Meet the Team Behind The Barn on North
The Barn on North is a new wedding and event venue in West Chicago, Illinois, designed to feel modern organic, with a Midwest charm. Meet the people bringing it to life, who can’t wait to welcome you.
Jeannine Fontana, Co-Owner
Jeannine Fontana is co-owner of The Barn on North, the new wedding and event venue at Sonny Acres Farm in West Chicago, Illinois. She brings 35 years of hospitality experience and a lifelong love of making guests feel welcome.
In 2019, Jeannine and her husband, Mike Fontana, joined business partners Chris and Juanita Joyaux to purchase Sonny Acres Farm, a beloved Chicagoland destination since 1883. The Barn on North is Jeannine’s passion project and the heart of the farm’s next chapter.
Jeannine led the vision for the venue alongside a talented team. Together, they shaped every detail, from the bubble glass chandeliers and stylish Ralph Lauren lighting fixtures to the warm stonework and the extraordinary feel of each room, creating a one-of-a-kind space Jeannine describes as “modern organic, with a Midwest charm.”
As opening day approaches, Jeannine can’t wait to welcome the first couples and families, and to watch new traditions begin on a farm already rich with cherished memories.
Chris Dilg, Venue Director
Chris Dilg is the Venue Director at The Barn on North, the new wedding and event venue in West Chicago, Illinois. For more than 25 years, he has helped couples, families and organizations across Chicagoland celebrate the moments that matter most, with roles at Catering by Michaels and Hospitality One. He has been present for thousands of first dances, heartfelt toasts and happy tears, and he still considers every one of them a privilege.
Above all, Chris is an exceptional planner. He listens first, taking the time to understand the vision of each couple or event host, and then builds a thoughtful, detailed plan to bring that vision to life. Timelines, budgets, vendor coordination and the hundred small decisions in between are handled with care and clear communication. His goal is simple: that every couple leaves their first conversation with him feeling excited rather than overwhelmed, and that every host can truly enjoy the day they imagined.
Chris has worked alongside Chef Adam for the past decade. Today he is preparing to welcome The Barn on North’s very first couples and guests, and he can’t wait to begin planning the weddings, showers, rehearsal dinners and celebrations that will fill its inaugural season.
“Chris is one of the most knowledgeable and reliable professionals I have worked with in this industry. He leads our talented team with steady confidence, and I can’t imagine anyone better to welcome our first couples to The Barn on North.”
— Jeannine Fontana, Co-Owner
Chef Adam, Executive Chef
Chef Adam is the executive chef of The Barn on North’s in-house kitchen in West Chicago, Illinois. A graduate of the Cooking & Hospitality Institute of Chicago (Le Cordon Bleu), Adam brings classical training, years of experience in Chicago’s vibrant culinary scene, and a genuine love of bringing people together around a beautiful meal.
For Adam, a great wedding menu begins with a conversation, not a set package. He wants to hear your story: the recipes passed down at family gatherings, the flavors of your heritage, the dish you shared on your first date. He then transforms those memories into elegant, chef-crafted courses, so every bite feels as if it belongs to you.
He also takes care of the details that give hosts peace of mind: thoughtful accommodations for dietary restrictions and allergies, a tasting to perfect the menu together, and seamless service so every course arrives warm and on time. Couples he has cooked for over the years have said it best: “The food was unbelievably delicious, and we received nonstop compliments from our guests.”
“We conducted an extensive search to find the right chef for The Barn on North, and Chef Adam stood apart. His expertise spans every cuisine, and he creates food that becomes an essential part of the overall experience, not simply a course on the timeline. We are thrilled to have him leading our kitchen.”
— Jeannine Fontana, Co-Owner
As The Barn on North prepares to open its doors, Adam is eagerly looking forward to creating the menus for its very first celebrations, and to helping couples and their guests gather around food they will remember for years to come.
Start Planning Your Celebration
We’re counting down to opening day and would love to show you around. Book a tour and start planning a celebration that’s entirely your own.