Park Place Land Rover DFW Wins Pinnacle and Wilks Elite Awards

Park Place Land Rover DFW was one of only 12 dealerships in the United States to receive the coveted Land Rover Pinnacle Retailer Excellence Award. In addition, the Grapevine dealership also received the Wilks Elite designation for being the top in sales in the largest volume group nationwide.

“Achieving the Pinnacle Award is a testament to the dedication and performance of our entire team,” said Matt Woolsey, Land Rover DFW General Manager.  “We are all committed to delivering unparalleled service to our clients and I am incredibly proud of the team’s hard work and relentless pursuit of excellence.”

The 12 Land Rover dealerships which received the Pinnacle Award were selected based on their performance in core business categories including exceptional sales, service and customer satisfaction. Park Place Land Rover DFW has earned the Pinnacle Awards multiple times over the years.

Park Place Land Rover DFW is located at 1300 E. State Highway 114, just west of Main Street in Grapevine.

Lexus Grapevine Members Spring into Action

Last summer, Micah Owens was working for another automotive company when he saw his client pull out from their service drive onto the Highway 114 service road. Suddenly, the client’s trunk flew open and papers started flying out and scattered across the road.

“Someone on the drive forgot to close her trunk. She had thousands of important documents sitting loosely in the trunk. I jumped into action to help my client. No one from my dealership came out to help. But I noticed people coming from Lexus Grapevine on foot and in golf carts, picking up pieces of paper to help. It was true compassion.”

“I knew in that moment I wanted to be a part of the team that never leaves anyone behind and is always willing to help. It reminded me of what I loved about being in the U.S. Navy: compassion, fortitude, and always helping your teammates out. That is the Park Place standard of care…for clients and each other.”

In November 2023, Micah joined Land Rover DFW as a loan car coordinator. “My first impression of Park Place was that they do things right. They don’t make things robotic. They make it personal.”

Micah says the biggest challenge since joining Park Place is learning new systems and how to streamline the process in the loan car department.  “It’s also the biggest opportunity to make things seamless for the benefit of our clients.”

“I can confidently say I have found a place where I want to be for a long time and work my way up. I’m very excited for the opportunities Park Place and Asbury have offered me. I’m excited to learn and grow with all the tools they provide. I truly have a wonderful, amazing, talented support team!”

Founded in 1987, Park Place Dealerships has been engaged in the community through its support of the arts, medical research, children’s advocacy, and education. Park Place employs more than 1,400 members and operates nine full-service dealerships representing luxury brands including Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Land Rover, Acura, and Sprinter Vans. Park Place BodyWerks Collision Centers in Fort Worth, Dallas, and Plano and the Park Place Auto Auction, round out the company’s offerings. Park Place was acquired in 2020 by Asbury Automotive Group, Inc., a Fortune 500 company headquartered in Duluth, GA. For more information, visit parkplace.com.

Land Rover DFW Tech Goes the Extra Mile to Help Couple in Distress

Paul Vandenberg, Team Lead/Technician at Land Rover DFW, was in his Park Place uniform a few weeks ago when he stopped at a grocery store on his way home from work. He noticed an elderly couple sitting in their car. When he came out of the store, they were still there, and he noticed they had a flat tire. Paul tapped on the window and asked if they needed help.

What Vandenberg didn’t know was the Graffs had called Roadside Assistance and had been waiting three hours for help.

“It took me five minutes to pull the flat off,” said Vandenberg. “Their spare was also low, so I ran it up to a station and aired it up. They offered me money, but I said, ‘I can’t take any money from you, sir.’ They couldn’t change the tire themselves. It didn’t cost me anything to help.”

Since Vandenberg was in uniform, Mr. Graff called the dealership the next day and talked to Land Rover Service Director Jordan Welch. “We preach and preach that we must represent Park Place at work and outside of work,” said Welch. “Mr. Graff took the time to tell me all about their experience. To Paul it was easy. A simple tire change. To Mr. Graff, it meant the world. He was crying as he shared his story with me. You never know what your actions mean to others!”

It’s worth noting the Graffs are not Park Place clients. They simply needed help. And Vandenberg didn’t hesitate to help.

“I know I represent the company any time I’m in uniform,” concluded Vandenberg.

About Park Place Dealerships

Park Place Dealerships was founded in 1987 and has been engaged in the community through its support of the arts, medical research, children’s advocacy, and education. Park Place employs more than 1,400 members and operates nine full-service dealerships representing luxury brands including Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Land Rover, Acura, and Sprinter Vans. Park Place BodyWerks Collision Centers in Fort Worth, Dallas, and Plano and the Park Place Auto Auction, round out the company’s offerings. Park Place was acquired in 2020 by Asbury Automotive Group, Inc., a Fortune 500 company headquartered in Duluth, GA. For more information, visit parkplace.com.

Park Place Jaguar Land Rover DFW Undergoes Changes

Land Rover DFW One of Only 12 in Nation to Receive Pinnacle Retailer Excellence Award

Park Place Land Rover DFW is one of only 12 Land Rover retailers in the U.S. to earn the prestigious Pinnacle Retailer Excellence Award for exceptional sales, service and customer satisfaction.

“We’re very grateful to our clients for their support and loyalty,” said Matt Woolsey, Land Rover DFW general manager. “We’re proud of our members working together to deliver the highest level of service to our clients. We strive to make every Land Rover experience exceptional.”

Land Rover DFW offers the full inventory of new Range Rover, Defender and Discovery vehicles, as well as high-quality, Approved Certified Pre-Owned vehicles.

For many years, the dealership also has delivered exceptional Park Place experience to Jaguar clients. Today, Jaguar is undergoing a major transition that affects every element of its business model—including reimagining Jaguar as a pure electric luxury brand. While those changes are exciting, they signal a shift to a smaller, more exclusive vehicle lineup with a reduction in the number of Jaguar retailers.

Park Place will no longer sell new Jaguar models starting July 1st,” continues Woolsey. “The dealership’s name will change to Park Place Land Rover DFW. However, the dealership will continue to provideexpert Jaguar service and repairs, as well as sales of pre-owned and Certified Pre-Owned Jaguars. In addition, we will still accept Jaguar lease returns, but we will not be able to offer new Jaguar upgrades after July 1.”

Park Place Dealerships was founded in 1987 and has been engaged in the community through its support of the arts, medical research, children’s advocacy, and education. Park Place employs more than 1,400 members and operates nine full-service dealerships representing luxury brands including Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Land Rover, Acura, and Sprinter Vans. Park Place BodyWerks Collision Centers in Fort Worth, Dallas, and Plano and the Park Place Auto Auction, round out the company’s offerings. Park Place was acquired in 2020 by Asbury Automotive Group, Inc., a Fortune 500 company headquartered in Duluth, GA. For more information, visit parkplace.com.

Southlake Native Matt Woolsey Celebrates 25 Years at Park Place Dealerships

Jaguar Land Rover GM Grew Up and Raised Family in Southlake

According to a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report released last September, the median employee tenure for men was 4.3 years and 3.8 years for women, relatively unchanged from 2020. Park Place Dealerships’ median tenure is nearly double the national average with 8 years for men and 6 years for women. Matt Woolsey, General Manager at Park Place Jaguar Land Rover DFW, recently celebrated 25 years at Park Place Dealerships.

“When I first started at Park Place, we were just beginning to use this thing called the internet,” Woolsey says with a chuckle. “Today, we have all the tools necessary to provide our Members (Park Place employees) with everything they need to do their jobs. What I love most about Park Place is the commitment to help our members learn and grow, and ultimately to ensure the client has the best experience.”

Woolsey moved to Southlake in 1980 with his parents and sister Kristina. “There were less than 1,000 people here. After graduating from Carroll High, I went to Austin and studied Business Economics at the University of Texas. Hook ‘em! I met my wife Anne there. I graduated in 1997 and got in the car business in ‘98.”

Woolsey started as a sales consultant at Park Place Motorcars in Bedford. He worked his way up to General Manager at the Mercedes-Benz store and has served as GM at Lexus Grapevine; Jaguar Land Rover North Austin; Jaguar Land Rover Porsche Volvo of Greenville, South Carolina; and Jaguar Land Rover DFW, where he currently works.

“Matt’s passion for our members makes him a leader that others are eager to follow,” said Tony Carimi, Park Place Dealerships’ Managing Director. “His relentless drive for excellence has helped him meet our clients’ needs and mentor hundreds of members. Over the years, he has assisted families with multiple generations of drivers.”

While everyone wants to be liked, Woolsey says it’s imperative he continues to earn his employees’ respect. “When I walk through the store, people see “the GM” walking by. Not the person. It’s just human nature to see the title, and not necessarily the person for who they are. I told one of my directors just last week: it is so much more important to be respected than to be liked. As leaders we have a responsibility to provide for our members and to make sure they can provide for their families. Having our members see our dedication and commitment to excellence will ultimately lead to respect. I’d love for all our team members to like me. I’m human, too!  But I’d rather have their respect.”

He and his wife Anne raised their sons Austin (23) and Bennett (20) in Southlake. “They graduated from the same high school as me. Austin graduated from Carroll in 2017. He was the band president. He graduated from UNT with a major in Jazz studies. He married his college sweetheart, and they live in Austin. Bennett graduated in 2021. He’s in Nashville pursuing his dream of being a singer/songwriter.”

Woolsey’s advice to young people just starting their careers: “Stay the course. The grass isn’t greener on the other side of the fence. It’s greener where you water it. Keep working hard and great things will happen for you.”

Park Place Dealerships was founded in 1987 and employs more than 1,400 members. Park Place Dealership operates three collision centers, an auto auction, and nine full-service dealerships representing luxury brands including Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover, Acura, and Sprinter Vans. Park Place was acquired in 2020 by Asbury Automotive Group, Inc., a Fortune 500 company headquartered in Duluth, GA. Asbury is one of the largest automotive retailers in the U.S. For more information, visit parkplace.com.

Park Place Jaguar Land Rover Presents Grapevine AMBUCS with AmTrykes

Park Place Jaguar Land Rover DFW presented Grapevine AMBUCS with AmTrykes to the organization and several local children. Grapevine AMBUCS was one of 23 DFW non-profits to receive a total of $100,000 in the 2nd Annual Park Place Dealerships Season of Giving campaign. 

“We were thrilled to host Grapevine AMBUCS,” said Matt Woolsey, Park Place Jaguar Land Rover General Manager. “Children with disabilities often feel left out. The innovative AmTryke is a therapeutic tricycle that gives a child freedom of movement and builds their self-esteem. With the AmTryke, kids with disabilities can have freedom of movement just like family and friends.

More than 400 charities applied for the 2022 Season of Giving grants, representing Park Place Cares’ four pillars. The local non-profits who received grants included:

Advocacy

·         Assistance League of Greater Collin County

·         Emily’s Smile Boxes

·         Alliance for Children

·         Seniors’ Pet Assistance Network (SPAN)

·         Amy’s Wish with Wings

·         Carson’s Crusaders Foundation

·         Operation Once in a Lifetime

·         Just Because, Inc.

·         C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation

·         Christmas Wish Project of Tarrant County

·         Dallas Leadership Foundation

·         AUsome Moms

·         Dallas Hope Charities

Arts

·         Art House Dallas

·         Texas Girls’ Choir

Medical

·         Black Heart Association

·         Cancer Care Services

·         Wipe Out Kids’ Cancer

Education

·         It’s a Sensory World Inc.

·         City House

·         Tarrant County Samaritan Housing Inc.

·         Dallas Furniture Bank

Grapevine AMBUCS is dedicated to creating mobility and independence for individuals with disabilities through weekly meetings; performing community service projects; providing AmTryke therapeutic tricycles to people with disabilities; awarding scholarships to therapy and vocational students; and building wheelchair ramps. More information about Grapevine AMBUCS is available at https://grapevineambucs.wildapricot.org

Park Place Dealerships was founded in 1987 and has been engaged in the community through its support of the arts, medical research, children’s advocacy, and education. Park Place employs more than 1,400 members and operates eight full-service dealerships representing luxury brands including Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Jaguar, and Land Rover. Park Place BodyWerks Collision Centers in Fort Worth and Dallas, and the Park Place Auto Auction, round out the company’s offerings. Park Place was acquired in 2020 by Asbury Automotive Group, Inc., a Fortune 500 company headquartered in Duluth, GA. For more information, visit parkplace.com.

Land Rover DFW Competes In The TReK 2022 Competition

Land Rover DFW Members Roxie Byars, Juan Ramirez, and Teddy Clements recently completed the Land Rover TReK 2022 adventure off-road competition. The DFW team finished fourth out of 10 teams in their division. In total there were 100 three-person teams: 90 teams from across the U.S. and 10 from Canada.

“This trip started in Mahwah, New Jersey at Land Rover Headquarters,” explained Juan Ramirez, JLR DFW Service Advisor. “Then we drove 4.5 hours to Manchester, Vermont, one of Land Rover’s four North American Experience centers. We competed in a number of tasks including a one mile run relay as a team and driving the Defender through different obstacles where we received points based on accuracy and timing. We camped overnight in freezing weather and had to cook our own dinner on a small gas stove they provided. The experience showed us how well the Defender performs under any circumstance.”

Comprised of qualifying trials and finals utilizing the all-new Defender 110, the competition is designed to test some of the best driving experts across the U.S. and Canada in off-road driving, navigation and team collaboration.

The teams competed in 100 identically customized 2023 Land Rover Defender 110 vehicles with factory-approved accessories including a Remote-Control Electric Winch, Raised Air Intake, Roof Rack, Air Compressor, Front Undershield and Exterior Side Gear Carrier. Additionally, accessories from Lucky8 included TReK Edition badging, recovery bag and equipment, Roofnest Tent, Pull-out Awning, ARB refrigerator, Solar Panel, and more.

The first Land Rover TReK was held in 1996, and the competition continued in North America through 2003. It returned in 2019 with preliminaries at The Biltmore in North Carolina, another of Land Rover’s North American Experience centers. 

Located at 1300 East Highway 114, northwest of DFW Airport, Jaguar-Land Rover DFW is one of only 16 Land Rover retailers in the U.S. to earn the prestigious Pinnacle Retailer Excellence Award for exceptional sales, service and customer satisfaction.

Park Place Dealerships was founded in 1987 and has been engaged in the community through its support of the arts, medical research, children’s advocacy, and education. Park Place employs more than 1,400 members and operates eight full-service dealerships representing luxury brands including Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Jaguar, and Land Rover. Park Place BodyWerks Collision Centers in Fort Worth and Dallas, and the Park Place Auto Auction, round out the company’s offerings. Park Place was acquired in 2020 by Asbury Automotive Group, Inc., a Fortune 500 company headquartered in Duluth, GA. For more information, visit parkplace.com.

The New Range Rover

“We’re honored to share the exciting “New Range Rover” with our valued clients,” said Jason Feuerberg, new car sales director. “As the original luxury SUV, Range Rover has led by example for over 50 years. This latest evolution raises the bar in every way, bringing refinement, comfort, and capability to new heights.”

The New Range Rover arrives in showrooms this spring. The fifth-generation luxury SUV takes the Land Rover brand’s modernist design philosophy to the next level, with a contemporary interpretation of its trademark profile to create an incredible design statement.

The new 2022 Range Rover is available in SE and Autobiography models. A First Edition model will be available throughout the first year of production, based on the Autobiography and featuring a unique specification. It is exclusively available in a Sunset Gold Satin finish, among a choice of five exterior colors. Both Standard (SWB) or Long Wheelbase (LWB) body designs are available with five seats, while the New Range Rover LWB model is available with a third row for extended comfort for up to seven adults.

Available for order in early 2022, the new Range Rover SV is an exquisite interpretation of Range Rover luxury and personalization from the experts at Special Vehicle Operations. Available in both SWB and LWB body designs, with exclusive design details, material choices, and enhanced functionality, this hand-crafted model will be the first Land Rover vehicle to carry the new ceramic SV roundel and simplified naming strategy – known simply as SV. The SV roundel represents the distillation of Special Vehicle Operations design and engineering passion for modern luxury, performance, and capability. This is also the first time the LWB model is offered in a five-seat configuration on SV models.

A new extended-range plug-in hybrid (PHEV) model will also be available for order in early 2022. The new 434hp powertrain provides up to 62 miles of near-silent pure-electric driving. The clever packaging of the battery, beneath the vehicle, and within the wheelbase, ensures both luggage space and all-terrain capability are uncompromised. The use of advanced eHorizon navigation data also allows the hybrid system to optimize energy usage across a journey, to provide a peaceful arrival at a destination on electric power, while also optimizing EV usage.

A suite of innovative technologies contributes to the peerless comfort and refinement of the New Range Rover. New third-generation Active Noise Cancellation technology delivers one of the quietest cabins on the road. It builds on the hushed and sealed body architecture by using microphones on the outside of the vehicle and headrest speakers on the inside to create personal quiet zones for the cabin occupants – much like high-end active noise-canceling headphones.

The New Range Rover offers intuitive voice control with Amazon Alexa built-in in certain markets. Using natural voice commands enables customers to manage everything from favorite infotainment features and music track selection to navigation or phone contacts – all while keeping their hands on the wheel and their eyes on the road.

The Land Rover brand’s award-winning Pivi Pro infotainment technology is elevated by the New Range Rover with its largest-ever touchscreen. The 13.1-inch curved, floating screen embodies the architectural lightness of the interior with a minimalist frame design. It provides intuitive control of all the major vehicle functions, using the latest consumer technology to deliver a smartphone-inspired interface, haptic feedback when customers touch and press the screen, allied to convenient hard switches for climate control.

Every New Range Rover features All-Wheel Steering for an effortless drive with heightened stability at speed and improved maneuverability at low speeds, making it equally at home on the open road and negotiating tight city streets.

Grace Holds 4th Annual Poker Tournament at Park Place Jaguar Land Rover

“We are so proud to partner with Park Place and the Wright family, “said Shonda Schaefer, GRACE CEO. “Their support for GRACE and the community is what allows us to put on amazing events such as the Poker Tournament.”

Roy Choi, CEO of Champions Club with Johnny Campanello during the Fabulous Poker Tournament benefiting GRACE at Park Place Land Rover/Jaguar in Grapevine, Texas, Saturday Feb. 5, 2022. (Michael Ainsworth)

More than 30 players joined the poker tables along with their “lucky charms.” The tournament lasted more than three hours with back-and-forth action between the competitors, until Scott Coolbaugh was crowned the champion, winning a trip to Las Vegas, including a 3 day/2 night stay at the luxurious Cosmopolitan Hotel Courtesy of Shannon O’Brien – the Travel Purveyor, and a bottle of Columbia Valley Magnum Pedestal. Runner up, Paul Bischler, won a bottle of Tequila Clase Azul Reposado. Roy Choi came in third place and won a 15-year-old Macallan single Malt Scotch whiskey.

Scratch Kitchen & Fine Foods provided hors d’oeuvres and delicious tacos while Classic Wine and Storage supplied extraordinary wines for the evening.

“We’ve supported GRACE for many years,” said Kara Connor, Park Place Experiential Marketing Manager. “In addition to the recent Poker fundraiser, we will host the organization’s Christmas Cottage Kick-Off and Toy Drive at Park Place Lexus Grapevine in November. We’re proud to support the great work they do in our community. Park Place members often volunteer to help GRACE’s programs, such as the Feed Our Kids summer program.”

during the Fabulous Poker Tournament benefiting GRACE at Park Place Land Rover/Jaguar in Grapevine, Texas, Saturday Feb. 5, 2022. (Michael Ainsworth)

GRACE was organized in 1987 as a response to the growing need for emergency assistance services in far northeast Tarrant County. Local churches responded to community needs with a plan for distributing available resources through Grapevine’s Ministerial Alliance. Today, GRACE continues to be a centralized, coordinated effort of churches, businesses, and individuals donating food, clothing, monetary donations, and even professional services to Grapevine, Colleyville, and Southlake residents, as well as homeless and transient families in need. Programs have grown to include low-cost medical services, transitional housing, and general emergency assistance (food, clothes, furniture, financial assistance, information, and referrals). More information is available at gracegrapevine.com.

North Texas Residents Conquer Challenging Competition in North Carolina

 

Park Place Land Rover DFW members Cade Mannetti, new car sales manager, of Frisco; Jeff Boyd, parts department, of Little Elm; and Jeff Kersh of Richardson, diagnostic specialist, recently participated in the 2021 Land Rover TReK event at The Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina, one of Land Rover’s four North American Experience centers.  

“This was our first experience as a Trek team,” said Cade Mannetti, “and we were proud to represent Park Place in a grueling set of mental, physical, and driving tasks.  A Top 10 finish was a remarkable reward after working as a team covered in mud, drenched by rain, cold and tired with the incredible backdrop of the Biltmore Estate.”

The Land Rover TReK 2021 was a multi-day event comprised of 70 teams from Land Rover retailers across the country. Each three-man team drove a 2022 Defender 110 SE P300 with a 4-cylinder gasoline engine across rugged terrain while executing a series of off-road driving events, navigation games, and team challenges.

“We had to pitch our own one-man tent in an open field next to the Biltmore vineyards,” Mannetti explained.  “I slept fully dressed in preparation for a 4:30 a.m. wake-up. With it raining overnight, it wasn’t as comfortable as staying in the Biltmore Hotel and not much sleep was achieved before an exhausting full day of challenges.”

The teams started off on foot, racing a quarter of a mile carrying their gear to receive the coordinates of where their vehicle was hidden on the 8,000-acre estate.

“Using a handheld GPS unit, we hiked over hills and through the woods to find our vehicle,” continued Mannetti.  “There were 15 tasks set up around the estate, all plotted on a crude map with GPS coordinates.  One of the biggest challenges was navigating the maze of trails without getting lost or backtracking.  The full week of rain made the clay turf as slick as ice and paths were often submerged in muddy water and deep mud-filled ruts.”

Challenges were both mental and physical, including building a wooden bridge over raging water. The most grueling task was constructing a hand-operated winch using the hi-jack, tow straps, and chains to leverage the 6,000-pound Defender backward up a slick, muddy hill for a full two car lengths… less than an inch at a time. Mannetti stated the challenge took a full hour and drained the team of everything they had.

The last challenge of the day involved a search through the woods on foot in overgrown thorn bushes and vines to find three clues leading the team to disassemble a part of the Defender to find a password to complete the task. During this time, the temperature had dropped significantly and it was pouring rain for a solid 45 minutes, said Mannetti. 

Some of the terrains across the course seemed impossible for a vehicle to pass through, but Mannetti reports the Defender made easy work of everything they encountered.

“Clay-like mud is unpredictable. Even a 4-wheel-drive vehicle can slide off a trail and rollover. But whether we were on wet grassy slopes, loose rock, submerged in water, or clawing our way through muddy ruts, the Defender never hesitated.  The Land Rover Terrain Response system worked its magic, and the surround cameras allowed us to see in front of the vehicle as well as what our tires were encountering.  The Defender is the most capable production SUV on the road while keeping us in refined comfort in the cabin.”

Give the experience and lessons they learned from this challenge, Mannetti and the team say they hope to compete again next year.

Park Place Jaguar-Land Rover DFW is located at 1300 E. State Highway 114 in Grapevine.

Park Place Dealerships was founded in 1987. For the past 34 years, the company has been engaged in the community through its support of the arts, medical research, children’s advocacy, and education. Park Place Dealerships employs more than 1,400 members and operates two collision centers, an auto auction, and eight full-service dealerships representing luxury brands including Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover, and Sprinter Vans. For more info, visit parkplace.com.