite Gear: Guild D-55 Antique Burst (mine is a New Hartford-era)

Favorite Concert: Alexisonfire at S.C.E.N.E. Fest 2006 in St Catharines, ON

Gavin Wahl-Stephens

Product Manager

Raised in Portland, Oregon, Gavin  moved to Chicago in 2018. Aside from the obvious love of guitars and music, he enjoys comedy, baseball, and family.

Favorite Gear: 1972 Fender Silverface Dual Showman Reverb

Favorite Concert: July 27, 2013 Phish at the Gorge Amphitheater. Very tight that night. Super funky Sneakin' Sally and a 2001 jam that I believe eventually became the basis for Martian Monster. JJ Cale passed away that day and I was really sad about it, so the After Midnight cover was perfect.

Mike Hussa

Drum & Percussion Product Manager

Growing up just outside of Chicago, Mike has always known that he wanted a career involving drums. Now, between working for the Chicago Drum Exchange, playing drums for Blue Man Group Chicago and doing various freelance gigs, he is completely dedicated to working in the field that he is most passionate about.

Favorite Gear: 5.5x14" Ayotte Keplinger Snare

Favorite Concert: A Tribe Called Quest at Pitchfork

Saul Reyes

Product Opportunity Specialist

Saul was a dog in at least one past life.

Favorite Gear: Sony A6000

Favorite Concert: Dimmu Borgir at the Vic or Infected Mushroom at the HOB

Joe Sherman

Product Category Manager

Joe is an Indiana man who enjoys a warm vintage synth, a cool breeze, a good slow jam, and an occasional glass of wine. 

Favorite Gear: Sequential Prophet-10

Favorite Concert: Tame Impala at Red Rocks

Damon Piatt

New Product Coordinator

Daniel Albert

Product Manager, Guitars & Accessories

Cat enthusiast. Dog petting aficionado.

Favorite Gear: 1963 Jazzmaster

Favorite Concert: Fleet Foxes at The Chicago Theater, 2017

Chris Regalado

Product Photographer Manager

Jose Escobedo

Brand & Marketing Manager

Growing up in the South Side of Chicago, you know his team is the White Sox! Jose doesn't have a favorite genre of music but if he had to pick, it would be anything loud, You can usually find him drinking coffee. That's him in a nutshell, any questions?

Favorite Gear:  Custom 1977 Ibanez 2350

Favorite Concert: Run The Jewels @ Riot Fest 2021

Zach Moore

Digital Marketing Manager

"More Donuts..." 

Favorite Gear: A&F Drum Co. 

Favorite Concert: The Felix Culpa, O'Brother, & The Dear Hunter at the House Cafe in DeKalb, IL circa 2011.

John Davis

Marketing Coordinator

Andrew Tricaso

Videographer

Originally from Akron, Ohio, Drew moved to Chicago in 2014 to attend Columbia College Chicago and study film. He likes making ambient music, art and hanging out in the woods.

Favorite Gear: Moog One. Someday...

Favorite Concert: Aaron Carter's House Party Tour 2001

John Scott

Videographer

Nathaniel Murphy

Product & Brand Video Specialist

Deb Jawicki

Director of Finance

Dave Piscotti

Accounting Operations Manager

Ben Ringhofer

HR Generalist

Ben, a guitar player of nearly 20 years, found his way to Chicago from Minneapolis in 2018. You can find him gigging throughout Chicago, self proclaimed as "your dad's favorite guitarist." When he's not playing music he's quoting The Simpsons, waiting for the Minnesota Vikings to win a Super Bowl, and asking new CME employees if they could see any band or artist, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

Favorite Gear: 1959 Fender Stratocaster

Favorite Concert: Rage Against the Machine - Minneapolis, MN - September, 2008

James Thomas

Accounting Specialist

Adam Hines

Listings Manager

Felix d'Hermillon

E-Commerce Listing Coordinator

Ryder Baumann

E-Commerce Programmer