Simon Property Group: Christopher Speca

Simon Property Group has named Christopher Speca regional vice president of Simon Premium Outlets, Central region. Speca will be based at Chicago Premium Outlets in Aurora, overseeing all 17 of the region's Simon Premium Outlets centers, including three in the Chicago market: Chicago Premium Outlets, Lighthouse Place Premium Outlets in Michigan, Indiana and Pleasant Prairie Premium Outlets, near Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Speca, who has more than 23 years of experience in the retail and real estate industries, comes to the Midwest from Orlando Premium Outlets, where he was area general manager, overseeing the Orlando real estate portfolio for Simon Property Group's Premium Outlet platform. Prior to Orlando, he served as area manager handling Premium Outlet's real estate assets in the Philadelphia market. Recently recognized companywide as Simon Premium Outlets' "Best of the Best," Speca began his shopping center industry career in 1993 at one of the largest shopping centers in North America, Simon's King of Prussia Mall.

Speca has long been an active proponent of Simon Youth Foundation (SYF), a nationwide not-for-profit that partners with public school districts to open dropout recovery academies inside Simon shopping malls. Having spearheaded the development and opening of the SYF Academy at Orlando Premium Outlets, Speca says he looks forward to continuing his support of this groundbreaking initiative within the Central region.

Speca, who graduated with honors from West Chester University in Pennsylvania, relocated to the Chicago area with his wife, Dr. Jill Speca.