About Us

WXRJ-LP 94.9 FM is wholly owned and operated by the Black Business Alliance, Inc. (BBA).

The BBA is a not-for-profit and tax-exempt organization. It was started in 1997 as a means to provide minority business owners with education on topics important to running a successful business. With the addition of the radio frequency in 2008, our focus on Education was expanded to include Health and Financial Literacy.

Our goal is to provide thought provoking topics and exciting music that will be of interest to the entire listening area, with particular focus on those under-served communities within Bloomington/Normal.

The following volunteer staff members are key to helping the BBA vision be realized:

General Manager: Denise Moore

Denise Moore is a corporate executive, successful businesswoman, event planner, civic leader, and master gardener. For more than a decade, Denise has made a positive impact on the Peoria and Twin Cities communities in a number of areas. This insurance professional for State Farm Insurance has been a pioneer and history maker in and out of the corporate arena. Among her numerous accomplishments, she founded, co-owned and operated downstate Illinois’ largest African American Gift Shop, Moore Cultural Expressions. A member of Peoria’s Chamber of Commerce, she opened and operated Moore Art on Water on Peoria’s riverfront. She has also hosted a number of Woman To Woman business seminars and workshops in Peoria. Denise established The Griot Newsletter, an outgrowth of Bloomington-Normal’s Black Business Alliance, which she co-founded. Denise is a board member of the Urban League’s Bloomington chapter and has held the honor of Outstanding President of the Year for Toastmaster’s International District 54.

While acting and directing in community theatre productions in Bloomington, Denise met her husband, NBC-TV Journalist and Performing Artist Garry Moore.

“I see WXRJ-94.9FM as a great opportunity for our community to share information, celebrate our rich musical heritage, and promote the values that will help us all succeed.”

--Denise Moore, 2006
General Manager - WXRJ-94.9FM

Operations Manager: Aaron Sullivan

Aaron attended the University of Chicago Circle Campus and Western Illinois University, where he majored in Sociology and Minored in Broadcasting.

Aaron has worked in the television and radio broadcasting market for over 25 years. He has worked at WYZZ-TV and in radio at, WVON, WIUM, WHEN, and WBNQ-WJBC. He created a Saturday Evening countdown show which he hosted for two years, and created a Saturday night club show that were both number one in there respective time slot for three years. Aaron C. Sullivan has done promotions and marketing for radio stations in the past, along with directing and running a marketing audio/video and communications business of his own for almost 30. He has created and managed budgets, and has directed workers in a number of situations. Aaron C. Sullivan has programmed shows and a radio station, and has experience working with music scheduling and trafficking systems.

Aaron C. Sullivan is currently working in the capacity of Industrial Technology Engineer for IT-Works Corp.LLC.

Educational Programming: Faye Freeman-Smith

Faye is a college administrator, licensed professional counselor, business owner and very active civic leader. She has a Master degree in Community Mental Health Administration and Counseling and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She has served the Bloomington/ Normal Community professionally and as a volunteer for more than 17 years. She is a founder of the Black Business Alliance on has served on the Boards of The Bloomington Normal Boys and Girls Club; McLean County Extension Council; and the Unity Center. For three years in a row she has lead the Twin City’s only teen entrepreneurs’ camp. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Incorporated and The Central Illinois Chapter of the Links Incorporated.

Faye has a husband who is employed at Mitsubishi Motors of America and two adult children, one an executive chef at Caterpillar in Peoria and the other and graduate student in material science engineering.
When applying for the FCC license for WXRJ Radio my first thought was the word “Community”. WXRJ is the voice of the community. I invite you to become a part of Bloomington/Normal’s new community on the air. --Faye Freeman-Smith, 2007

Music Programming and IT department: Gil Chinnery

Gil Chinnery has been in Bloomington-Normal since 1985. Gil always loved music, growing up in a musical family, with several brothers and a father who has played an instrument or sang in the choir. After graduating high school, learned the art of DJing, which he continues to this day. When DJing, he goes by the name Dr. Gilly, PHM (Phenomenal Hit Master). Dr. Gilly will use his talents in upcoming "Friday Night" and "Saturday Night" "house" parties.

Gil has a BS in Computer Science from Bradley University in Peoria, IL, and works for State Farm Insurance in the Systems Department. He also uses skills in software development at WXRJ Radio, in the IT Department.

WXRJ is a well needed medium in the Bloomington-Normal community, and we, the community, need to do everything we can to keep it around. Your support and generosity are appreciated.

Communications: Jeff Woodard