Ron Onesti is president and founder of St. Charles, Illinois-based Onesti Entertainment Corporation, producing over 200 concerts, corporate events, casino shows and festivals annually all over the United States.
- Won three Emmys for “The Happiness Club,” a PBS special highlighting the singing, dancing and choreography by inner city kids against drugs and violence.
- Hosts PBS WTTW Channel 11’s on air pledge drives
Produces over 200 live shows a year at the historic Arcada Theatre, with major acts such as Mickey Rooney, Pat Benatar, Toto, Joan Rivers, Bret Michaels, Luke Bryan, Jerry Lewis, Martin Short and Kevin Costner.
Recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, one of three medals recognized by Congress - Writes a weekly column, “Backstage with Ron Onesti,” in the Daily Herald, one of the publications most read and shared features
- Produces. outdoor Italian festivals annually all over the United States, each drawing thousands of visitors who experience live Italian entertainment, authentic food, and Italian merchandise to celebrate Italian culture and tradition
- Serves on the Board of Directors at the St. Charles Convention and Visitors Bureau, longtime leader in the Italian American community, serving the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans (JCCIA), which serves as a congress for the Chicagoland Italian American organizations and represents the community on a local, state, national and international level, The Chicago Italian American Charitable Organization (CIACO), a charitable organization that annually gives thousands of dollars in scholarship to deserving entry level college students of any race, gender, religious affiliation or national origin, Columbus Day Queen pageant committee and annual Columbus Day Parade committee; event emcee for Anderson Animal Shelter Annual Gala and CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), fundraisers.
- Frequent contributor to television’s ME-TV, WGN, PBS, and radio’s The Mancow Show, and WGN’s Bill and Wendy show.