Handy Toyota

Employee Spotlight - May 2010
Ali Kamal - Certified Toyota Sales Consultant

Ali Kamal, a 19 year veteran on Handy Toyota's sales floor, is quite an interesting man.  Having moved to Vermont in 1980, you would think he was just like any other Vermonter, but more lies beneath the veil than one would think.

Quite a cultured man, Ali speaks five different languages, English of course being one of the five, and he is fluent in all but Spanish.  "Yeah, I haven't used the Spanish in a while," Ali mused during the interview.  "You know, use it or lose it!" he laughs, "yeah, that's what happened.  I can still speak it, but not as well."

Working here at Handy Toyota since 1992, Mr. Kamal has seen a lot of changes happen.  But when you come from another part of the world, change is something you grow accustomed to.  You see, Ali was born in Dakar, Senegal, a country in the northwest section of Africa.

"Coming from Africa," Ali says, "things are naturally very different over here.  It's also different when you speak five languages," he joked.  "But the whole experience over here [during the first few years after immigrating] were all very... different, you know?" he says, still laughing.

When asked which car he has sold now or in the past that best personifies him, he retorts quickly, clearly having needed little thought.  "Definitely the Toyota Solara, the two-door coupe.  I own one and I love it!"  Having been asked to elaborate on his dream car, little changes for this content gentleman.  "I guess I'd have to say the car I own, the Solara!  I think it fits someone in my age group, it's just what I need; yeah, it fits me."  Having seen Mr. Kamal in action, I can say the snappy Solara is in fact a perfect fit.