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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.

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From Parts Driver to General Manager, Patrick Huston Loves Serving People

Porsche Dallas GM Patrick Huston is celebrating 20 years at Park Place. He entered the automotive world at an early age, helping his Dad open and operate an auto parts store in Kansas when he was only 11 years old.

“That is where my passion for automobiles started.” By the time he was 16, he was driving a Parts truck.

Patrick moved to Dallas at 18.  “I moved here in my Ford Bronco and a U-Haul with no job secured. But I was employed within a few days given all of the opportunities the big city had to provide.”

Eventually he landed at Porsche Dallas as Pre-Owned Director. “When I started, we did not have electronic communication or lead generation. Technology has allowed for a more connected interaction with our clients in both Sales and Service.”

His advice to someone just starting at Park Place: “Have fun! Showing up every day excited and happy about what you do only leads to growth, success and relationships that will last a lifetime.”

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.

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Park Place Acura Celebrates First Anniversary in Plano with Donations to Cook Children’s Medical Center Prosper

NSX Owners of Texas Bring Rare Supercars to the Celebration

Children who are patients at Cook Children’s Medical Center in Prosper are the beneficiaries of Park Place Acura’s first anniversary celebration, held at the exquisite 68,000 square-foot facility just south of Spring Creek off the Dallas North Tollway in Plano. Guests brought new toys and games to donate to the children’s hospital.

During the event, members of the NSX Owners of Texas showcased their many different models of the rare Acura NSX supercar. Tracing its origins back to 1984, the NSX was the world’s first mass produced car with an all-aluminum body. At its peak in 1992, less than 2,000 NSX models were sold in the U.S. Acura discontinued the NSX last year, with only 300 NSX Type S models sold in the U.S in 2022.

NSX Owners of Texas during the first anniversary of Park Place Acura

Guests enjoyed music by DJ Chris with Inkredible Sounds, celebratory sips featuring a bubbly bar, hand-made donuts by Li’l Bits Mini Donuts, and Boba drinks provided by Bobaddiction.

“We’re proud of the relationships we’ve developed over the past year,” said Jason Feuerberg, Park Place Acura General Manager. “We’ve had the opportunity to give back to our community in many ways, including Park Place Members volunteering their time with several non-profit agencies across Collin County. Park Place has established a great reputation over the past 35 years for taking care of our Members, clients and the community.”

Feuerberg began his journey more than 23 years ago as a porter at the original Park Place Lexus dealership on Preston Road while attending college at the University of North Texas. After graduating in 2001, he joined Park Place as a sales consultant. Feuerberg was named General Manager of the Park Place Acura dealership last year.

Located off the Dallas North Tollway, just south of Spring Creek Parkway, Park Place Acura is one of the largest Acura dealerships in the country with a six-car showroom and a 37-bay service center.

Cook Children’s Health Care System has been recognized as one of the best children’s hospitals in the nation, earning five rankings in the U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Children’s Hospitals” list for 2023-2024. Based in Fort Worth, Cook Children’s 8,000+ dedicated team members care for more than 1.5 million patient encounters each year at its two medical and surgery centers, a physician network, home health services and a health plan.

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 Acura, 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.

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$100,000 Donated to Local Charities as Part of 3rd Annual Season of Giving

Park Place Dealerships Delivers Grants to 18 North Texas Non-Profits

Eighteen North Texas non-profits received an early holiday gift through a Season of Giving grant from Park Place Dealerships. The dealership group awarded $100,000 to the non-profits who serve the greater Dallas/Fort Worth area.

Park Place received applications from more than 400 North Texas area non-profits. They selected the recipients for a Season of Giving grant that aligns with one of Park Place’s Four Pillars of Giving: Education; Medical Research; Advocacy; or the Arts.

“It was wonderful to learn about so many different non-profits who are doing great work across Dallas/Fort Worth,” said Tony Carimi, managing director of Park Place Dealerships. “In addition to providing end of year grants, Park Place Members will be actively engaged in volunteering with these non-profit partners throughout 2024. It’s inspiring to see the impact our Members make in the community.”  

Under Park Place Cares, Park Place Dealerships’ philanthropic arm, the Season of Giving program provides a one-time grant ranging from $2,500 to $10,000. This is the third year of the program which has now donated $300,000 to 65 charities since the inaugural Season of Giving.  The Park Place Cares program has donated millions to charities in the last 36 years.

The chosen organizations are diverse in their missions and the areas they serve throughout North Texas. The charities receiving a grant for the 2023 Season of Giving include:

Education

  • Academy 4 (Fort Worth)
  • Primo’s (Dallas)
  • Vogel (Dallas)

Medical

  • Mammogram Poster Girls (Dallas)
  • Hope Center 4 Autism (Fort Worth)
  • Evan’s Avengers (Denton)

Advocacy

  • Annie’s Place (Dallas)
  • Camp Summit (Dallas)
  • The Vitamin Bridge (Coppell)
  • Carry The Load (Dallas)
  • Airborne Angel Cadets of Texas (Farmers Branch)
  • Canine Companions (Irving)
  • Community Caring Center (Azle)
  • Heroes For Children (Plano)
  • Children’s Advocacy Center for North Texas (Lewisville)
  • Apollo Support and Rescue (Justin)
  • Ability Connection (Irving)

Arts

  • Sixty & Better (Arlington)

“For more than 35 years, Park Place has partnered with local charities that serve Dallas/Fort Worth and surrounding areas,” said Kara Connor, Park Place Dealership’s Experiential Marketing Manager. “We have developed relationships with many amazing organizations who serve North Texas in meaningful ways. We are excited to learn more about these new recipients and learn how we can work together going forward to help them achieve their goals.”

A committee comprised of Park Place members from the nine dealerships across North Texas selected the non-profits to receive Season of Giving grants.

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, Acura, 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.

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Paul Quinn College Receives $20,000 HBCU Change Donation

Park Place Dealerships recently visited Paul Quinn College in Dallas to present a $20,000 check from the “Round Up Change for HBCU Change” program.

“I’d like for every student that graduates from Paul Quinn College to believe they are capable of more now than when they started,” said Paul Quinn President Michael Sorrell. “I’d like for them to believe in the inevitability of their own success.”

From May 2021 – August 2023, Asbury Automotive Group (ABG) dealerships across the U.S. raised more than $800,000 for the HBCU Change program through guests’ donations and the company’s matching donations.

“Through our interactions every day, we’ve had the opportunity to educate our North Texas community about what HBCU does and how it can impact them,” said Tony Carimi. “We both strive to make an impact in our own backyard…to provide not just a higher level of service, but a higher level of connection.”

This was the third presentation to a HBCU in the past 12 months. Asbury Automotive executives David Hult, Wendy Reynold-Dobbs and Sid Barron presented a $100,000 check to Clark Atlanta University in October 2022. Malcolm Gage and Plaza Motors St. Louis presented $20,000 checks to both Lincoln University and Harris Stowe State University last month. HBCU Change has a goal of raising $1 billion for Historic Black Colleges & Universities over the next 5 years working with partners like Asbury.

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.

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Fall Weather and Pumpkins are Plentiful at the 18th Annual Autumn at the Dallas Arboretum through November 5, 2023

Park Place Dealerships continues its decade-long support of Autumn at the Arboretum which runs through November 5 located on 66 acres at Dallas’ White Rock Lake. Charlie Brown and the Peanuts Gang return with “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.”

Guests can expect to see Snoopy, Woodstock, Pigpen, Linus, Lucy, Franklin, Peppermint Patty and Marcie along with 100,000 pumpkins, gourds and squash and 150,000 colorful fall plants throughout the gardens.

Guests also will find the 2024 Volvo, Porsche and Mercedes-Benz vehicles around the Gardens, a hay maze and endless photo opportunities.

Autumn at the Dallas Arboretum is open daily and more details are available at www.dallasarboretum.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 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.

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3rd Annual Season of Giving Kicks off October 5th for North Texas Non-Profits Vying for up to $1000,000

Park Place Dealerships Opens Applications on October 5 and Invites City Charities to Apply

For the third year in a row, Park Place Dealerships is giving away a total of $100,000 to deserving non-profits who are serving the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area in its Season of Giving campaign. Charities can apply at ParkPlaceCares.com beginning October 5 through October 30. Recipients will be announced the week of November 13, 2023.

“Through Season of Giving, we provide grants to local organizations that align with our four pillars of giving,” said Tony Carimi, managing director of Park Place Dealerships. “In addition to providing funding, our Members at Park Place are actively engaged in volunteering throughout the year. It’s wonderful to see the bigger impact made in our community because of the ingenuity of our team to help in many different ways.”  

Non-profit organizations must fit the following criteria:

  • Organization must be a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
  • The charity must support one of Park Place Cares’ Pillars of Giving, which include: Education; Medical Research; Children’s Advocacy; or the Arts.
  • The charity must serve in at least one of the following counties: Dallas, Tarrant, Collin, Denton, Ellis, Rockwall, Kaufman, Hunt, Wise or Johnson.
  • The charity cannot already have received donations or in-kind support from Park Place in 2023.
  • Charities must apply by midnight October 30, 2023.

Under Park Place Dealerships’ philanthropic arm of Park Place Cares, Season of Giving offers local non-profits the opportunity to apply for a one-time, end of year grant. More than 406 charities applied in 2022 with 23 receiving a grant ranging from $2,500 to $10,000.

“There are so many deserving charities in our community, and we want to give as many organizations as possible the opportunity to be considered for a Season of Giving grant,” said Kara Connor, Park Place Dealership’s Experiential Marketing Manager. “In the past two years, we have learned about hundreds of organizations that serve North Texas in meaningful ways and while we can’t give grants to each one, we have found other ways to support the non-profits.”

Park Place Members learned about For Oak Cliff through the Season of Giving application process. Members have collected school supplies several times for the nonprofit and regularly volunteer with the organization.

Park Place Members also put together hundreds of hygiene kits for young men attending Title 1 schools in need of basic items such as deodorant, toothbrushes, and socks for the 2022 Season of Giving recipient, Just Because.

In 2022, the Black Heart Association received a $5,000 grant to provide heart health education and screenings through its Mobile Heart Health Unit to patients who are primarily uninsured. Upon learning the organization also had maintenance needs for its mobile unit, Park Place provided experienced technicians to assist with keeping the mobile unit on the road serving the community.

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, Acura, 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.

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11-Year-old North Texas Girl Wins “Rev Up Your Creativity” Coloring Contest

Park Place Dealerships and Children’s Health Teams Up with Children’s Health in Support of its Pediatric Patients

Park Place Dealerships and Children’s Health kicked off the “Rev Up Your Creativity” coloring contest in July to bring joy to Children’s Medical Center Dallas and Children’s Medical Center Plano patients. 


During “Automotive Week” at Children’s Health, kids of all ages colored their favorite car from the Park Place coloring book or drew a creation of their own to color. After all the entries were received, the community and Park Place Members (employees) voted online for their favorite entry with 11-year-old Abby emerging as the winner. 

Abby said she chose the ice cream design for her artwork “Sprinkles” because, “it was really hot outside.”

On September 13, Abby’s artwork was installed in the Children’s Play Area at all nine Park Place dealerships across Dallas-Fort Worth. A ceremony was held at Park Place Lexus Plano honoring the young artist. She was also featured on Park Place Dealerships’ social media channels. She received a goodie bag of special prizes including arts and crafts supplies, a Squishmallow with sprinkles plush toy, four tickets to the Dallas Museum of Art, plus a special Park Place experience as her health and schedule allows. Her family will receive a complimentary detail of their car. 

“We’ve partnered with Children’s Health for more than 20 years,” said Kara Connor, Experiential Marketing Manager at Park Place. “We really enjoyed seeing the kids express themselves through their artwork. We hope it brought them as much joy creating it as it did for us!”

In July, more than 20 Park Place Members visited Children’s Medical Center Dallas, the flagship hospital of Children’s Health, to hand out Park Place coloring books featuring luxury vehicles. They also had the opportunity to meet some of the care team and patients. Park Place members also visited the Ryan Seacrest Studios and participated in activities that aired on Children’s Health Red Balloon Network, which was broadcast to patients in their rooms. 

Park Place Dealerships donated $15,000 to Children’s in conjunction with the “Rev Up Your Creativity” campaign. 

“The Rev Up Creativity patient artwork contest has been an amazing experience for our patient families across our health system,” said Paulette Mulry, vice president of development at Children’s Medical Center Foundation. “We are extremely grateful to Park Place Dealerships for their long standing support of Children’s Health and joining our mission to make life better for children.” 

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. 

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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.

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Coloring Contest to Bring Joy to Children in Hospital

Public Invited to Vote for Their Favorite Coloring Page

Park Place Dealerships and Children’s Health kicked off the “Rev Up Your Creativity” coloring contest to bring joy for patients at the pediatric hospital During “Automotive Week” at Children’s Health, kids of all ages had the opportunity to color their favorite car from the Park Place coloring book or draw a creation of their own.

The public is invited to view the top five entries at bit.ly/ParkPlaceArt and vote for their favorite between August 1 – 15.  A grand prize winner will be announced on Park Place Dealerships social media channels on August 17. The winner will receive a special Park Place experience tailored to their age and interests, plus a goodie bag of special prizes. The child’s parents will receive a complimentary detail of their car. The winning entry will be displayed in the children’s area within the Park Place client lounge.

More than 20 Park Place Members visited Children’s Health in Dallas to launch the contest, hand out Park Place coloring books featuring luxury vehicles, and meet with some of the staff and patients.

“We always enjoy partnering with Children’s Health and this is an especially fun project,” said Kara Connor, Park Place Dealerships’ Experiential Marketing Manager. “We had the opportunity to meet a few of the children as we kicked off this contest. Regardless of the age, everyone loves to color and especially cool cars.”

In addition to voting for their favorite artwork, the community also has the opportunity to donate to Children’s Health to further the mission to make life better for children. Donations Children’s Medical Center Foundation is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization and all donations are tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law.

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.