Dr. Debby Herbenick

cheeky sexpert

Dr. Debby Herbenick is Associate Director of the Center for Sexual Health Promotion in the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation at Indiana University (IU) where she is a sexuality researcher and educator. She is also a sexual health educator at The Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender and Reproduction where she writes (and hosts podcasts of) the "Kinsey Confidential" column and coordinates educational programming. She has a PhD in Health Behavior from IU, a Master's degree in Public Health Education (also from IU) and a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Maryland, College Park.

Kim Peiffer

hollywood cheeky

Kim fell in love with writing, editing and fashion while studying abroad and interning at Vogue in London back in college and has been committed to the biz ever since. From working for In Style Magazine in Los Angeles to working as Marketing Director at CS Magazine, she has covered all the bases of the media world in the past five years. She has also worked for Oprah Winfrey and currently writes for People magazine, People.com, CS Magazine, DailyCandy, CS Brides, The Men's Book and many more. She is currently finishing up her Master's degree in Journalism at Northwestern University.

Stephanie Miller

cheeky on-the-town

Simply put: Stephanie is a wine and spirits guru. A PR pro by day and the drink editor of Chicago Scene by night, she has a pulse on the latest liquor trends, she knows the newest wine varietals and she could probably teach a course on the difference between scotch and whiskey. After all, her prized possession is the 1965 Glenlivet Cedar Collection that's resting on her bar. But whether it's chronicling Chicago's social scene, heading to liquor launch dinners or attending wine and food events hosted by some of Chicago's best restaurants (hello?! Avec, Blackbird and NoMi), Stephanie is passionate about all things Chicago. She honed her writing skills as an undergrad at Northwestern University and has been going strong ever since. In addition to her nearly three-year position as drink editor for Chicago Scene, Stephanie has contributed to The Daily Herald, Chicago Unzipped and penned the monthly Haute Historian column for Second City Style. She currently works at Ketchum Public Relations but, as you can see, she wears multiple hats and still finds time to update her blog regularly.

Debi Lilly

cheeky martha

Debi Lilly is a nationally renowned event-planning expert based in Chicago. She is the founder and president of A Perfect Event - Chicago's most successful special event company with a faithful (and famous) following, including Oprah Winfrey. Lilly is committed to the personalization of every event, including Oprah Winfrey's recently televised, 50th birthday bash and the wedding of Heather Headley, the award-winning Broadway actress. Other clients and companies include Brooke Shields, Debra Messing, Cartier, Leo Burnett, Starcom, McDonald's and the Symphony Orchestra, among others. In addition to her business acumen, she deftly balances a demanding career and a growing family. Debi continually serves as an industry expert for such publications as InStyle Magazine, Martha Stewart Weddings, Bride's, Modern Bride, Bridal Guide, Chicago Social, Chicago Magazine, and The Groom's Guide. She also has regular guest spots on The Oprah Winfrey Show and ABC 7 News Chicago. Debi Lilly graduated from Ohio State University with a degree in Marketing. A born-and-bred "hostess", Lilly has always planned events both large and small, from as young as her elementary years. debi@cheekychicago.com.

Kelli Zink

cheeky health freak

Once you realize the bubbly laugh is real and the expensive looking dress is really Forever 21, you realize - Kelli Zink is that chick you want to hate, but can't.

A self-admitted health freak, Kelli doesn't eat whatever she wants and hits the gym most mornings when her friends are just returning home from a night out. During her time in LA, she came to the conclusion that cleanses are a pain in the ass (literally) and that having a social life that includes cocktails and food is a must. After trimming off four sizes, she's convinced that a cheeky chick can achieve the figure she wants without sacrificing her social life.

She currently interviews celebs on the red carpet and at parties as the host of CelebTV.com and is a weekly guest on Fox's The Mike and Juliet Show. She's worked her butt off (hello bikini!) for every job she's had including Fox Sports Net Chicago, Fox47 Sports, The NFL Network, Co-Host of the Mancow Radio Show, TV Guide Channel, CNN's Nancy Grace and Showbiz Tonight, MSNBC and Fox News' Geraldo at Large, Studio B with Shepherd Smith, Your World with Neil Cavuto and Michigan Avenue Magazine.

Email Kelli at kelli@cheekychicago.com. Ask her anything - she'll be sure to tell you the truth.

Rachel Gillman

Rachel's insatiable appetite (literally) and obsession with entertainment make her the perfect candidate for writing about dining and drama. She is happily eating her way through Chicago's restaurant scene and charting her culinary progress, both as a contributor to CheekyChicago and the resident dining columnist for Chicago Scene.

Rachel is also logging plenty of screen time as the site's new movie critic, a role she relishes as a devoted film fan and entertainment addict. On top of her freelance writing and full-time PR job, Rachel has appeared as a guest on Check, Please! and a dining expert on CBS Sunday Morning News. A graduate of the University of Michigan Ross School of Business, Rachel also spent a year honing her journalism skills through Northwestern University's School of Continuing Studies.

Lyndsay Rush

tongue in cheeky

'Twas a balmy night in 1983 when Lyndsay made her first mark on the world. Since that moment, she has spent her 25 years storytelling, getting into trouble and trying to make people laugh. After graduating from the University of Kansas with a degree in film and Spanish (not Spanish film), and gritting her teeth through almost three years in the world of corporate finance, she made a decision to finally pursue what she has always loved: writing.

On a normal day you can find Lyndsay watching Friday Night Lights, making fun of her friends, eating cheese and wearing a scarf. When she's not writing about the ridiculous things that happen to her on a daily basis, she spends her time shopping for antiques, volunteering with inner city youth and playing the guitar. Her short term goals include drinking more water, waking up earlier and sending more letters. Her long term goals include putting others before herself, telling the truth and biting her tongue. Lyndsay's current endeavors include freelancing for the Red Eye, working at her church and keeping up with her blog.

Jen Hesser

cheeky does charity

Born and raised in Chicago, Jennifer has been spreading her charitable wings since she was very little; wearing adult sized t-shirts down to her knees – volunteering at multiple fundraisers, walks and motorcycle rides held by The American Brain Tumor Association. While attending school at Muhlenberg College in Pennsylvania, Jennifer could be found in and around Allentown donating time to painting walls at the local YMCA, serving dinner at a downtown soup kitchen or picking up trash throughout local parks.

Graduating with both a major in history and Asian culture, Jen has opted to go in a completely different direction and works in Chicago as a concierge. Jen continues on with her charitable work, currently donating time between the Jane Adams Hull House, The Greater North Michigan Avenue Association, Chicago's 2016 Olympics and other organizations and projects citywide.

Jennifer is an artist, with dreams of one day opening her own gallery, but for right now she uses her living room walls in liu of. Wonderful other hobbies and habits including attacking the Chicago jazz scene, wandering the zoo and getting lost in the Art Institute still happen in between her charitable endeavors and work.

Amanda Troop

cheeky music-obsessed

Amanda's never had a problem music couldn't fix. Most hours, you will find her with headphones permanently attached to her ears. She has lived in Chicago for most of her life, with the exception of a 4-year stint in the great state of – you guessed it – Iowa. After graduating from Drake University with degrees in creative writing and psychology, she moved back to the city because she believed Chicago missed her dearly (she still maintains this is true).

When she's not reviewing shows and CDs for Cheeky, she is an avid dancer and musician (when she thinks no one is looking), a part-time psuedo-therapist, and a full-time expert texter. She is currently working on a memoir because her life is just that interesting.

dayna salasche, MD

doctor cheeky

As one of the founding physicians of the Northwestern Specialists for Women (NSW), Dr. Dayna Salasche offers nearly ten years of medical expertise and specialist training. In addition to being a Fellow of the American College of Obstetrician Gynecologists, she is also on staff at Prentice Women's Hospital and a clinical instructor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Northwestern University's affiliate medical school, The Feinberg School of Medicine.

With solid experience in all areas of obstetrics and gynecology, Dr. Salasche is passionate about caring for women and assisting in all life transitions - from adolescence to childbearing to menopause and beyond. In her practice, she specializes in the treatment of abnormal pap smears, minimally invasive treatment of abnormal uterine bleeding (including hysteroscopy and endometrial ablation), laparoscopic surgery and both high (including multiple pregnancy and advanced maternal age) and low risk obstetric patients.

Dr. Salasche received her B.S. at the University of Illinois in Psychology and graduated medical school at Rush University Medical College in Chicago. She completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Lutheran General Hospital, where she also served as Chief Resident.

In her spare time, Dr. Salasche is an avid runner and loves to travel to new places. Above all else, she treasures quality time with her family and friends in her home town of Chicago.

brooke samson miller, MA, MFTi

cheeky dear abby

Brooke Samson Miller, MA, MFTi was born in Detroit, grew up in Chicago, lost herself in Los Angeles and found herself in San Francisco...sort of.

She’s witnessed 1 house fire, survived 2 brain surgeries, mended 3 broken hearts, lived in 8 apartments, tried on 4 wedding dresses…and wore 1. Brooke graduated from the University of Southern California and after a 4 year dose of Hollywood, she adamantly got her Masters degree in Psychology. Somewhere between trying to understand it all and becoming gleefully addicted to growth... she became a psychotherapist. She works with teens, adults, and couples in San Francisco so if you live there, she could be your therapist... lucky you. But she does phone sessions too. Lucky everyone.

She’s also a writer, an advice columnist to be exact... think Carrie Bradshaw becomes a real therapist. We love it. Her blog, Soapbox Therapy, has been called "Raw, honest, thought-provoking, and wisely witty" by readers and critics and can be read in several publications including The San Francisco Chronicle’s monthly insert, TheIsCollection and Primer Magazine. And now she’s Cheeky Chicago’s very own advice guru AKA Cheeky Dear Abby... could we be happier?

A Chicago girl at heart, Brooke now lives, loves, works, writes, and analyzes everything with a soy chai latte in hand, in the city by the bay. She can be contacted at Brooke@cheekychicago.com

*Brooke is a registered marriage and family therapist intern #55548 supervised by Cynthia Hoffman LMFT#40736

jerrod melman

your cheeky guy

Jerrod Melman is a managing partner of Hub51, the dining, nightlife, and social establishment created by him and his brother, R.J., in Chicago’s River North neighborhood.

Jerrod is not a relationship expert. At the rate he’s going, he probably never will be. He didn’t go to graduate school and get a PhD in this subject. On paper, he is in no way qualified for this job. He’s been on great dates and terrible dates and everything in between. He’s dumped girls and been dumped; he’s blown girls off and been blown off; dented hearts and had his dented. He has done and said things that made girls cry, then done and said things he didn’t necessarily mean to make them stop. He’s not always proud of these things, and he’s certainly not trying to brag, but in his few years as a dating adult, he has learned a lot.

He is, however, fascinated by the way men and women relate. If that doesn’t make him an expert, it just might make him some kind of student teacher. Hopefully, this column will help share a little of what he’s learned, and maybe shed some light on the way men think, from one man’s perspective. Jerrod and The Cheeky Girls wanted to call the column "Advice from a Jerrk" - hopefully not because he’s a jerk (he does have his moments), but because his advice tends to be blunt and non-sugar coated. That being said, he’s here to try to help guide our readers through the dating maze. He confesses he’s both nervous and excited, and committed to do his best to call your situation like he sees it. Ask him anything you want, just email him at Jerrod@cheekychicago.com. He’ll give you his best, most honest answer, and hopefully it won’t make you cry.

marilyn moats kennedy

cheeky political grandmother

Marilyn is CEO of Moats/Kennedy, Inc., a 35-year-old consulting firm in Chicago. She researches, writes, and lectures on career planning, office politics, and workplace demographics. Her seminars have reached 400,000 people. She is a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University with a BSJ and an MSJ. She is the author of six books including the best seller, Office Politics: Seizing Power, Wielding Clout. For 17 years she was the Job Strategies columnist for Glamour.

Email your questions to marilyn@cheekychicago.com.

Showbiz Shelly

showbiz cheeky

Showbiz Shelly is the entertainment reporter for B96 Radio. You can hear her four times every weekday morning reporting on the latest celebrity gossip. At 7:15 am, she also takes on listeners in a pop culture quiz called the Showbiz Shelly Smackdown.

Shelly graduated from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism with a degree in broadcasting. During her last four years as an entertainment reporter at the pop radio station, she has rubbed elbows with many celebrities ranging from David Beckham to Mariah Carey, the Black Eyed Peas to Michael Jordan. She can often be found both here in Chicago and in L.A. covering American Idol, movie premieres, the Teen Choice Awards and lots more. Her job is never boring and she’s excited to bring her Cheeky interviews, experiences and scoops to CheekyChicago!

Shelly’s columns will be sure to bring you a little bit of everything. She’ll cover what’s going on in pop culture, what’s hot in music and movies and, of course, give you the dirt on celebrities who are hanging out in the city!

When Shelly’s not covering the entertainment beat, you can find her bumping, setting and spiking with her volleyball team.

itika oldwine

Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Itika received her BA from the University of California, Los Angeles in Political Science. After graduation, she came to Chicago to pursue a Master’s Degree in Social Science at the University of Chicago. While in Chicago, she not only received her MA from U of C but also landed an internship at The Oprah Winfrey Show, where she was introduced to the world of broadcast journalism.

In Chicago, Itika has become a well known face on the media scene. In 2007, she interviewed several Chicago Bears players for Current TV as they were heading off to the Super Bowl. Later that year, she joined the cast of NudeHippo on nbcchicago.com as a correspondent. In addition, Itika reported for the Chicago-based, hip-hop website 247hh.com where she interviewed popular hip-hop artists like Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, David Banner and Soulja Boy Tell 'Em. In 2008, she began blogging for the Emmy Award-winning NBC Chicago Street Team and was a Street Team contributor for NBC's weekly series 24/7. She has recently become known for her role as the "Hollywood Diva" on RAW TV on FOX Chicago and RAW TV Radio on Power 92 and she can be seen in businesses and eateries throughout the city on the UAMG Network reporting her "Around Town" segments.

jenny muslin

Jenny loves anything and everything fashion related. Her friends come to her for their burning fashion/beauty questions from how to sport a new trend to where to snag a Chanel bag for less. She’s the former designer and president of contemporary clothing line, EJ Tees, which has sold in numerous boutiques across the country and was featured in publications like Women’s Wear Daily. Jenny is a freelance makeup artist, having worked for Bobbi Brown, and continues to do makeup for special events. In addition to Cheeky, Jenny’s a writer for Make It Better magazine and does PR for a select group of clients. She’s currently shopping a women’s college guidebook to publishers.

Jenny received a BA in Communications and Journalism from the University of Iowa and a Master’s Degree in Education from National Louis University. When Jenny’s not writing, she’s doing yoga or Tracy Anderson workouts (a current obsession), baking, checking out a new boutique, reading fashion blogs or hanging out with friends and family. Jenny lives in Chicago with her husband, Jason, and their dog (pseudo-child), Bentley.

phyllis kingsland

rockstar realtor

Phyllis Kingsland is the Rockstar Realtor.  Her nickname has little to do with her clients since Phyllis has worked with lots of Cheeky girls just like us!  Being a Rockstar actually says much more about the way she approaches the services she provides to her clients.  "I'm a Rockstar because I listen closely to my clients and give them exactly what they want!"  And indeed, she does!  Phyllis was born on the East Coast in Philadelphia. "Phyllis from Philadelphia... amusing, no?"  Her parents immediately whisked her off to Boston where they began "flipping" – buying ugly homes in nice neighborhoods and making them over to sell.  So it followed that Phyllis and her sister survived introductions into nine school districts up and down the East Coast before settling back in Philadelphia.  Phyllis attended Carnegie-Mellon University (CMU) where she earned a BS in Management and then went to work in New York for Chicago-based RR Donnelley and Sons, Co.  She sold book manufacturing to publishers in New York; then moved to Donnelley’s corporate offices in Chicago.  Relocating to Chicago meant lots of travel to both coasts, plus trips to plants in China and Mexico.  Once Phyllis met her husband, Jack, she gladly traded the travel for a career in real estate.  In real estate Phyllis uses her considerable business skills, architectural vision and exceptional style to help all her clients find their own perfect home!  "I was born to do this and I love it!"  Phyllis lives in Lincoln Park with husband Jack, and she works from Baird and Warner’s Lincoln Park office.  Phyllis works with clients from Lakeshore Drive to Bucktown and from Lakeview to the South Loop.  Besides sharing her real estate knowledge and, well, cheeky opinions here twice a month, Phyllis is happy to answer real estate questions directly.  Email Phyllis at phyllis@cheekychicago.com.

anne marie schlekeway

Anne Marie Schlekeway is the founder of the Master Plan Programs and creator of the Master Plan Executive Coaching Program. In 2006, Anne Marie Schlekeway left her executive position at an international training and development firm and in 2007 founded her own executive coaching company. Her Master Plan program focuses on sustainable excellence through planning, elevated self-care and wellness practices. Having lost her ability to speak, Anne Marie presents "Speechless Speeches" - PowerPoint presentations delivered in silence with the exception of audience reaction and participation exercises - to companies and organizations as a motivational and training tool. She is the author of many articles relating to managing ones’ mind, body and life for optimal productivity and blogs about her experience living with ALS at www.kissmyals.com. A sommelier since 1998, she continues to enjoy tasting wines and creating new drink concoctions.

lauren shapiro

A native of Highland Park, a northern suburb of Chicago, Lauren has always had a passion for writing - and for Chicago. Lauren graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with a B.S. in Journalism, where she wrote for the university's magazine, Buzz, as a restaurant and film reviewer. Post graduation, she was thrilled to leave the cornfields of southern Illinois behind and make her mark on the city, settling into a condo in the Gold Coast. She works at People Magazine in digital advertising sales and enjoys freelancing on the side.

Since moving to the city, she has continued to explore its culture, social scene and - most importantly - its food. When she's not working or writing, Lauren can be found spending time with her enormous extended family or watching the Food Network. Lauren loves cooking, traveling, Marilyn Monroe, dark chocolate, street festivals, London, sarcasm, The Breakfast Club and never feels guilty about an amazing online sale purchase.