Hello! My name is Troy Adams, and I'm the Owner of Carolina DJ Professionals. We're here to HELP YOU create unforgettable lifetime memories through your wedding or event. You deserve not just that, but also a planning process that's high on fun and low on stress. We're ranked Top-10 in the nation for our reviews because we have great people who invest in you. We use our experience to guide you & make YOUR event what YOU want it to be. Through relationships, experience & prep (REP), we'll make the process easy & the event amazing. That's why our mantra is Stress Less, Celebrate More.

I DJed my first wedding 25+ years ago at age 20. Now I'm blessed to be recognized as one of the 500 Most Influential Event Pros in the US, and one of only 4 DJs that educate the industry for WeddingWire & The Knot. I'm always learning and seeking to bring the best for our clients, as is my amazing team, who you can read more about below. And oh yes, I still love to get out and DJ/MC events myself!

In my words - why I love what we do & our team
 

Aaron Kinne
Lead DJ

Aaron is one of the most experienced DJs on our team. He's actually owned two of his own DJ businesses and ran them very successfully. So when Aaron came to us and said he didn't want to run a business anymore, he just wanted to DJ, we were blown away with excitement. See, when we first started, he was one of the guys we looked at and said, "he does incredible work." He's a true all-around pro. He literally lives this industry nearly 24-7, as his wife is also a very successful wedding photographer. So he really knows how to execute an event like a pro. 

Aaron is the perfect balance of being both engaging, and a great listener. He's full of character, competence, experience & humility. And he'll go the extra mile to help. We're lucky to have him on our team and know he'll make a great addition to your wedding or event.
 

In his words - Meet Aaron

Amaya Kinch
Lead DJ

Amaya is our internationally experienced DJ. While a student at Appalachian State, Amaya studied abroad in Australia. While there, she worked with a local DJ company and successfully executed a number of weddings! Fittingly, one of her life goals is to travel and DJ internationally. She loves what she does, and it shows. Amaya is full of life, energy, and joy. That carries over to the people she's around. It's hard to be in a bad mood around Amaya, as she brings us all up. She's a fan of pretty much all music. From Indie to pop, 70s and 80s to current, she will get down...and help you get down...to anything. Put her passion, personality, experience, and drive together, and we know she'll help make your event a memorable and successful one. 

In her words - Meet Amaya

Amelia Wheeler
Lead DJ

Amelia is a ray of sunshine. When she walks in a room, she lights it up with her smile. Her personality is infectious and you can't help but be lifted up by her energy and attitude. And as you can imagine, those are good traits as a DJ! Another good trait? The fact she's been in the hospitality industry for over 15 years. She is in this to serve others and bring them joy. It's her passion for people that makes her a great DJ. Her organization, dedication and event experience are all part of the package, but that love of people fuels everything. She is committed to her clients and giving them a wedding or event they will remember and talk about for years. We know she'll help make your wedding or event full of joy also.

In her words - Meet Amelia

Clark Frazier
Lead DJ

After owning and operating his own DJ business for years, Clark reached out to us about joining our team. In his words, "I just want to focus on DJing and taking care of my clients, instead of having to run a business also." It's a sentiment that's been echoed by several other DJs on our team. But few others have Clark's experience as a DJ AND insight as a business owner. That makes him even better at what he does. What makes him really great though is his personality, integrity, character, care for his clients, pursuit of continuous improvement, and his attention to detail. Maybe it's his military background, his insight as a business owner, his hard-working humble attitude, or a little bit of everything, but one thing we know is Clark will take care of you and make your wedding or event easy, fun, and memorable.

Dalton Ramsey
Lead DJ

Dalton came to us with all the intangibles we look for. He'd been running his own successful business as a realtor, but wanted to pursue a passion for DJing. He loves a good book on growth and mindset, and he lists everyone from Zedd to ABBA, Salt-n-Pepa to Toto as his favorite artists. That variety of course comes in handy at events! At Dalton's first wedding with CDJP, he impressed the heck out of us with his attention to detail, work ethic, and willingness to help. We know he'll bring that same professionalism & service to your wedding or event to help deliver the day you want. An "old soul" in a sense, Dalton's favorite song is one he said he heard the most growing up: Don't Stop Believing by Journey. And yes, he's named after the iconic Patric Swayze character in Road House! And like that Dalton, this Dalton will also make sure no one gets in the way of you having an incredible time!

David Miller
Senior DJ & Team Mgr

It takes a special kind of person to excel in this industry. A person who loves people, teamwork, crazy schedules, challenges, music, technology, learning, and all things weddings and events. David is that person. Not only did David have tremendous experience already when he joined our team, but his wife is also a wedding planner! He has a full understanding of everything it takes to execute a great wedding or event. Which is part of what makes him one of our most requested DJs. David values relationships, prepares extensively, and pursues learning. He demonstrates both character and competence, puts people first, and translates experience to execution excellence. We're lucky to have him on our team, and we know he'll help make your event a success. 

In his words - Meet David

Dominic Camarco
Lead DJ

When we first spoke to Dominic, aka Doc, he was the youngest person on our team. Admittedly a few staff were hesitant if he could handle the pressure because of that. Wow, were they wrong. Dominic stood in front of 5 managers and the owner and nailed every question thrown at him. And he did it with grace and professionalism well beyond his years. Then he went and took it up another level once we started putting him in front of crowds. 

His music knowledge is as varied as his skills. He's polished, polite, outing, energizing & driven. He's genuine in his desire to make a difference and create unforgettable experiences for clients through events. We're extremely fortunate to have him as part of our team, and we know he'll help make your event a huge success.

In his words - Meet Dominic

Fredric Underwood
Lead DJ

Fredric, who also goes by "FU," was referred to us by another one of our DJs, James Hickey. Roomates back in college, James told us we needed to hire FU. And he was right! From the very first interview, Fredric blew us away with his professionalism, insight, and attention to detail. FU had been DJing in Pittsburgh, but moved to Charlotte for a better quality of life for his family and education for his daughter. As you can guess, he's a dedicated family man. Fredrick is also an award-winning poet. He's thoughtful with his words, passionate about his craft, and absolutely dedicated to sharing your story. We know FU will help make your wedding or event full of stories you and your guests remember for years.

In his words - Meet Fredric 

George White
Senior DJ

George White was born with headphones on. His first baby crib was actually an old equipment case. And at the age of 3 he started his wedding career when he stole the hearts of hundreds with his Footloose performance of "Let's Hear it for the Boy" on a reception dance floor. Fast Forward 30 years & George is one of our veteran DJs. What makes George strong as a DJ is his ability to listen to your ideas and bring them to life. He's a wizard on the board. I even had another DJ company call me once to ask who DJed a certain wedding because the photographer was still talking about how the DJ did for weeks after. George was that DJ. He's easy to talk to, fun, great with communication and of high character. We know he'll help make your event a success. 

In his words - Meet George

Heather Rickelman
Business Development Director

Heather was part of the CDJP family...long before she was officially part of the CDJP family! For many years, Heather owned and operated a successful photography company, Studio by Heather Marie. We were fortunate to work with her on many events through the years, and she was always one of our preferred vendors. So when we decided to look for a BDD, she was the first call we made. As a result of Covid, Heather had taken a step back from shooting events to focus on raising her two young kids. But she was ready to get back into the wedding & event industry, and we are so grateful for that! She is a true pro, one heckuva fun person to be around, extremely knowledgeable, and a go-getter for us AND our partners. She knows the value of building strong vendor relationships in order to create great experiences and more business for everyone. We can't wait for you to meet her!

Herb Drayton
Senior DJ

A 2x DJ-of-the-Year winner within ur team, Herb Drayton is not only a talented DJ, but also a longtime friend of owner Troy Adams. The first time they met, Troy was umpiring his first softball game and called Herb out on (bad) strikes. And that was when Troy first learned of Herb's great patience & personality. A father of two, there is nothing Herb can't handle. He actually went to Michigan to play QB...while Tom Brady was there. We're not trying to name-drop (yes, we are), bur rather to point out he's been in big events. But to him, NO event is bigger than yours. He genuinely wants the best for his clients & goes above and beyond to help them. He's patient, personable, engaging & dedicated. And he'll make sure everything is fun, stress-free & a huge success. 

In his words - Herb Dayton

Ian Parker
Lead DJ

After playing live music, running restaurants, and dabbling in DJing...Ian decided it was time to pursue live entertainment for a living. Covid may have added to the decision by derailing the restaurant business for a period of time, but that turned out to be a good thing, as Ian excels as a DJ. He's a great listener and extremely prepared. He really gets to know his couples, then puts in the extra time to truly personalize their event. As you may guess from his days running a restaurant, he's also able to think on his feet and improvise if needed also. But his attention to detail and ability to connect with couples means he has a plan. And knowing his personal pursuit of perfection, Ian's gonna make sure the client's plan becomes a reality. We know he'll serve up the wedding or event you've always wanted. 

In his words - Meet Ian

James Hickey
Lead DJ

James has it all. Oftentimes when we first meet someone who wants to be a DJ, we see areas we'll have to work on to mold them into the pro we want them to be. But James had it all from the start. His motivation, music knowledge, technical savvy, passion, communication, organization - I mean you name it, he demonstrated it. He's tall, and so are his goals. Not only does he love DJing, but he also runs his own real estate investment company. He enjoys working with kids, lists both Drake and Queen as his favorite artists, and won't pass up watching The Lion King or Harry Potter. He loves people, loves learning, and takes great joy in helping people laugh and celebrate. We know James is going to help make your event a huge success!  

In his words - Meet James

Jennifer Simmons
Director of Sales

Jennifer is always wearing a smile, and she always makes others smile. Which is one reason she's so darn good at her job as our Director of Sales. She puts other people first and it shows. Let me also tell you another reason why she's great at what she does - she's organized, fun, dedicated, loyal, and is always looking to improve. She's worked in every aspect of this industry, from catering to venue sales and management with incredible organizations like Marriott and the Omni. She's a wealth of information, yet she remains humble and hungry. She's always looking to improve, and she's always looking to help others. We know she'll be able to find ways to help you also!

In her words - Meet Jennifer

Jill Nigro
Senior DJ & Team Mgr

Jill's got that feel-good vibe you just want to be around. That energy, attitude & smile. Before you know it at an event, she’s made 20 new friends and fans. And she absolutely CRUSHES it on the decks. Jill will have your Mom, best-friend, grandma, boss, the dude-who-doesn’t-normally-dance, and anyone else you know jumping up and down. Which is also what she’ll be doing herself.

Beyond her DJ skills, she also has all the character, competence & communication of a seasoned pro, with a work ethic to match. DJ Jillybeatz will absolutely help make your event memorable and successful. As she’d say, Let’s Goooo!

In her words - Meet Jill

Jonathan Steele
Lead DJ
 

Jonathan is a blast. I mean, one of the first times we met him he had on the same pink leotard that Lizzo wears in the video for "Juice." That's another story, though. Not only is Jonathan an incredible DJ and human being, but he started out as a client when he and his now wife hired us to do his own wedding. He wife helps run a venue, so yeah, he's pretty much as balanced and informed about the wedding industry as one can be. Jonathan is the type of guy you always want to be around. He's easy to get along with, always smiling, a great listener, and a driven "doer." He has high expectations for himself, and always wants to exceed the expectations of his clients. He's been a stand-out DJ and person from the day we met him, and we know he'll help make you and your day stand out also. 

In his words - Meet Jonathan

Jeff Smith
Senior DJ & Director of Operations

Jeff is one of the most polite people we've ever met. Maybe it's from his military background. Maybe it's how he was raised. Maybe it's his character forged from life experiences. Whatever it's from, it's good. Like that song-that-just-makes-you-happy-and-wanna-dance-good. Jeff's communication is as positive as his personality. He's on-time, detailed and considerate. He genuinely wants to make things perfect for his clients. He seeks first to understand others and then delivers what's needed. He's patient, dedicated & a great listener. But when you need him to take charge, he excels at that also. We trust him to run the ship around here and consider ourselves blessed to have him leading our team. We know he'll make your event a success. Just don't ask him to do his Axl Rose dance. 

In his words - Meet Jeff

Kailee Novak
Photo Booth Coordinator

Kailee is the perfect photo booth coordinator and someone we're so lucky to have on our team. She's personable & professional, organized & energetic, dependable & diligent. When she was applying to work with us, she was the one driving the conversation, confirming dates, keeping us accountable, and showing how much she wanted the position. And then she crushed every interview situation we threw at her!

Originally from New England, Kailee graduated from the University of South Carolina with a degree in Journalism & Mass Communications. She's already amassed quite a resume as a Talent Management Supervisor, and prior to that, as a hospitality professional. We know she's going to make weddings & events even more fun with her running our booths!

Karenski Brown
Senior DJ

Karenski is our music connoisseur. In addition to his DJ skills, he's also a music teacher and performer. If he's not DJing, you'll probably find him behind a keyboard performing at several spots around town. He studied Music Performance in college and was in the Marching Band. You should see him in that outfit! He knows how to dress, but he also knows his music, his way around equipment, and how to lead an event. And as a teacher, you can bet he's also organized. So when trying to decide who to trust your big day to, you can feel confident Karenski will take great care of you. He's personable, humble, easy-going and loves working with people to make such an important day a memorable, fun, successful one. 

In his words - meet Karenski

Kyle Law
Lead DJ

You know when you've found "The One?" That moment when you found the person you wanted to marry, that car you've been dreaming of, or your dream house? Well, that's how we felt when we found Kyle. When we first met Kyle, he had been DJing on his own for years. Crazy enough, he even had a storage unit next to one of ours. Upon talking to him, it was clear he shared all the same beliefs we do as a company. His dedication to his clients was clear, as was his knowledge, communication, organization & character. And in just his 2nd month after joining our team, he was voted DJ of the month and was our most-booked DJ that month. The dude is dedicated, down-to-earth, talented as heck, a true professional, and full of integrity. We know he's going to take us places, and we know he's going to take your wedding or event to new heights as well. 

Maile McGarvie
Photo Booth Coordinator & Trivia/Bingo host

Maile seemingly has no fear, because she keeps taking on new challenges and crushing them. Originally from the California, Maile made the big move from Las Vegas to Asheville in 2023. While working as a model, Maile found a love for music and live events. So when she made the cross-country move, she reached out to us about joining our team. And within months, she was running trivias, music bingos, and photo booths at events. Like we said, she has no fear. 

She loves the outdoors, hiking, rock-climbing, and she makes a mean enchilada. Her focus is on building community, and that's exactly what she helps do when leading events with us. We know you're event is going to be a great success with Maile leading the way. 

Michael Curry

Operations Mgr & DJ

Michael always goes above and beyond. He shows up early, stays late, asks all the right questions, puts in extra time, and does so in every situation and with every person. On top of that, he's got the perfect balance of drive and intelligence. Meaning, he's already smart as heck, but he wants to keep improving. Shortly after joining us, we gave Michael the opportunity to take over our Photo Booth division. It was growing, and it needed leadership. He dove in headfirst, and the dividends were immediate. In typical Michael fashion, he ended up running the first event he was supposed to "shadow" on. So when it comes to Photo Booths and the unforgettable moments & memories you want in life and on paper, he'll help capture it. 

In his words - Meet Michael

Quinn Russell

Senior DJ

When we first met Quinn, we were immediately impressed. She nailed every hard question we gave her on music, mixing, weddings, events, you name it. And she's in it for the right reason: people. She wants to make a positive impact on people, help them celebrate life's biggest days/events, and do so through music & DJing. Quinn is also an accomplished singer, dancer & actor. She grew up on the beaches of NC, got her start as a karaoke DJ in NYC & later as an event entertainer in LA. She's even ordained! She has a zest for life, a passion for music, and her friends say "she's never met a stranger." She makes your wedding/event about you and bringing your vision come to life. And those are just some of the reasons why we know she's going to help make your wedding/event a success. 

In her words - Meet Quinn

Roy Courtney
Lead DJ
 

With one word out of Roy's mouth, you'll probably want to hire him immediately. See, Roy is from Torquay in the UK and has that sexy British accent. We actually put Roy in charge of running our meetings just so we can hear him talk for hours. Roy has much more than the inviting accent, though. He's built to help other people. Roy has spent his life working in non-profit in addition to DJing. When we first met him, we were working an event for Make-A-Wish and Roy came up and VOLUNTEERED to work some events with us! He gets paid now of course, but he'd probably still DJ for free. He's dedicated to helping you with your wedding or event. That genuine desire to help others & his community is what makes Roy such an incredible person and DJ. And one we know will help you and your event.

In his words - meet Roy

Sophia Masters
Trivia & Music Bingo DJ
 

So if you couldn't guess - Sophia loves the USC Gamecocks. That's where she's headed to school in 2023. So not only can she cover gigs in the Columbia to Charlotte area, but she's also from Charleston and started immediately working trivia and music bingo there! Sophia is a natural. She's been working on her DJ skill set for years and was able to jump right into working with us. And who knows, maybe she'll break our owner Troy's mark of DJing his first wedding in college at age 20. Whatever the case, we know Sophia will help make your event full of fun. She's diligent, energetic, and loves this industry. And oh yeah, she's survived open heart surgery. So this girl truly loves life and helping others celebrate it. "I love seeing how music unites people and how it can connect a room of strangers," she says. We know she'll help make your event a fun and successful one!

Steffan Hutchison
Photo Booth Coordinator
 

Steffan is one of the most stand-up dudes you'll meet. He loves to connect with people, listens intently, is always smiling & constantly goes above and beyond. When he's not helping couples and clients enjoy their events even more with our Photo Booths, he works in real-estate. Steffan's got that entrepreneur brain AND work ethic. He jumps in at every opportunity to both learn and help others. He loves working the booths and connecting with people. And he loves helping bring out that completely different side of people, and events, through Photo Booth engagement. We're lucky to have him on our team. We know he'll make sure you have a great time and take home lots of memories from our Photo Booths.

In his words - Meet Steffan

Todd Long
Lead DJ
 

Todd's been a successful DJ in Pennsylvania for nearly two decades. But like so many of the clients we work with ... Todd himself fell in love, and he moved to Charlotte to be with his girl. So we have her to thank for him joining our team! Todd is the ultimate pro. It's not that he's "been there, done that," but rather that he never takes anything for granted, is always looking for ways to improve, and is cool under pressure. He doesn't get rattled, and his personality is reassuring and comforting. He's both confident & humble, thoughtful & detailed, professional & personal. Todd started out working for a well-respected DJ company in PA for years, then branched out to run his own business. So he has the work ethic & leadership of a business owner, but also the team mindset as well. We're grateful to have him on our team, and we know he'll help make your wedding or event a success!

Will Soulier
Senior DJ & Team Mgr

Will makes all of us, and his clients, smile and laugh. A longtime professional DJ, Will loves DJing and it shows. He worked many years for another DJ company in Louisiana before moving to Charlotte. And from the very start with us, he's been all-in, going above and beyond at every turn. You can see the passion in every word and action when it comes to DJing and planning. He's the perfect DJ in that he does this for the joy of helping others. His energy, experience, work ethic, commitment, drive, professionalism and personality are completely aligned with our goal of building relationships and helping people through DJing. We know he'll help make you laugh, make your day memorable, and make it a total success.

In his words - Meet Will