Meet Dan Hennicke, Business Support Exec
By WTJU
Dan Hennicke is a quiet WTJU powerhouse! He is a master at making community connections and keeps the WTJU underwriting program strong. Four times a year you’ll see Dan carrying in food donated to the station during fundraising marathons, ensuring our hard working volunteers have some sustenance. We are incredibly grateful to Dan and celebrate his birthday on February 9. Please wish Dan many happy returns and enjoy a Q&A with him, below.
When did you start working at WTJU?
I started working at WTJU in the summer of 2022.
Tell us a bit about your title and tasks at WTJU
I’m the station’s Business Support Account Executive. I reach out to local businesses and organizations asking them to support WTJU as underwriters. I am also very involved with the community events that WTJU takes part in. Since starting here, I’ve worked with over 125 organizations who have partnered with WTJU through events or underwriting.
What drew you to working at the station?
I’ve always been impressed by the art community in Charlottesville and have tried to be involved with it since moving here in 2001. Working at WTJU allows me to stay involved with various arts organizations, including WTJU and all the cultural activities we provide our listeners.
What do you love about WTJU?
I love learning from our DJs about musical performers that I’m not familiar with. I also love hearing newer artists playing covers of songs that I really like. I’m often surprised that I like the cover better than the original.
What do you love about your position? What are the challenges?
A lot of WTJU’s partners are organizations that host events in town. I enjoy finding out about upcoming events before they’re announced publicly.
Because WTJU is a nonprofit, the largest part of my job is asking people for money. That can be both challenging and rewarding.
Do you have any favorite experiences of outreach/working with the community at large (or within WTJU)?
I really enjoy being part of WTJU’s Puzzle Hunt which takes place this March in and around the Charlottesville Downtown Mall. Every year we have around 1,000 people come out for the event. My favorite part is seeing teams that are made up of young people, with their parents and grandparents. This cross-generational aspect is fun to watch.
What are your personal favorite songs, artists, musical genres? You are welcome to mention your favorite shows on WTJU.
Three of my favorite songs I grew up listening to in the 70s are still my favorites: Bridge Over Troubled Water (Simon & Garfunkel), Me and Bobby McGee (Janis Joplin), and Endless Love (Diana Ross & Lionel Richie). Having just listened to WTJU 2026 Folk Marathon, I’m now really enjoying music from The Mavericks, Brandi Carlile, Sierra Ferrell, and Billy Strings.
If you could get any business on the planet to be a WTJU underwriter, what might it be? It can also be businesses that are no longer (like Sneak Reviews!).
If I could go back in time, I would love to have gotten Apple Records as an underwriter. It would have been fun to have Paul, John, George, or Ringo come to the station to drop off their monthly check. Who knows, maybe they would have even played on our WTJU stage.
What are your passions outside of radio?
I enjoy running and I’m a big movie buff.
Why does WTJU matter?
WTJU matters because community matters. I believe the more connection each of us can have with those who live here, the better off all our lives are. WTJU is one of the first connection points for many people when they move to Central Virginia.
