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Product Specialists

What would the Chicago Auto Show be without the participation of the many talented product presenters who deliver plenty of information infused with personality and enthusiasm? We asked some of our favorites a few questions to help you get to know them a little better. Many travel throughout the country during the auto show season and come from all over the U.S. and the world. Be sure to look for them on the show floor and listen attentively to their presentations. Automobile technology is moving at a fast rate, and these presenters will help you get up to speed!

Afeefa
Exhibit: Scion | Hometown: Orlando

Afeefa---Scion

Best thing about your job: The ability to travel the United States of America and witness the beautiful differences across our country.
How did you choose this profession? I didn't, the life choose me:) jk -  It aligned with my love of people and allows me to be at home with my family when the season is in hiatus.
Favorite vacation spot: Amelia Island
How do you spend your free time? Volunteering in school with my 6 and 7 year olds (I am the room mom for both their classes) and cherishing life at home. I am also a musician, so writing and playing as "afeefa & the boy" is an important part of my identity.
What’s on your playlist? Erykah Badu
Favorite Chicago restaurant: I would LOVE suggestions, I don't have a fav!

Ashley
Exhibit: Nissan | Hometown: Orlando, FL

Ashley---Nissan

Best thing about your job: Traveling the country with my friends and seeing the latest advancements in the auto industry. 
How did you choose this profession? I chose the profession based on the recommendations of my most respected colleagues. 
Favorite vacation spot: Any National Park
How do you spend your free time? Pursuing my creative interests, primarily through painting, drawing, and music. I also read a lot.  
What’s on your playlist? Jason Isbell, Catfish and the Bottlemen, and Amy Winehouse
Favorite Chicago restaurant: The Silver Spoon
 

Carolina
Exhibit: VW | Hometown: NY, NY

Carolina---VW

Best thing about your job: I love meeting new people who are passionate about cars too!
How did you choose this profession? I am a performing artist and discovered it through being a spokesmodel
Favorite vacation spot: Visiting my family in Brazil!
How do you spend your free time? I dance, travel, read, and love live music shows and music festivals. I also blog!
What’s on your playlist? Guster, Rolling Stones, the Black Keys, and more
Favorite Chicago restaurant: Ambria

CHRISTINA
Exhibit: Mercedes-Benz | Hometown: Tulsa

Christina---Mercedes

Best thing about your job: I absolutely love meeting people and sharing about the incredible Mercedes.
How did you choose this profession? I am in the entertainment industry (as an actress, model, speaker and a tv host) and was on a film set and heard about this fun spokemodel opportunity from a fellow actor. :)
Favorite vacation spot: One of my favorites would be Destin, Florida ...but there are so many beautiful places its hard to name just one! Lol
How do you spend your free time? I love to read; Hang out with friends;explore coffee cafes; working out (especially if a kicking bag and gloves are involved :), hang out with my family and many neices and nephews...to name a few :)
What’s on your playlist? A variety...it changes daily lol!! I have everything from Christian, country, the latest in pop and so much more :)
Favorite Chicago restaurant: Omg!! I absolutely love eating the cinnamon swirl pancakes at Wildberry!
 

Cindee
Exhibit: Scion | Hometown: Chicago

Cindee---Scion

Best thing about your job: Shocking men with how much I know about the cars and the travel!
How did you choose this profession? I grew up going to auto shows and always admired how captivating the narrators were.
Favorite vacation spot: Santa Barbara, CA 
How do you spend your free time? Hiking or reading. I also like getting together with friends and going to comedy clubs.  
What’s on your playlist? We won't by Jaymes Young
Favorite Chicago restaurant: Quartino

Dior
Exhibit: Infiniti | Hometown: Los Angeles

Dior---Infiniti

Best thing about your job: Product specialists are the ultimate car gurus!
How did you choose this profession? God chose me to be a product specialist
Favorite vacation spot: Seoul, Korea…Because Korea’s got real “seoul”
How do you spend your free time? Instagram gets the best of me
What’s on your playlist? I took a pill in Ibiza by Mike Posner (SeeB Remix)
Favorite Chicago restaurant: Au Cheval
 

Erina
Exhibit: Scion | Hometown: Los Angeles

Erina---Scion

Best thing about your job: Being able to meet and relate to people from all over the nation 
How did you choose this profession? A friend recommended that it would be a good fit for me
Favorite vacation spot: Kauai, HI
How do you spend your free time? Cooking and trying new restaurants
What’s on your playlist? Satisfied from the Hamilton musical
Favorite Chicago restaurant: I have yet to find a favorite but I'm always up for suggestions!

Greg
Exhibit: Scion | Hometown: Peoria

Greg---Scion

Best thing about your job: Interacting with people who are just as excited about cars as I am.
How did you choose this profession? This profession choose me. I stumbled into the profession and I have enjoyed every moment. 
Favorite vacation spot: Europe 
How do you spend your free time? Making music, family time and being a father. 
What’s on your playlist? Passport Louis, Majid Jordan, Kanye West, Little Dragon, Nas, Glass animals
Favorite Chicago restaurant: Leonas
 

John
Exhibit: Toyota | Hometown: Chicago

John---Toyota

Best thing about your job: I love to talk to people.  Stop on by and say hi!
How did you choose this profession? It chose me! Toyota needed a last minute presenter. 9 years later, still here!!
Favorite vacation spot: Any beach in the world
How do you spend your free time? My wife and I live to travel together.
What’s on your playlist? Frank Sinatra, Elvis, Mozart.
Favorite Chicago restaurant: Lou Malnati's!!

Julianne
Exhibit: Porsche | Hometown: Tulsa, OK

Julianne---Porsche

Best thing about your job: Opportunity to represent such a prestigious brand, while traveling the country with this amazing team of women.
How did you choose this profession? It chose me. This lifestyle isn't for everyone, and I am going to enjoy everything it has to offer.
Favorite vacation spot: Anywhere with my family!
How do you spend your free time? I enjoy being active and surrounding myself with positive people
What’s on your playlist? I have countless playlists, so it depends on my mood and what I am doing
Favorite Chicago restaurant: I will let you know after this trip!
 

Kyle
Exhibit: Lexus | Hometown: Edina,  Minnesota

Kyle---Lexus

Best thing about your job: The travel. This position provides the chance to explore multiple cities and the rare opportunity of getting to meet many of the people who live in them.  
How did you choose this profession? You will find many of the Product Specialists stem from an acting or performance background. It seems to be a natural progression to take those skills to the auto show floor.
Favorite vacation spot: Cape Town, South Africa 
How do you spend your free time? With friends and family as much as possible. Travel, film, binge watching Netflix, yoga, biking, and down hill skiing. 
What’s on your playlist? Major lazer or old school hip hop radio. 
Favorite Chicago restaurant: I can not answer this one but can respond with...the best restaurant options across the states. 

Lili
Exhibit: Lexus | Hometown: Barcelona, Spain

Lili---Lexus

Best thing about your job: To me, the best thing about being a product specialist is having the opportunity to travel and experience different areas and cultures throughout the US. Having an amazing team that are like family and surprising everyone with my product knowledge. 
How did you choose this profession? While working SEMA in Las Vegas, I was encouraged by many other product specialists to pursue the higher position.  It looked like an awesome job!
Favorite vacation spot: I'm dying to add Fiji to the list! Currently, Paris.
How do you spend your free time? I love to hike, watch movies and learn new recipes. 
What’s on your playlist? Amy Winehouse 
Favorite Chicago restaurant: Mercat a la Planxa
 

Lisa
Exhibit: Lexus | Hometown: Detroit, MI

Lisa---Lexus

Best thing about your job: Traveling to cities all over the U.S. and experiencing local culture and cuisine. 
How did you choose this profession? My best friend is a Product Specialist, and she recommended me. 
Favorite vacation spot: Maui
How do you spend your free time? Cooking, discovering amazing restaurants, and traveling. 
What’s on your playlist? Eminem, Calvin Harris, Tupac, 2cellos, Muse
Favorite Chicago restaurant: Shanghai Terrace

Mark
Exhibit: VW | Hometown: Livonia, MI

Mark---VW

Best thing about your job: Traveling the country and meeting new people. Also, all of the gorgeous models… car models!
How did you choose this profession? I was referred by a friend in the industry
Favorite vacation spot: Grand Haven/ Ludington State Park
How do you spend your free time? Being a Rec League MVP
What’s on your playlist? Dreams-Van Halen
Favorite Chicago restaurant: Potbelly Sandwich Works
 

Matt
Exhibit: Toyota | Hometown: Kalamazoo, MI

Matt---Toyota

Best thing about your job: Cars, travel, food, beautiful smart women - it's like being a secret agent but without bullets.  
How did you choose this profession? A job that combines performing with cool cars and helping people?  Yes please!
Favorite vacation spot: Alaska in the summer features rain forests, glaciers and days that are 20 hours long!
How do you spend your free time? Golf, craft beer, and feeding humming birds. 
What’s on your playlist? Spike Jones, G. Lightfoot, Shostakovich, Manilow, and Macklemore
Favorite Chicago restaurant: Gibson's

Melody
Exhibit: Mitsubishi | Hometown: Chicago

Melody---Mitsubishi

Best thing about your job: It's glamorous. It's fun to meet interesting new people. My team is more like my family! 
How did you choose this profession? It really chose ME! I read an article about it. Met a Random girl the next day who worked as a product specialist. She recommended me and I thought it sounded fun!! 
Favorite vacation spot: Aspen!!! Just got back, learned to snowboard! Woot!
How do you spend your free time? Free time? What's that? We have been remodeling our home. It's challenging but very rewarding.
What’s on your playlist? Katie Herzig. Alberta Cross (they are awesome!) and I'm a closet Carrie Underwood fan! 
Favorite Chicago restaurant: The Chicken Hut on Belmont. Cash only! 
 

Peter
Exhibit: Infiniti | Hometown: Macomb, MI.

Peter---Infiniti

Best thing about being your job: I get to talk about something I enjoy while traveling and meeting people from all over America.
How did you choose this profession? My agent asked if I was interested in doing auto show, and I said "what's that?  I like cars."   That was 29 years ago.
Favorite vacation spot: Italy
How do you spend your free time? Taking care of my donkeys, ducks, goat, and chickens, and making wine!
What’s on your playlist? Sinatra, Buble, Bocelli, Tim McGraw
Favorite Chicago restaurant: Anything on Taylor St.

Rachel
Exhibit: Volkswagen | Hometown: Detroit

Rachel---VW

Best thing about your job: The travel, the team, and learning something new everyday
How did you choose this profession? Approached and offered opportunity by advertising executive who attended my fitness class. It chose me.
Favorite vacation spot: Beach
How do you spend your free time? Learning Chinese, volunteer work, taking care of house and home
What’s on your playlist? Adele, John Mayer, Foo Fighters, Justin Timberlake, Taylor Swift, City and Colour, Paramore ...
Favorite Chicago restaurant: Table 52
 

Sandra
Exhibit: Toyota | Hometown: Chicago 

Sandra---Toyota

Best thing about your job: Being able to help consumers and make them laugh during our Live show. 
How did you choose this profession? Pure luck! I thought I was auditioning for a one time trade show presenter job. Had never even heard of Auto Shows before. 
Favorite vacation spot: Anywhere with a beach. 
How do you spend your free time? Working out and reading. 
What’s on your playlist? anything from Elvis to Jack johnson 
Favorite Chicago restaurant: Mercadito 

Saul
Exhibit: Toyota | Hometown: Los Angeles

Saul---Toyota

Best thing about your job: Meeting people from all over the US and experiencing the true fabric of our country.
How did you choose this profession? I was a bilingual host in LA when I heard about this opportunity through a friend.
Favorite vacation spot: Anywhere in Spain
How do you spend your free time? Dancing with my wife and hanging out with my 7 year old son.
What’s on your playlist? Eclectic mix of Jazz, Blues and Electronic.
Favorite Chicago restaurant: Gibson's for Steak!
 

Shauna
Exhibit: Lexus | Hometown: Cincinnati, OH

Shauna---Lexus

Best thing about your job: Exploring the art museums in every city I visit for the autoshow. 
How did you choose this profession? It was a natural choice for me. It's entertaining and educating the masses in an energetically charged environment. 
Favorite vacation spot: Ibiza
How do you spend your free time? I like reading fiction novels, listening to podcasts and watching indie films. 
What’s on your playlist? Rihanna, Disclosure, SBTRKT
Favorite Chicago restaurant: Mercat a la Planxa

Tiffany
Exhibit: Lexus | Hometown: Los Angeles, CA

Tiffany---Lexus

Best thing about your job: Working with an incredible brand that people love & respect, TRAVEL, my colleagues are also my friends.
How did you choose this profession? I didn't pick this profession, it picked me. How lucky to fall in love with something you didn't even know you were looking for it.
Favorite vacation spot: Carmel/Pebble Beach, CA
How do you spend your free time? Working on my eco blog "Green With Tiffany," which includes information on alternative fuel vehicles like Lexus hybrids.
What’s on your playlist? Slick Rick "Children's Story"
Favorite Chicago restaurant: Mercat a la Planxa