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Chris Terrell, sales manager at Holler Hyundai, had challenges starting out in the car business, but since the lightbulb clicked on, he has had nothing but success. In the early 1990s, Chris needed to make a change in his career. He had spent years selling upscale shoes, and the boutique shoe stores were starting to shut down. Many of his clients were dealership employees, several of whom said he would be good in the car business. Chris decided to give it a try. While he struggled through the first year, he has been successful ever since. Chris is originally from Jacksonville, and life has taken him many places. Before working in the car industry, he served in the US Army. For the past 26 years, Chris has worked in various places in automotive roles. He spent a couple years training on best practices at different dealerships around the country. Then, 18 years ago, he joined the Holler-Classic family. He is currently in his 12 th year as a sales manager at Holler Hyundai, a role he takes pride in that is helping him train the next generation of leaders. Being able to guide, push, encourage, and educate employees motivates him to work hard in his role. The next big goal is to increase diversity in the industry and company. When Chris started in the car business, it was unusual for anyone who graduated college to even consider an automotive career. Now, more non-traditional people are joining the team, and he feels they are more open to trying because of the positive, open environment he has helped create. “Everyone fits. Everyone has a role to play,” Chris said. “We can be more successful as a group with more diversity.” For anyone looking to get into the car business, Chris stresses the importance of becoming brilliant in the basics. Learning the fundamentals is important, and wanting to serve others is what helps people thrive. The Holler-Classic company has shown that it really cares about customers by empowering employees to treat customers right. “Some companies give lip service to caring about customers,” Chris said. “The Holler organization really means it.” While Chris puts his all into his role as a sales manager at Holler Hyundai, he finds time outside of work to be active in his community. He spends a lot of his free time at community events with his church and masonic family. His proudest accomplishment is having raised four great adults who are doing phenomenal things. Overall, Chris works hard every day to be a strong leader who inspires the next generation of leaders.

Ramon Del Fresno moved to Florida from Puerto Rico in 2017 with his family, who he works hard to support every day. In 2017, Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, and Ramon knew the best move was to relocate. Already having automotive experience, he quickly found a job at a dealership in Central Florida. At the first dealership he found, the constant back-and-forth haggling created a stressful environment. Ramon knew he belonged in the automotive business, but he wanted to work at a place where everyone received fair treatment. Through the secretary at his son’s school, Ramon met a sales manager from Holler Hyundai, who referred him to the sales position at the dealership. While living in Puerto Rico, Ramon worked at a Hyundai dealership, so he already had experience and product knowledge that would help him thrive. more At the time, Ramon did not speak much English, and the staff at Holler Hyundai gave him an opportunity to learn as he worked. This is what stood out the most to Ramon. The staff at Holler Hyundai was willing to help him and help customers in a different way than he had ever seen. At Holler Hyundai, sales representatives are honest with customers by design. From the initial greeting, known as a concept statement, customers know to expect upfront pricing, a commission-free sales process, and a money-back guarantee. This environment is a perfect fit for Ramon, whose passion is helping people. He always enjoys seeing customers smile when they find the perfect car. “Here, you don’t just have a salesman; you have a friend,” Ramon said. Ramon aspires to become a top performing sales representative at Holler Hyundai, where he has now worked for about 2 years. He is happy in his current position, where he can help customers and support his family at home. This career has served him well, and he plans to stick around. “My goal is to be here for a really long time.”

Paul Ortiz started out hesitant about pursuing a sales career, but 5 years in, he is glad he chose this path. Originally from Puerto Rico, Paul moved to Florida with his parents when he was a teenager. Before his career began at Holler Hyundai, Paul worked in every part of restaurants, from cooking to serving. Then one day, his father-in-law saw the opening at Holler Hyundai and encouraged him to go for it. With the reputation car sales tends to have, he resisted at first but ultimately decided to apply. That was when his career as a sales representative began. Being on a commission-free sales team has proven to be a perfect fit for Paul. Everyone at the dealership gets along well, and he and his coworkers have good chemistry. Along with the positive work environment, Paul finds it appealing that he makes more money the harder he works. From what he has seen, the work puts in has a direct correlation with the money he makes. He says his parents instilled a strong work ethic in him. “I may not be the smartest worker, but I’m a hard worker,” Paul said. Paul’s family motivates him to keep working hard. Starting a family and having a great relationship with his wife are Paul’s proudest accomplishments. Because of this job, he has been able to build a good life for them. He looks forward to continuing to grow as a person inside and outside of work. His main goal is to be the best person he can be, rather than buying a big house or fancy car. “Material things come and go. Who I am as a person is more important,” Paul said. One day, Paul would like to work to live, rather than living to work. Little by little, this career path is helping him realize that dream.

Jose Figueroa, better known as “Figgs” by his Holler Hyundai family, finds that his workplace is like a home away from home. Originally from Puerto Rico, Jose moved in search of opportunity. The first opportunity he found was a security job in Kentucky, which was not a great fit for him. Soon after, he moved to Florida, where he found his niche in the automotive business. more Before finding his home at Holler Hyundai, Jose worked at another Central Florida dealership. There, he met Ramon, who applied at Holler Hyundai after meeting one of the sales managers. Soon after Ramon started at the dealership, Jose followed. “There is no comparison between the old school approach and the Buy Smart – Be Happy process,” Jose said. At Holler Hyundai, Jose has had entire families buy cars from him, with some buying multiple vehicles. In two and a half years, this career has allowed him to improve his life. He has gone from an old car to a new car, from a starter apartment to a much nicer one. For anyone looking to start an automotive career, Jose’s advice is to believe in the product and yourself. Jose is excited to come to work every day because he believes in the quality of Hyundai products. Over the years, the brand has worked to build on safety and reliability, and Hyundai cars now offer competitive technology at competitive prices. “If you believe in a product, it’s easy to sell,” Jose said. Working at a small dealership, Jose sees his coworkers as more of a second family. Motivated by his ability to help customers on a personal level, work in a pressure-free environment, and sell great products, Jose finds it easy to get out of bed and go to work every day.

Trent Angel always loved working with cars, and about 3 years ago, he started his automotive career as a service advisor at Holler Hyundai. Growing up, Trent attended car shows with his family in and around Orlando, where he was born and raised. He carries on this tradition now, sometimes bringing along his newly purchased 1981 Corvette. Cars have always been part of Trent’s life, so working at a car dealership is a natural fit. more Prior to working at Holler Hyundai, Trent taught martial arts for 10 years, training in them for 21. One of his proudest accomplishments is earning a 4 th degree black belt. While work occupies a lot of his time now, Trent is a personal trainer on the side to help others reach their fitness goals. Working with people has become a constant in Trent’s life, one he has enjoyed. As a service advisor, he says that car knowledge helps, but knowing about people is far more important. “Have a passion for leaving customers with a happy face,” Trent said. At the age of 27, Trent has been able to build a career and buy a house, among reaching several other goals. He is proud of what he has accomplished at such a young age, and he looks forward to taking his life and career to the next level. Marrying his fiancé, paying off debts, and providing an even better life for his dog Diesel, who he calls his baby, motivate him to work hard every day to get where he wants to be.

Aubrie Catan, born and raised in Orlando, is going on 5 years as a sales representative at Holler Hyundai, a role she takes pride in that has allowed her to make her own way in the world. Before Aubrie considered a job in the automotive business, her father bought a car at Holler Hyundai. He had such a good experience that he encouraged Aubrie to apply to work at the dealership, and shortly after, her new career began. In this career field, Aubrie learns something new every day. The management team at Holler Hyundai motivates her to work hard by always leading and coaching her. As a female working in the automotive industry, Aubrie is also inspired by her female general manager, Shannon, who she sees as a role model. Aubrie trains every day become a better salesperson, to grow in her role while treating everyone with kindness and respect. This helps her work toward her goal of building stronger, happier connections inside and outside of work. Aside from success in her career, Aubrie is proud of becoming independent, living on her own for 3 years and counting. Earlier this year, she moved from her first place on her own to a bigger, better place. This has helped her grow as a person, as well as in her career. To be successful in the automotive industry, Aubrie says it is important to be brave and have a strong work ethic, training your mind to be stronger than your feelings. Of all the advice she has to give, there is one piece of advice she finds most important. “Don’t be afraid to fail,” Aubrie said. “That is what will help you succeed.”

Geraldo Hernandez, originally from Puerto Rico, achieved his dream of moving to Florida one year and six months ago, when he started as a sales associate at Holler Hyundai. more When Geraldo finished saving up for a move from Connecticut, where he lived for 13 years, to Florida, the job search from a distance proved challenging. His wife’s uncle, Jose Ramirez, who is now a sales manager at Holler Hyundai but worked as a sales associate at the time, recommended that Geraldo give car sales a try. After a phone interview, he got the job and was finally on his way to Florida. “I’m not here by mistake,” Geraldo said about moving to Florida, something he had wanted to do since he was a child. Before working at Holler Hyundai, Geraldo worked 4 years in retail management in 3 years in personal banking. Helping people has always been a passion of his that has carried over to his current job. Where he once helped people with their finances, he now helps people get into their dream cars. It is not always easy, but in the end, he finds that helping people is its own reward. “My favorite part is helping the customer find the right vehicle and hearing how happy they are with their new car when they come back for their first service visit,” Geraldo said. In his down time, Geraldo enjoys going to the beach and playing online video games. He watches basketball every day and knows a lot about mobile tech. He ends up helping customers with their phones just as much as he helps them figure out the tech in their new cars. Geraldo says that, of all the things he has accomplished so far, he is the proudest of marrying his wife. She was the decision-maker when it came to getting their SUV, a 2018 Hyundai Tucson, with its sporty wheels and ample storage space. He is motivated to work hard so he can build a good future for himself and his wife, and this job has made it so they could have a nice life in the meantime.

Ty Ostreicher, who has spent most of his career in the automotive industry, still reads the newspaper every morning when he wakes up. more “Some people have coffee,” Ty said. “I read the newspaper to wake up.” Ty has been working in automotive since 1993, 17 years of which he worked for Saturn. Before that, he worked in dropout prevention at a high school. Helping people has always been a focus in his life, and he brings that with him into his career. He joined the team at Holler Hyundai almost 4 years ago as a service advisor. When asked about his hobbies, Ty said that he likes to eat, sleep, and work. When he does have time, he likes going to water parks, especially the lazy river. He considers this to be the ultimate relaxation. Ty’s proudest accomplishment is being successful personally and professionally. He has been in a relationship for 19 years and married for 4 of them. He also had a Siberian husky who is now “an angel in heaven” and a spiritual guide for his family. He still says goodnight to the husky every night. For anyone looking to start an automotive career, Ty’s advice would be to prepare for the time investment. While the job takes up a lot of time, Ty enjoys helping people and meeting friendly people at the dealership. He makes an effort to always make a friend first and service cars second. “Let your clients become your friends, and let your friends become your clients,” Ty said.

Ronnie Herman, who just celebrated 10 years at Holler Hyundai as a sales representative, comes from Brooklyn, New York and feels at home in Florida. more Before joining the automotive world, Ronnie earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from New York University and an AA in textiles from a fashion institute. She met her first husband there and had 2 children with him, divorced him, then met her second husband who owned three car dealerships. Her start in automotive was selling fleet vehicles for his dealerships, which she did for 5 years. For 20 years, Ronnie practiced commercial real estate in south and central Florida. Starting out as a receptionist, she got her real estate license and became a director for a shopping center developer. In 2004, Ronnie saw an ad for Holler in the newspaper. She went to the corporate office to apply for the job, and she aced the initial interview. Chad Rogers, who is currently the general manager of Classic Mazda, hired her on the spot to work for the Hollers’ Kia dealership. She has worked for Holler-Classic ever since. “As they say, the rest is history,” Ronnie said. What motivates Ronnie at work is seeing people in need and helping them out. When someone really needs her help, that makes her work even harder. Her grandchildren also inspire her to work hard. Meeting people is what Ronnie enjoys most about working in sales. She has met really good friends who started out as customers. “That’s why I can’t retire yet,” Ronnie said. “They always ask, ‘What will we do when you leave?’” To anyone looking to start in the automotive business, Ronnie’s advice is to know your product, follow the process, and take days off to prevent burnout. Sometimes, she still struggles with the last part. Along with her human grandchildren, Ronnie has a part sheltie, part Australian Shepherd dog named Snickers who she considers her furry granddaughter. Affectionately called Princess, Snickers is always the first one at the door when Ronnie comes home at night.

Greg Jones, service advisor at Holler Hyundai, credits his mother for giving him a strong work ethic and his daughter for motivating him to keep up the hard work. more Hailing from Newark, New Jersey, Greg first moved to Florida for school and stayed because of the better weather. Prior to working at Holler Hyundai, he spent almost a decade working in hospitality, bartending and serving. During that time, he went from being a little shy to being the notoriously boisterous jokester he is today. Greg has been a service advisor at Holler Hyundai for almost 5 years. Greg can be seen here lifting his fellow service advisor Sanford. The best part of Greg’s job is the relationships he forms with his customers and co-workers. Whether participating in events like a corporate 5k or helping customers at his desk, he is always there for people who need him. While Greg has a joke for every situation, his advice for anyone looking to work in the automotive industry is that honesty is key. “Always be transparent and upfront, with your co-workers and your customers,” Greg said. Out of everything Greg has accomplished in life, he is proudest of being a father. He mentioned how proud he was recently when he saw his daughter put her hair in a ponytail for the first time. In the near future, Greg is planning on growing his family even more by adding 2 pet puppies. He jokes that he already feels like he has pets, at least for a season. “Lovebugs feel like pets,” Greg said. “They’re intrusive, and they don’t listen.” While working as a service advisor keeps him pretty busy, Greg has several hobbies, mostly revolving around sports. He enjoys gaming and watching cartoons, and he has even started doing some whittling. To get from place to place, Greg drives his black Hyundai Elantra GT named Eleanor that he affectionately calls “Ellie the Elantra.”

Sherry Link, a Winter Park native who has worked with Holler-Classic for 21 years, says she is happy to be living life to the fullest. more Sherry started her automotive career at Holler Chevrolet, where she worked in sales for one year before working the next few years in administrative roles at other locations. She recently moved to a specialized service admin role, one she has held at Holler Hyundai for 3 years. Helping customers and making them smile when they come in for service is Sherry’s favorite part of her job. She feels at home with her work family, who she says are some of the kindest people she knows. Her advice to anyone looking to start a career in the automotive industry is to learn every skill that is offered. After work, Sherry goes home to her husband John and her cats Whitey, Shrimp, Brave, Fluffy, and Momma, along with two stray cats. She tends to a flower garden, sings in a studio, and swims laps during her time off. While she enjoys home and work life, she has learned not to take any of it for granted. “I thank God every day for being alive, and I enjoy making people happy,” Sherry says.

Shayna Mastin, used car manager at Holler Hyundai, is motivated by her three little redheads at home and by helping people succeed at work. more Shayna has always lived in Central Florida, where she now lives with her husband, two pets, and three redhead daughters. Her pets are a Boston Terrier Lexi, who has her own Instagram page, and a gray cat Munchie, who took seven years to warm up to the family but now welcomes them home every day. Fifteen years ago, Shayna started her automotive career as a service cashier at Holler Honda. She has worked in many positions, including finance assistant, finance representative, service advisor, sales representative, and now used car sales manager at Holler Hyundai. “I always joke that all I have to do is change oil,” she said, since that is one of few jobs she has not done at a dealership. Based on her experience, the advice Shayna would give to anyone looking to start an automotive career is to learn as many departments as possible and to start somewhere. “If you dream of being a sales manager, and only a service advisor position is open, take it,” she said. While working as a sales manager keeps Shayna busy, when she does find time, she enjoys doing anything involving arts and crafts. Whenever there is a big sale going on, Shayna writes the special on a chalkboard in the showroom and adds a related drawing. This is one way she incorporates her creativity into her numbers-based job. The best part of being a sales manager for Shayna is helping people buy a car when they don’t think they can. When a customer has faced adversity that makes buying a vehicle difficult, Shayna is driven to make sure they can get on the road in a safe, reliable vehicle. “When we all have to put our heads together to make it happen, that’s the best part,” she says.