Meet the Mercedes-Benz of Barrington Management Team

Michael J. Smalley

General Manager

Nearly two decades with the Mercedes-Benz brand

Michael J. Smalley is the General Manager of Mercedes-Benz of Barrington. He brings nearly 20 years of experience with Mercedes-Benz, and over that time he has come to deeply value the standards, heritage, innovation and commitment to excellence that define the brand.

As General Manager, Michael is building a high-performance culture centered on:

• Exceptional client experiences at every stage of ownership
• Operational excellence throughout the dealership
• Accountability at every level of the team
• Developing the next generation of automotive leaders

His goal is simple: to make Mercedes-Benz of Barrington a dealership that represents the Three-Pointed Star at the highest possible level.

Leadership Beyond the Dealership

Michael is an Army veteran, a husband and a father. Away from the dealership, he spends time with his family and coaches his daughter’s competitive softball team. He brings the same focus on teamwork, preparation and continuous improvement to the field that he brings to the showroom every day.

Matt Schenek

One & Only Sales Manager

15 years with Mercedes-Benz, from the sales floor to the factory

Matt Schenek has spent 15 years with Mercedes-Benz and has worked in almost every sales role there is: salesperson, team leader, New Car Manager and General Sales Manager. That range gives him an unusually complete view of how a Mercedes-Benz dealership serves its clients.

Building a Mercedes-Benz Store From the Ground Up

One highlight of Matt’s career was helping open a new Mercedes-Benz dealership in Romeoville. It was the first Evolution store built from the ground up. As Matt puts it, the team “had to figure out how to build the plane while we were flying it.”

Trained in Germany

Matt has trained with Mercedes-Benz in Germany. He has also visited Affalterbach, the home of Mercedes-AMG®, which he calls a place of legend for anyone who loves performance vehicles. After years of study and experience, Matt jokingly considers himself a master of the automotive arts, and clients who work with him tend to agree.

Matt has been married for 23 years and has two sons, both now in college studying business. When he’s not at the dealership, he enjoys spending time with his family and being outdoors.

Austin Real

One & Only Sales Manager

More than 15 years of Mercedes-Benz management experience

Austin Real has more than 15 years of management experience in the Mercedes-Benz automotive industry. He has built his career around leadership, coaching and a passion for delivering an exceptional luxury automotive experience.

Investing in People

Austin’s favorite part of his role is working with sales professionals: training them, coaching them and helping them reach their full potential. He believes that investing in people builds a stronger team, and a stronger team creates a better experience for every client.

Redefining the Luxury Car-Buying Experience

For Austin, buying a Mercedes-Benz should be about much more than choosing a vehicle. It should be personal, professional and memorable from the moment a client walks through the door to the moment they drive away. At Mercedes-Benz of Barrington, Austin combines his industry experience and his passion for leadership to create a world-class luxury car-buying experience.

Austin was a standout collegiate basketball player at Lewis University, where he earned GLVC Tournament MVP honors in 2002, led the Flyers to the NCAA Division II Sweet Sixteen, and was inducted into the Lewis Athletics Hall of Fame in 2022. Austin is married to his wife, Jordan, and is the proud father of Jackson (16) and Ireland (17), who is committed to play volleyball for the University of Texas. In his free time, he enjoys golf, spending time with family, and watching his kids play sports.

Bob Sheaffer

Finance Manager

30+ Years of Leadership Experience

With over 33 years of experience in the automotive industry, Bob Sheaffer brings a wealth of knowledge, proven leadership, and a genuine passion for people to the team. Throughout his career, he has held numerous leadership positions, including General Manager, General Sales Manager, Finance Director, Sales Manager, and Finance Manager.

Building Lasting Relationships

Bob’s dedication to excellence has earned him numerous President’s Awards and Sales Excellence Awards, reflecting his commitment to outstanding performance and customer satisfaction. As a leader, Bob believes in leading by example, building strong teams, and creating an environment where employees support one another and customers feel truly valued. His philosophy is simple: exceed expectations, build lasting relationships, and always do the right thing.

Showing Cars — and Showing Dogs

Outside the dealership, Bob is a proud father of three daughters, grandfather, and devoted dog lover with two show dogs and a wonderful girlfriend. When he’s not helping customers or mentoring his team, you’ll likely find him spending time with family, playing with his dogs, or relaxing by his koi pond. And here’s a fun fact about Bob: He even irons his clothes after they come back from the dry cleaners! It’s just one more example of his attention to detail and belief that the little things make a big difference.