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What started out as a part-time nights-and-weekends gig to help pay for their wedding blossomed into a full-fledged business for MONICA SAMII-PORTER and husband Brad.
"I made one post on Facebook about taking vehicles to detail and it grew into a legit business for us," she says. "In the post, we were holding coffee mugs that said 'Mr & Mrs.' When thinking of names for the business, Brad suggested we call it that. It stuck. With the help of our parents, we opened our storefront in 2024."
The co-owner of Champaign's Mr and Mrs Auto Detailing, Samii-Porter grew up on South Prospect Ave., graduated from Champaign Central and attended -- "not in any particular order," she notes -- Parkland College, the University of Illinois, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville and Indiana Wesleyan.
She earned her associate's degree from Parkland and, "after 25 years, I finally finished my bachelor's in marketing at IWU in 2022. My daughter, Estella, will be a third-generation graduate next spring," says the proud mom, who doubles as the business services manager of central registration at Christie Clinic.
Samii-Porter, who shared her story onstage as one of the featured speakers of 2019's "That's What She Said," took time out to answer questions from Editor Jeff D'Alessio in the 297th installment of our weekly speed read spotlighting leaders of organizations big and small.
My professional role models are ... my parents, Mohammad and Colleen Samii. For 47 years, they worked side by side -- a true testament to dedication, resilience and partnership.
Their example instilled in me the work ethic I carry today, and I'm endlessly grateful to have learned from their strength, commitment and love for what they did.
Happy to say they are finally retired.
The hardest thing about being a leader is ... showing empathy while still holding people accountable -- it's a delicate balance that takes constant practice.
My philosophy on meetings is ... they can be useful. I think after an hour, it's not as productive.
When it comes to my favorite work moment of all-time ... I have two.
First, for Mr & Mrs Auto Detailing, Brad and I had finished detailing a minivan and when the owner opened the door, the tears just flowed. There's a special kind of magic in seeing a customer's reaction when they lay eyes on their freshly detailed car for the first time. It's not just about a clean vehicle -- it's about rediscovering that new-car feeling and the joy that comes with it.
At Christie Clinic, there was a patient that was struggling to utilize the patient portal. We sat together in the waiting room for close to an hour. I walked the patient through everything and by the time they left, they felt secure using it on their own.
I have always enjoyed educating a patient so they have a better connection to their own health care.
I can't live without my ... Wellbutrin. Mental health is super important.
The three adjectives I hope my staff would use to describe me are ... bubbly, compassionate and patient.
On my office walls, you'll find ... pink things, bows, wedding pictures, family pictures, mirrors, large Post-its with lots of little Post-its and a "Wicked"-themed monthly calendar.
I'm frugal in that ... I did attempt to do my own nails at home for about six months, but I messed them up and will only have a professional take care of them. Thank you, Trish at Modern Nails!
(Frugal) is not really a word to describe anything I do.
If I could trade places for a week with any other business person in town, I wouldn't mind switching with ... Jayne DeLuce. She goes to all the events and always looks like she is having the best time while supporting our community.
My one unbreakable rule of the workplace is ... never be rude to a patient or customer.
The single-most important question I ask job candidates during interviews is ... what is something you like to do to relax?
The first thing I do when I get to work most days is ... take a deep breath.
For lunch ... since I travel most days, there is a lot of eating out. Brad and I try to meet for lunch as much as we can. Smith Burger is one of our favorites and you can't go wrong with the lunch combos at El Toro at the Fields.
As far as winding down after work goes ... that's a trick question. After my day is done at Christie, my night starts. Brad and I discuss the day at the detail shop. Deposits are made, appointments confirmed.
If I'm not working on that, I'm usually doing something for Junior League of Champaign-Urbana. As the vice president of fundraising and events, I'm currently chairing the 30th anniversary of Festival of Trees.
Most recently, I was in rehearsals and performances with Champaign-Urbana Theatre Company's "Beautiful," their summer musical about Carole King. And when not doing either of those things, I like to hang with fellow members of the Executive Club of Champaign County, Women's Business Council and the She Said Project. I sell the merch at many of the shows.
I do sleep!
The last luxury in which I indulged was ... my daughter, Estella, and I seeing "Wicked" in Peoria -- a birthday gift from my husband -- and I spent way too much at the merch stand.
I am now the proud owner of an embroidered pillow that reads "aaa-AAA-AAA-AAH" -- Elphaba.
If you know, you know.
This was a special trip because although Estella and I could sing almost every note of the musical and performed "For Good" in front of 1,200 people, it's the first time we saw the musical on stage. It did not disappoint.
The most beneficial college class I took was ... Experimental Theatre with the late William Grivna at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. He was a legend, made you approach the assignments with out-of-the-box thinking and didn't take any excuses for not giving something your best.
The last good book I read was ... "The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue" by V.E. Schwab. Audiobooks count as reading.
And if I can listen to a book while making dinner or washing dishes? That's a win.
I'm up and at 'em by ... 6:30-ish? Sometimes earlier if there is a staffing issue. Sometimes later.
My exercise routine consists of ... having a membership to our beautiful YMCA, but not really going.
The first job I ever had was as ... a professional actor at the Sunshine Dinner Theatre. At the ripe old age of 10.
The worst job I ever had was ... as a receptionist at a physical therapy clinic. My daughter had just started preschool, I was around 25-year-old single mother at the time, and I was trying to find better work hours so our schedules matched.
The people and patients were great, but the office was the size of a large closet inside the old Gold's Gym.