Community – Page 14 – Park Place Dealerships

August 29, 2016November 30, 2016

Park Place Motorcars Arlington Sales Greeter Leaving Her Mark On Arlington

When you first walk into the lobby of Park Place Motorcars Arlington, you’re sure to be captivated by Gabree Torres. The 23-year-old sales greeter is vivacious and charming. But there’s more than meets the eye to this energetic young lady.

Torres is finishing her Masters of Social Work degree at the University of Arlington. And she’ll leave her mark on the campus before she graduates in December.

Earlier this year, she was selected to paint a horse sculpture for the UTA Spirit Horse project.

“I saw a flyer on a bulletin board and only had two days until the deadline to submit my design,” said Torres, “but I knew this opportunity was mine.”

Torres had previously painted seven large murals in a San Angelo hospital while attending San Angelo State for her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology.

“Gabree submitted a design that showed three students in academic regalia at commencement,” said Jennifer Fox, UTA Assistant Director of Student Governance. “The UTA Ambassadors, a group of 25 elected student leaders that serve as the official hosts and hostesses of the campus, really liked her design. The proposed location for this year’s Spirit Horse was near the College Park Center, the on-campus arena where commencement ceremonies are held. We did not advertise this when soliciting proposals, so the fact that Gabree’s design also fit well with our proposed location was a nice surprise. We did ask her to add an ‘athletics’ component to the horse since our volleyball and basketball games are also held in the College Park Center. She quickly revised her sketches, and the end result was beautiful.”

Torres’ Spirit Horse was recently unveiled at the Maverick Stampede, a UTA Welcome Week event. The final installation will be later this semester.

In addition to working at Park Place Motorcars and attending school, Torres is completing an internship at a local mental health treatment facility. She also does photography for Calvary Arlington, a local church that meets at the Arlington Music Hall.

“I hope to work with the Domestic Violence population once I graduate,” said Torres. Not surprising for a determined young lady who seems to make an impression everywhere she goes.
Park Place Motorcars Arlington is a 91,000-square-foot Mercedes-Benz dealership located at I-20 and Collins that opened December 2015.

July 14, 2016

Park Place Porsche partners with Cattle Baron’s Ball to unveil the new 2017 Porsche 718 Boxster

Completely redesigned 718 Boxster and Boxster S feature new flat-four turbo engine with increased horsepower and torque

More than 325 guests recently attended the unveiling of the new 2017 Porsche 718 Boxster at Park Place Porsche. The event also kicked off the Cattle Baron’s Ball raffle benefiting the American Cancer Society, which features a chance to win a new Porsche 718 Boxster; a $10,400 Rolex Sea-Dweller from Eiseman Jewels NorthPark Center; a $10,000 Personal Shopping Experience at Highland Park Village; a 7-Night Stay at the Esperanza Resort in Los Cabos, Mexico; a $10,000 debit card from PlainsCapital Bank; and a Susie Straubmueller python tote and clutch.

“The new 718 Boxster is stunning,” said Patrick Huston, General Manager of Park Place Porsche. “It’s quicker and more responsive and was very well received by our guests. We’re pleased to partner with Cattle Baron’s Ball to help raise money for the American Cancer Society. They do a great job of keeping much of the money raised right here as it is applied to cutting-edge research projects at UT Southwestern, Baylor Research Institute and the UT School of Public Health.

Park Place Porsche and partners offered a sumptuous selection of palate pleasers from Wild Salsa and Chop House Burger Restaurants plus spirited sips, including the Milagro Ancho-Rita and Monkey Shoulder Summer Smash with specialty beers Local Buzz and Modelo and wines Gabbiano Promessa Pinot Grigio and BV Coastal Pinot Noir. Guests also enjoyed a personal appearance by PlainsCapital Bank’s mascot Mo the Buffalo.

The new Porsche 718 Boxster (MSRP $57,050) and 718 Boxster S (MSRP $69,450) come equipped with 2.0 liter and 2.5 liter, flat-four cylinder turbo engines, respectively. The 718 Boxster delivers 300 horsepower AT 280 lb-ft torque, going from 0 – 60 mph in 4.5 seconds. The 718 Boxster S offers 350 hp, 309 lb-ft, to rocket from 0 – 60 mph in 4 seconds.

While the look is very similar to the outgoing model, every body part is new, with the exception of the front and rear trunks, windshield, and convertible top. Larger air intakes up front and a dazzling new Porsche-branded tail fin sets the 2017 Boxster apart from previous models. Underneath, there’s a completely retuned suspension and redesigned electric-assist steering. Both the 718 Boxster and Boxster S come equipped with Porsche’s Active Suspension Management (PASM) with electronically adjustable dampers for control that grips the road and hugs the curves. Both models come standard with a 6-speed manual, with a 7-speed dual-clutch PDK automatic with manual shifting mode optional.

The 2016 Cattle Baron’s Ball will be held Saturday, October 15th, at Gilley’s Dallas, featuring Dwight Yoakam on the VIP and Live Auction Stage and Toby Keith On the Main Stage. Over the past 40 years of events, Cattle Baron’s Ball has raised nearly $60 million towards the ongoing pursuit of a cure for cancer. For more information on the Porsche 718 Boxster raffle and other raffle prizes, go to https://www.cattlebaronsball.com/?nd=raffle_info

Park Place Porsche was recently selected as a Porsche Premier Dealer for the 19th time. Over the years, Park Place Porsche has been recognized by Porsche Cars North America as the most consistently winning Porsche dealer in North America. Park Place Porsche is located at 6113 Lemmon Avenue, near Dallas’ Love Field.

June 22, 2016June 24, 2016

Behind the Badge: Mercedes-Benz

A shining star on a postcard led to the creation of the world-recognized symbol that represents Mercedes-Benz today.

The history of Mercedes-Benz and their vision to be “the best or nothing” extends as far back as the late 1800’s. Gottlieb Daimler originally founded Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft (DMG) in 1890 while Carl Benz began Benz & Cie in 1883. Both businesses helped lay the foundation of motorized road transportation. After Daimler passed away in 1900, chief engineer Wilhelm Maybach took over and brought-on Austrian-born businessman and racing enthusiast- Emil Jellinek as a partner. Jellinek’s daughter Mercédès– her name meaning “grace” in Spanish –was the inspiration for the brand name as Jellinek popularized her name by using it as his racing pseudonym.

In 1909, Daimler’s two sons Paul and Adolf remembered a postcard their father sent their mom nearly 4-decades ago. The postcard featured a three-pointed star marking the location of his house in Germany, with the explanation that one day the star would shine over his factory and bring prosperity. (The History Behind the Mercedes-Benz Brand and the Three-pointed Star; by eMercedes-Benz) DMG took the star as the company’s logo. At the same time, Benz & Cie trademarked its own logo: a laurel wreath surrounding the company’s name.

On June 28, 1926 representatives of Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft (DMG) and Benz & Cie. signed the agreement for the merger of the two oldest automobile manufacturers in the world.

This marked the birth of Daimler AG and its globally renowned trademark: the three pointed star inside a laurel wreath.

The merger created the foundation for the present-day Daimler corporation. This alone shows the sustainable staying power of the historic merger. The economic conditions in Germany after the First World War were difficult. The same applied to the automobile industry and affected even prestigious companies like DMG and Benz & Cie. – “Germany’s two oldest and largest automobile factories”, as stated in the public announcement of the merger in 1926.

The merger was symbolized by the new brand logo of Mercedes-Benz, which was registered as a new trademark in February 1925. It connected the Mercedes star of Daimler with the laurel wreath of Benz.

The two original trademarks originated in the year 1909 and were continuously further developed until 1926. This was how the two companies began to hone up their presence in the signs system of the automobile industry at an early stage. In the early advertisements and other publications of Daimler-Benz AG, the former logos were therefore frequently shown together with the new brand name of Mercedes-Benz.

So what does the three-pronged star actually represent? According to Mercedes-Benz, it symbolizes the automaker’s drive toward universal motorization with its engines dominating the land, sea, and air (three points). This emblem and symbol further promotes their vision to be the leading luxury automobile brand, perfectly characterized by their slogan of “the best or nothing.”

For information about any Mercedes-Benz models, please contact:

Richard Wasson at Park Place Motorcars Arlington (817) 807-4811; RWasson@10.2.54.33

Zach Gilbert at Park Place Motorcars Dallas (214) 443-8212; ZGgilbert@10.2.54.33

Walter Reed at Park Place Motorcars Fort Worth (817) 263-3618; WReed@10.2.54.33

Matt McPherson at Park Place Motorcars Grapevine (817) 310-7361: MMcPherson@10.2.54.33

June 15, 2016

Park Place Dealerships – Texas Rangers Triple Play Game Show Spectacular Another Success

The 14th Annual Park Place Dealerships Texas Rangers Triple Game Show Spectacular was another great success. Park Place Dealerships is a proud sponsor of the event, which benefits the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation and supports numerous initiatives including the construction of the Texas Rangers MLB Youth Academy at Mercy Street Sports Complex in West Dallas.

The theme for the 2016 Park Place Dealerships Texas Rangers Triple Play was “Fields of Dreams.”

“Park Place Dealerships has been the presenting sponsor of this event since its inception in 2002,” said Rob Sumner, Park Place Dealerships’ director of marketing. “This event has it all: celebrity sightings, great entertainment, and most importantly, an opportunity to raise funds for our community where it is most needed. Working with the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation every year is a great experience and partnership as we have similar goals in helping kids maximize their potential.”

Last year’s Park Place Dealerships Texas Rangers Triple Play event raised more than $610,000 for the Rangers Baseball Foundation. Celebrating its 25th year, the Foundation has given back more than $14 million to help area children. The Foundation provides support for youth baseball programs, youth education, youth health, and youth in crisis.

“The Texas Rangers MLB Youth Academy really will be a field where dreams come true,” said Karin Morris, executive director of the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation. “This state-of-the-art facility will provide children across North Texas with a safe place to play baseball and softball. In addition to providing year-round baseball and softball instruction, the Academy will host tournaments, coaching clinics, and skills camps. It will also give young students access to tutoring programs, college prep classes, college and career fairs, financial literacy and internship programs, and MLB industry alternative career workshops.”

The Park Place Dealerships Texas Rangers Triple Play features live and silent auctions, which gives fans the opportunity to bid on fabulous live and silent auction items such as trips to see the Rangers play at Chicago’s Wrigley Field, Colorado’s Coors Field, and Houston’s Minute Maid Park, private hitting and pitching lessons with current Rangers players, and many other exclusive Rangers experiences.

One of the evening’s highlights is the Rangers’ players competing against each other in a pair of game shows. This year’s competitions saw the return of the very popular Fielders Feud and Minute to Win It.

The Texas Rangers players, coaches, and front office personnel attend the event so guests get unique access to players and management for autographs and to get a picture with a favorite player. Every year guests remark how much they enjoyed the up close and personal interaction with players and coaches.

June 14, 2016June 14, 2016

Experts in Excellence Recognize Experts in Education

It’s the award season we look forward to all year- the annual Teacher of the Year awards. From Allen and Plano to Carroll ISD, the events honoring the districts’ teachers are filled with excitement as teachers gather to congratulate and celebrate their colleagues, and share well wishes with teachers who are retiring.

Park Place Lexus Grapevine and Park Place Lexus Plano are proud supporters of the annual awards. To show our appreciation, the Teacher of the Year winners from each district are presented with a new Lexus to enjoy for the summer, tickets to a Texas Rangers game, and passes to the Dallas Arboretum all courtesy of Park Place Lexus Grapevine and Lexus Plano.

Amy Evans and Leslie Elkins are this year’s Carroll ISD Teachers of the Year. The ladies picked out their new summer rides at Park Place Lexus Grapevine. Amy Evans opted for the all-new 2016 Lexus RX 350 and Leslie Elkins went straight for the sporty 2016 Lexus RC.

Matt Woolsey- General Manager Park Place Lexus Grapevine; Amy Evans- Old Union Elementary Teacher of the Year

Matt Woolsey- General Manager Park Place Lexus Grapevine; Leslie Elkins- Carroll Middle School Teacher of the Year

Meanwhile in Plano. Plano Senior High School Math teacher Bryan Yee, fresh off his Teacher of the Year win, arrived to Park Place Lexus Plano with his family on a sunny Friday afternoon, to pick-up his Lexus for the summer. The all-new 2016 Lexus RX 350 was Mr. Yee’s Lexus of choice, a decision that was clearly approved by the “oohs” and “that’s cool, dad” from his two sons once they saw the SUV.

Mr. Yee isn’t the only Plano ISD Teacher of the Year winner. Park Place Lexus Plano was at the awards banquet where Erika Manning of Weatherford Elementary School took home the evening’s top honor.

Allen ISD teachers Jennifer Clements- Spanish teacher at Allen High School and Amanda Perkins- 3rd Grade teacher at Cheatham Elementary are this year’s Allen ISD Teachers of the Year. Jennifer and Amanda didn’t waste any time, they arrived together early Saturday morning to pick up their cars. Little did they know they picked matching cars…silver 2016 Lexus RC 350s.

(L to R) Jennifer Clements- Spanish teacher at Allen High School; Chris Brunner- General Manager Park Place Lexus Plano; Amanda Perkins- 3rd Grade teacher at Cheatham Elementary

The next day, we received the following e-mail from Jennifer Clements: “Thank you Park Place Lexus for the BEST SATURDAY EVER! From the moment I walked in to the dealership and was greeted by Michelle and Chris, I was treated like a Queen! The tour of the dealership revealed a beautiful facility designed specifically for the customers….even bagels, coffee, computer work stations and televisions for your short wait for your car service or car wash! Everyone on staff is so friendly, respectful and genuine! And then the moment, I had been waiting for….laying eyes on my RC 350 for the first time! A gorgeous sports coupe….all mine for the summer! WOW! I am blown away by the smooth drive, comfort, and innovative technology! Jesse explained all the gadgets and bells and whistles to me…making it so much simpler and comfortable to drive! A few fun pictures, some paperwork and goodbyes….and I was off! As I drove off the lot, I was smiling from ear to ear! Free Carwashes, Texas Rangers tickets, Valet Parking, Dallas Arboretum tickets…..THANK YOU PARK PLACE LEXUS FOR LOVING TEACHERS!!!”

Jennifer, Amanda, Bryan, Erika, Amy, and Leslie, we would like to thank YOU and all teachers for the selfless dedication and contribution to the community.

Check back for more as the teachers share their Summer in a Lexus stories and pictures.

June 8, 2016June 8, 2016

Baby Raccoons Rescued From Engine of Mercedes-Benz at Park Place Motorcars Grapevine

As dreary weather and torrential downpours eclipsed Texas last week, an unexpected discovery brought smiles to everyone’s faces at Park Place Motorcars Grapevine. A technician, working on a Mercedes-Benz brought in for service, came face to face with a baby raccoon…and 3 of its siblings.

Monty Butcher, a technician at Park Place Motorcars Grapevine, opened the hood of a car and found the underside of the hood had been damaged, which begged the question, what caused this damage? Joseph Gonzales was assisting and saw something move and then a little head peeked out from within the engine.

Immediately, Buddy Ward and Patrick Estes jumped in and started removing parts of the engine. When they realized there were several baby raccoons trapped, Mark Waugh- Body Shop Manager, Doug Prince, and Andrew Zendejas- Service Drive Supervisor helped extract the animals. The Park Place team was able to pull the four baby raccoons safely from the car and put them in a box.

In the meantime, Scotty MacLean headed off to the store to pick up a cage, pillow and milk to make them comfortable.

Of course, the raccoons had many visitors throughout the day at the dealership as everyone wanted to meet them!

A wildlife rescue organization has picked the babies up, where they will be raised until they are able to be released back into the wild.

Park Place has a wonderful history of rescuing animals from cars including a red-tailed hawk in 2011 that was caught in the grill of a Lexus and a kitten that was trapped behind the front grill last year. Each of these rescues has been a complete team effort!

May 27, 2016June 9, 2016

Carroll ISD Teachers of the Year to Spend the Summer in a Lexus

As if winning Teacher of the Year isn’t exciting enough, how about spending the summer in a brand new Lexus? Park Place Lexus Grapevine is treating two Teachers of the Year to a fun Summer with a luxurious Lexus to enjoy as well as goodie bag with Rangers tickets and Dallas Arboretum passes among many other items.

This year, Amy Evans from Old Union Elementary & Leslie Elkins of Carroll Middle School are the lucky winners.

(L to R) Matt Woolsey- General Manager Park Place Lexus Grapevine; Amy Evans- Old Union Elementary Teacher of the Year; Leslie Elkins- Carroll Middle School Teacher of the Year

Leslie Elkins- Carroll Middle School Teacher of the Year

Amy Evans- Old Union Elementary Teacher of the Year

Check back for more, as the teachers share their stories and pictures while enjoying their summer in a Lexus.

May 24, 2016May 24, 2016

Allen Teachers of the Year to Spend Summer in a Lexus

It’s the breakfast we look forward to all year- the Allen ISD Superintendent’s Recognition Breakfast honoring the district’s teachers and retirees. Excitement filled the room as teachers from across the district gathered to congratulate and celebrate their colleagues, and share well wishes with the teachers who will retire once the school year comes to a close.

More than a dozen teachers were recognized as teachers of the year at their schools, but there are only two District Teachers of the Year. Jennifer Clements- Spanish teacher at Allen High School and Amanda Perkins- 3rd Grade teacher at Cheatham Elementary are this year’s Allen ISD Teachers of the Year.

(L to R) Amanda Perkins- 3rd Grade teacher at Cheatham Elementary; Chris Brunner- General Manager Park Place Lexus Plano; Jennifer Clements- Spanish teacher at Allen High School

The winners received a variety of gifts, along with the favorite prize amongst teachers year after year- a summer in a Lexus courtesy of Park Place Lexus Plano.

Jennifer and Amanda didn’t waste any time. They arrived together early Saturday morning to pick up their cars. Little did they know they picked matching cars…2016 Lexus RC 350.

Jennifer Clements

Amanda Perkins

Park Place Lexus Plano is proud to support Allen ISD. Each year, two lucky Teacher of the Year winners from each district get to spend a summer in a Lexus, attend a Texas Rangers game, and spend the day at the Dallas Arboretum all courtesy of Park Place Lexus Plano.

Check back for Jennifer and Amanda’s Summer in a Lexus adventures.

May 23, 2016

2016 Plano ISD Experts in Excellence

Plano Senior High School Math teacher Bryan Yee has a fun summer to look forward to. Fresh from his Teacher of the Year win, Mr. Yee arrived to Park Place Lexus in Plano with his family on a sunny Friday afternoon, to pick-up his Lexus for the summer.

Park Place Lexus Plano is proud to support Plano ISD and provides a brand new Lexus for the Teacher of the Year winners to enjoy during the summer vacation.

Mr. Yee with New Car Sales Manager Doug Klein

The all-new 2016 Lexus RX 350 was Mr. Yee’s Lexus of choice, a decision that was clearly approved by the “oohs” and “that’s cool, dad” from his two sons once they saw the SUV.

Mr. Yee isn’t the only Plano ISD Teacher of the Year winner. Park Place Lexus Plano was at the awards banquet where Erika Manning of Weatherford Elementary School (Erika Manning- Plano ISD Teacher of the Year Profile) and Bryan Yee of Plano Senior High School (Bryan Yee- Plano ISD Teacher of the Year Profile) took home the evening’s top honor.

(Photo Credit: Plano ISD)

General Manager Chris Brunner (R) and Lead New Car Sales Manager, Patrick Jaccar (L) were on hand to congratulate the winners and present the “Summer in a Lexus” prize-pack, which also includes Texas Rangers tickets and Dallas Arboretum passes.

Park Place Dealerships would like to thank all the teachers for their selfless dedication and contribution to the community.

(Photo Credit: Plano ISD)

May 16, 2016May 17, 2016

Lexus’ L/Certified Best Overall Luxury CPO Program for 2016

Lexus’ L/Certified (Certified Pre-Owned) Program won top honors from Autotrader. The magazine recognized L/Certified as the best overall CPO program in the industry! “Among luxury automakers, Lexus’s CPO program “L/Certified” won top honors primarily due to its excellent warranty along with other alluring benefits. L/Certified offers limited bumper-to-bumper coverage for up to six years and unlimited mileage from the vehicle’s original sale date—a risky proposition, but one that shows the brand is willing to firmly stand behind its vehicles. Lexus’s program boasts no deductible for covered repairs, meaning that owners won’t have to pay a penny if their cars suffer a warranty claim. Icing on the cake is the fact that Lexus’s program touts complimentary maintenance covering the next four factory-recommended services for two years or 20,000 miles¬—a small benefit, but one that’s certainly worth mentioning.”

Certified pre-owned (CPO) vehicles are typically late-model, low-mileage vehicles that come with a host of perks like manufacturer-backed warranties, roadside assistance and more. While nearly every manufacturer offers a CPO program, the terms and benefits vary greatly. To make it easy for car shoppers to discover which CPO programs stand out, the experts at Autotrader® analyzed all brands’ CPO terms and selected the 10 best luxury and 10 best non-luxury CPO programs, with one overall winner and nine honorable mentions in each category. For 2016, Autotrader selected Lexus as the winner for Best CPO Program in the luxury category.

“The number one benefit of any CPO program is the warranty, so we decided that the length of warranty should be the top criteria when choosing this year’s Best CPO Programs,” said Brian Moody, executive editor at Autotrader.

CPO vehicles offer many of the same benefits of a new car without the higher price tag and steep depreciation. Each vehicle undergoes an extensive inspection defined by the manufacturer and must meet a variety of guidelines from age to mileage. Once certified, these vehicles come with a manufacturer-backed warranty, giving buyers the confidence they desire when purchasing a pre-owned vehicle. In fact, 64 percent of shoppers say that the certification process and warranty give them peace of mind.

LEARN MORE ABOUT LEXUS L/CERTIFIED HERE

SEE AVAILABLE LEXUS L/CERTIFIED VEHICLES HERE

For more information about Lexus L/Certified or other Pre-Owned vehicles, please contact:

Chris Collins, Pre-Owned Sales Director at Park Place Lexus Plano at 972-407-7025 or CCollins@10.2.54.33

Juan Puentes, Pre-Owned Sales Director at Park Place Lexus Grapevine at 817-416-3308 or JPuentes@10.2.54.33