Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation Escapes to Margaritaville
With a playful theme of “Escape to Margaritaville,” fans filled the Hilton Anatole ballroom May 5th looking for rare treasures, unbridled laughter and fun encounters with their favorite players and coaches at the sold-out 2019 Park Place Dealerships – Texas Rangers Triple Play Game Show Spectacular. And the Rangers hit a grand slam!
“The Park Place Dealerships – Texas Rangers Triple Play has always been our largest fundraising event and this year’s total made a record $770,000,” said Karin Morris, executive director of the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation. “The funds raised at this event directly impact our programming and partnerships. Since last year’s event, we have welcomed more than 25,000 kids to the Texas Rangers MLB Youth Academy at Mercy Street Sports Complex, presented by Toyota.”
The annual event featured Texas Rangers players, coaches, broadcasters, and alumni. Fans enjoyed unparalleled access to their favorite Rangers for autographs, photos and lively baseball conversations with a player, coach, former Rangers player or staff member seated at their table.
“This is the 15th year Park Place has been involved in this event and every year it surpasses our expectations,” said Jordan Case, Park Place Dealerships president. “Supporting the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation ensures children throughout North Texas will have opportunities to succeed through scholarships, new training facilities, and programs. Together, we are making our community stronger.”
(L to R) Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation executive director Karin Morris; and Park Place Dealerships president Jordan Case; with one of the Texas Rangers Baseball Club owners, Rangers COO and chairman of the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation Board Neil Leibman; Park Place Lexus Grapevine GM Gary Venner; Rangers manager Chris Woodward; and his wife, Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation Advisory board member Erin Woodward. Photo Credit: Michael Ainsworth
The live and silent auctions raised more than $225,000, also a record. The highest amount in the live auction was a $31,000 bid for a trip on a private jet with Hall of Fame catcher Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez to see the Rangers play against the Angels in Anaheim. The amount was doubled when the Rangers agreed to allow both of the two top bidders to take the trip for a total of $62,000 for the dream trip.
Other notable experiences included a roadtrip to Boston to see the Rangers play the Red Sox that included transportation on the team plane and dining with Hall of Fame pitcher Dennis Eckersley; a trip to the Dominican Republic for a tour of the Rangers’ new Baseball Academy; private hitting and pitching lessons with current Rangers players, and many other exclusive experiences. Memorabilia from the worlds of sports and entertainment included a license plate signed by the stars of “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off;” a framed photo autographed by legendary players Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio; an autographed seat back from the original Texas Stadium; a photo signed by the cast of “The Sandlot;” and countless signed jerseys and equipment from a wide range of sports.
Fans and players competed against each other in a spirited game of Heads or Tails. Tim Willett, auctioneer, would flip a coin and contestants placed their hands on either their head or derriere. If the coin landed on tails, all those with hands on their heads would sit down.
– Rangers players (L-toR) Rougned Odor, Elvis Andrus, Joey Gallo and Hunter Pence play Heads or Tails
Contestants were eliminated round by round until only two people were left on stage. Willett tossed the coin for one final flip, and Leta Farnsworth won tickets to the Paul McCartney and Billy Joel concerts later this year at Globe Life Park.
The highlight of the evening is always when the players compete in a pair of game shows. The entertainment began with a new game: Heads Up, where a player holds a card up to their forehead with a word or name written on it. Their teammates then give them clues to try to guess the answer. Rangers pitchers Jesse Chavez and Chris Martin were teamed up with catcher Jeff Mathis to battle Rangers’ bullpen coach Oscar Marin and pitchers Shelby Miller and Drew Smyly. The resulting antics were hilarious as players stammered and shouted answers under pressure as they tried to beat the clock. Jesse Chavez was holding a card with “Kanye West” on it and his teammates prompted him with, “Kim Kardashian’s husband!” To which Chavez replied, “Chloe?” The audience erupted in laughter.
The Rangers’ rookies never fail to entertain. Kyle Dowdy, Brett Martin, Adrian Sampson and Ariel Jurado performed a hysterical skit to “Old Town Road” by Lil Nas X, featuring Billy Ray Cyrus. Don’t worry. They won’t be taking this show on the road any time soon. But it certainly made for some memorable moments.
Rangers’ rookies Kyle Dowdy, Brett Martin, Adrian Sampson and Ariel Jurado perform a skit (Photo by Michael Ainsworth)
If you think the Rangers are competitive on the field, imagine what happens when the infielders match wits with the outfielders in Fielders Feud, a popular spinoff of the popular Family Feud TV game show. Players tried to guess the top answers given by 100 Rangers fans in a survey taken at Globe Life Park. Both teams were stumped when it came time to guess the fans’ responses to the question, “What are your favorite memories from Globe Life Park?”
Rangers Hall of Fame broadcaster Eric Nadel moderates Fielders Feud with Infielders Isiah Kiner-Falefa , Logan Forsythe, Rougned Odor and Elvis Andrus competing against Outfielders Hunter Pence, Delino DeShields Jr, Joey Gallo and Nomar Mazara
Players were able to match answers such as “Beltre’s 3000th hit” and “Striking out A-Rod in the ALCS.” But the crowd let out a gasp when “Rougie’s Punch” was not one of the top answers.
“The Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation was recognized last year with the Allan H. Selig Award for Philanthropic Excellence for our Richard Greene Scholars program,” concluded Karin Morris. “As part of this recognition, the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation will receive a $10,000 grant from Major League Baseball Charities.”
Named after the former Mayor of Arlington who led the campaign to keep the Rangers in Arlington and construct Globe Life Park, the Richard Greene Scholars program provides a $10,000 scholarship every year to a student at each of the Arlington ISD high schools. During the recipient’s senior year, he/she rotates through an internship every six weeks at different community service and local government entities.
Now in its 22nd year of operation, the Richard Greene Scholars program has provided more than $1.2 million in college scholarships to Arlington high school students. In addition to financial aid, the program has become a cornerstone leadership development program by engaging recipients with local civic and business communities, including Arlington ISD, the Arlington Chamber of Commerce, the City of Arlington, the Texas Rangers and the Rangers Baseball Foundation, and several other civic partners.
Since its inception in 1991, the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation has invested more than $30 million in our community to help children through support of programs including the Texas Rangers MLB Youth Academy at Mercy Street Sports Complex, presented by Toyota; youth fitness and wellness programs like the just keep livin programs; scholarships and summer programming for children in challenging circumstances.
Ken Schnitzer founded Park Place Dealerships in 1987 with a single Mercedes-Benz dealership on Oak Lawn. Today, Park Place employs more than 2,000 people and operates 16 full-service dealerships representing luxury brands including Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, McLaren and Maserati. For more info, visit parkplace.com.
Park Place Dealerships and Baylor Scott & White Irving Foundation have partnered for the 3rd Annual Park Place Luxury & Supercar Showcase, Dallas Fort Worth’s premier luxury lifestyle and automotive event, to be held at the Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas on Saturday, September 28. Proceeds will benefit the Baylor Scott & White Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center – Irving.
“Partnering with Baylor Scott & White Irving Foundation allows Park Place to give back directly to the local community that has embraced the event for the past two years,” said Liz Shafton, Experiential Marketing Director at Park Place Dealerships. “We are excited to introduce a raffle to the Park Place Luxury & Supercar Showcase that will allow one lucky winner to take delivery of a new car! Proceeds from the raffle also will work in tandem with the Four Seasons Resort and Club’s efforts to fund a CT Scanner, the Discovery RT, at the hospital.”
Park Place and Baylor Scott & White Irving Foundation will offer the opportunity to win a 2020 Lexus UX—the first-ever Lexus compact crossover—along with the award-winning ownership experience that makes Park Place feel like your place.
In addition to a juried Collectors’ Concours, Park Place will offer fashion, food and retail offerings within the Porsche Pavilion. There will be music performances on the Lexus Live Stage and beverages at The Mercedes-Benz Beer Garden on the lush Four Seasons TPC Championship golf course.
Tickets
Ranging from $25 – $50 for general admission and $100 for VIP All Access, which includes the VIP Lounge with complimentary food and beverages from dozens of the area’s finest restaurants, tickets are on sale at LuxurySupercarShowcase.com.VIP Tickets are limited and have sold out the previous two years.
Park Place Dealerships represents some of the most coveted brands in the world, including Rolls-Royce, Maserati, McLaren, Bentley, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, Lexus, Volvo, Land Rover, and Jaguar which will all be featured at the event.
Fabulous Fashions
Highland Park Village will present a runway show produced by Jan Strimple Productions for the second year. The fashion show will feature looks from prestigious brands presented exclusively in the climate-controlled pavilion on the resort grounds, with retail pop-ups for guests to shop the day of the event.
Dallas’ Mad Hatter Shane Walker will return to judge the 2019 Haute Hat Contest on The Million Air Stage with categories for stylish men and women. Guests are encouraged to pair a hat with their favorite resort-inspired ensemble.
Within the event will be a juried Collectors’ Concours, featuring a diverse selection of rare supercars, luxury, sports, vintage and classic cars from private collectors. The event also will include a Car Club Expo powered by Park Up Front as well as a Kid’s Zone complete with drivable cars for the littlest enthusiast.
About Baylor Scott & White Irving Foundation
Baylor Scott & White Irving Foundation was established by civil leaders as a public charity in 1977 to raise funds for nonprofit healthcare in Irving. To date, more than $45 million has been raised for nonprofit beneficiaries in Irving.
About Park Place Dealerships
Ken Schnitzer founded Park Place Dealerships in 1987 with a single Mercedes-Benz dealership on Oak Lawn. Today, Park Place Dealerships employs more than 2,000 people and operates 16 full-service dealerships representing luxury brands including Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, McLaren, and Maserati. For more info, visit parkplace.com
Grammy Award-winning artist Kirk Franklin
celebrates the consistency in music and family
Kirk Franklin was raised in Fort Worth, Texas, and was adopted by his 64-year-old Aunt, Gertrude Franklin.
“I had a rough childhood,” says Franklin. “I didn’t know my mother or my father. I had a lot of abandonment issues. So, I got into a lot of trouble and didn’t do well in school. But Gertrude really believed in my musical gifts. So, from the time I was four I would take piano lessons once a week.”
Gertrude paid for his piano lessons by recycling aluminum cans and old newspapers.
“Unfortunately, Gertrude died before she heard any of the music that I recorded. So, she didn’t get a chance to see me get my life together. I kind of live with that ‘chasing the ghost’ type of energy in my life.”
Franklin organized “The Family” in 1992, forming a 17-voice choir with neighborhood friends and associates. Their debut album, “Kirk Franklin & The Family,” was released in 1993. Eventually earning platinum album sales, it spent nearly two years on the Gospel music charts, as well as moving up the R&B and Pop charts.
It was the first gospel music album to sell over a million units.
The group released “Whatcha Lookin’ 4” in 1996, sealing Franklin’s stardom. The album was certified 2X Platinum, and earned Franklin his first Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album.
Since his debut in 1992, Franklin has received six platinum certifications on his albums, including the 3X Platinum “Gods Property,” which won him a second Grammy for Best Gospel Choir or Chorus Album.
Franklin has worked with a variety of artists over the years, including Cheryl “Salt” James of Salt-N-Pepa, Whitney Houston, Mary J. Blige, Bono, and TobyMac. The winner of more than 40 Stellar Awards, 16 Dove Awards and 14 GRAMMY Awards, Franklin states, “I really believe it happened because I am a firm believer in the message I preach.”
“One thing about music is that you can’t have a bunch of musicians playing what they want to play,” explained Franklin. “They have to play what the song demands. So, what you don’t want to feel is that everyone is playing different notes, because it’s not a melody… it’s not a nice harmony. And it doesn’t sound good, nor does it feel good. The star in the room is always the song.”
“What I love about Park Place is that the star in the room every time you go is always the client. You can tell that they have been rehearsing, that everybody’s playing the same note.”
“Park Place team members are committed every day to create an ownership experience that can’t be found anywhere else,” explains Dave Evans, Park Place Dealerships Chief Marketing Officer. “Our clients tell us fabulous stories about Park Place members who have gone above and beyond to make their experience memorable. We want people to think of Park Place as My Place.”
“Coming from a past where a lot of things in my childhood were very inconsistent, consistency has been something I have always strived for,” Franklin concludes.
“Park Place is ‘My Place’ because they make me feel like a classic song.”
Education is one of Park Place’s main pillars of giving back and since 2017, the dealership has donated $10,000 to the Arlington ISD Education Foundation. In addition, Park Place Motorcars Arlington’s Circle of Excellence held a coat drive and other initiatives in support of the district.
Located at I-20 and Collins in Arlington, the 91,000-square-foot Mercedes-Benz dealership recently showcased the all-new 2019 A-Class, an entry-level luxury compact for today’s tech-savvy driver. Test drives are available for the A-Class and all other available models at Park Place Motorcars Arlington.
Ken Schnitzer founded Park Place Dealerships in 1987 with a single Mercedes-Benz dealership on Oak Lawn. Today, Park Place Dealerships employs more than 2,000 people and operates 16 full-service dealerships in Dallas, Fort Worth and Houston. For more info, visit parkplace.com.
Carroll Education Foundation (CEF) has been integral in supplementing funds for teachers and educators to bridge the gap between state funding and the needs of the teachers to provide a quality education to Dragon students. For the past 11 years, Park Place Dealerships has supported CEF and will be the presenting sponsor of the Carroll Education Foundation Gala next month.
With a theme of “A Night with Carroll Superstars,” the CEF Gala will be held Saturday, May 18 at The Bowden in Keller. The CISD Superstar Teachers will be revealed. The event is already 85% sold. More information is available at carrolleducationfoundation.org/annual-gala/
Gary Venner, Robert Hinkle, Kathy Talley, Leighanne Christon and Matt Woolsey at the Carroll Education Foundation reception at Park Place Motorcars in Grapevine, Texas on April 4 2019. (Michael Ainsworth)
A kick-off reception was recently held at Park Place Motorcars Grapevine in conjunction with the launch of the all-new Mercedes-Benz A-Class sedan and the new GLE SUV.
Starting at a base price of $33,000, the sporty new A-Class is the entry-level luxury compact for today’s tech-savvy driver. With advanced voice recognition software, as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, the car responds to commands and requests much like the smart phones. Powered by a turbocharged inline 4-cyclinder engine that pumps out 188 horsepower, and driven by a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission with manual shifting, this peppy sedan can go from 0-to-60 mph in about six seconds.
The fourth-generation GLE, priced at $58,000, is king of the mid-sized SUVs. Standing tall on the new “Modular High Architecture” platform, the GLE looks great and performs even better. Both come with Mercedes’ nine-speed automatic transmission.
Both models also feature dual 12.3-inch screens mounted side by side on the dash, one for virtual gauges and the other for the infotainment touchscreen. Simply say, “Hey, Mercedes,” and the new MBUX system’s voice-command feature will respond to commands such as “Find the nearest restaurant,” and it will set the destination in the navigation system. Say, “I’m cold,” and it’ll raise the interior temperature. Like your smart phone, the more you use it the more it gets to know your preferences.
ABOUT CARROLL EDUCATION FOUNDATION
The Carroll Education Foundation’s mission is to build financial support from the community and corporate partners to ensure excellence in education for all students in CISD.
ABOUT PARK PLACE DEALERSHIPS
Ken Schnitzer founded Park Place Dealerships in 1987 with a single Mercedes-Benz dealership on Oak Lawn. Today, Park Place Dealerships employs more than 2,000 people and operates 16 full-service dealerships in Dallas, Fort Worth and Houston. For more info, visit parkplace.com.
Students from Skyline High School in Dallas ISD got a unique look into working at a luxury dealership upon graduation. Park Place Dealerships hosted more than 40 students from Skyline this morning for a tour of the Mercedes-Benz and Porsche dealerships on Lemmon Avenue.
The students were able to explore the service areas, showrooms, training rooms, and parts departments of both dealerships and learn about jobs within the company, including access to unique technician opportunities. Park Place regularly provides students with access to master technicians, general managers, human resources, service managers, and leadership from the company so students can personally see the opportunities that are available to them.
One of the most popular questions asked today was, “how much money can I make by working at Park Place?” Cam Mayfield, service director at Park Place, responded with an overview of pay for different jobs. The student’s eyes lit up when they heard a master certified technician has the potential to be paid upwards of six figures at Park Place.
Because of the company’s growth, Park Place is continually looking to develop the highest quality technicians for its 16 full-service dealerships located across Dallas-Fort Worth. Park Place hired numerous high school graduates as technicians in 2018.
To learn more on how to apply or refer a future technician to our DFW programs visit Park Place Careers.
Ken Schnitzer founded Park Place Dealerships in 1987 with a single Mercedes-Benz dealership on Oak Lawn. Today, Park Place Dealerships employs more than 2,000 people and represents luxury brands including Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, McLaren, and Maserati. For more info, visit parkplace.com.
The intersection of education and sports
forever changed two local men’s lives. From young athlete, to coach, to client, Dr. Nate Hearne shares his perspective on trust.
Dr. Nate Hearne grew up in poverty: one of eight children living in a small three-room house that lacked indoor plumbing. His mother worked as a domestic helper and his father a gas station attendant in a small West Texas town. He struggled with trust issues. But he left a lasting legacy on many young people along the way.
“I grew up wearing hand-me-down clothes with patches sewn on them,” says Dr. Hearne. “I hated elementary school. I wanted to quit. But when I started seventh grade, I had a science teacher, Mr. Clyde Hague, who greeted me every day with a smile, a firm handshake, and an encouraging word. Because of his affirmations in the classroom, I came to a self-awareness that those C’s and D’s I made in elementary school were not an indication of my intelligence.”
Dr. Hearne met another strong influencer when he tried out for seventh grade football.
“Because of my football coach, Mark Wallace, who affirmed me on the field every day, I came to the awareness that those clothes with patches on them and holes in my shoes were not indications of who I was going to be.”
Athlete to Coach to Client
Hearne went from being a kid who hated school to wanting to be a coach and a science teacher.
“Those men saved my life. I continued making good grades. I went to high school and made the honor roll. I attended college on an academic scholarship. I coached football and taught science for 25 years. And the only reason I went into teaching and coaching was to live out those two men’s legacies. Every athlete that I coached, I wanted to give him that big Coach Wallace hug and tell them, ‘I knew you could do it.’ I wanted to affirm every student that came into my classroom as Mr. Hague had done for me.’’
Friday Night Lights
Dr. Hearne was an assistant coach in the Permian High School football program when they won six State Championships. In 1988, an author followed Permian through their football season and wrote “Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, and A Dream,” which made the New York Times “Top Ten Bestsellers” List. In 2004, the film was released. A few years later the television show became an Emmy-Award winning series.
“When my book, “Friday Night Lights: Untold Stories from Behind the Lights” was released, many former students reconnected with me,” said Dr. Hearne. “One of those students was Tony Carimi. I was his basketball coach when he was a 16-year-old high school sophomore. Recently, Tony invited me to speak at the annual executive leadership meeting for his company, Park Place Dealerships, and we reminisced about the good ol’ days.”
A Coach’s Impact
Today, Tony Carimi is the Chief Operating Officer at Irving–based Park Place Dealerships.
“Coach, do you remember that conditioning drill you had us do called snakes?” Carimi asked. “I said, “Yes, I definitely do.”
For this drill players would run out of the main gym and up into the stands. They would run up and down the stairs, snaking their way through the stands, across all the stands. And they’d have to do this before practice even began.
“Tony could run those snakes drill all day and never break a sweat. He ran his hardest and never quit… never slowed down. I remember one day hearing the upper classmen berating Tony.”
“Carimi, slow down. You’re making the rest of us look bad, if you don’t slow down we’re going to get you after practice,” his teammate said.
“I blew the whistle to end the conditioning, and called Tony over. I looked him in the eye. ‘Carimi, don’t you EVER let anyone else dictate your behavior on this team. You have been blessed with a special gift, and I want you to use that gift every single day,’ I told him.”
“You have individuals and experiences that leave an everlasting impression on your life,” remembers Carimi.
“Coach taught me valuable leadership and character qualities. He invested in cultivating and growing not only great athletes but even better humans. He personally helped maximize my potential for the short-term goal of winning a game, while planting seeds to help maximize my potential in the larger game of life.”
The Right Touch
Dr. Hearne and Carimi recently teamed up to make a dream come true for Dr. Hearne’s wife, Callie.
“I wanted to do something special for my wife’s birthday,” recalls Dr. Hearne. “As I drove by the Park Place Motorcars store in Arlington one day, I remembered how Callie always dreamed of driving a Mercedes-Benz. But I absolutely hate the car buying experience. It’s just hard for me to trust.”
Park Place has just the right touch with its “One Touch” solution, providing clients with a single person to walk them through the entire purchasing process. This allows the sales associate and client to build trust to help with all of the client’s needs.
Dr. Hearne remembered Tony was in upper management at Park Place and gave him a call. Carimi said, ‘Coach, don’t worry about it. Call your wife and have her meet you at the dealership.’
“When she sat in the car, I asked how she liked it, said Hearne. “Of course, she said she loved it. And then I told her it was hers. Even the receptionist was crying. It was a magical moment.”
An Honor to Give Back
“For me, it is an honor to be part of something so special in his life,” said Carimi. “To help Dr. Hearne purchase Callie’s dream car was a role that was decades in the making. For me to be a member of an organization that reflects the constant striving for excellence that he helped impress upon me as a young man, brings the story full circle. Through my role at Park Place, combined with the relationship I have had with Dr. Hearne for more than 30 years, I was able to leave an impression on his life.”
“My wife and I had never been treated with such respect and professionalism before in the car buying experience,” concluded Dr. Hearne. “Park Place is ‘My Place’ because it’s all about the service.”
“It is more than just games won or transactions that business creates,” said Carimi. “To know that Dr. Hearne is able to look in his rearview mirror as he leaves our dealership and say, ”wow,” makes all of those snake drills worth it!”
Park Place Dealerships revealed its new mobile pop up at the 2019 DFW Auto Show this past March. The Mobile Experience Unit will be used across DFW at events throughout North Texas to bring the Park Place brand directly to the automotive enthusiast.
“The mobile pop up gives us the opportunity to expand the presence of our brand beyond the parameters of the dealership,” said Dave Evans, Chief Marketing Officer at Park Place Dealerships. “Experiences play a huge role with customers today and are the main drivers of customer engagement. We believe the mobile pop up allows us to engage with the consumer wherever we want to take it.”
During the DFW Auto Show, the pop up will be onsite to deliver an inclusionary experience for everyone who stops to visit the Park Place area. The mobile unit has already provided innovative experiences for clients at both the 2018 Park Place Luxury & Supercar Showcase and at the COTA track.
Park Place continues to be an innovator in the automotive space by developing unique offerings to expose current and potential clients to the brands. In the past year, Park Place introduced and expanded Park Place Select, an automotive subscription service.
“As a company, we must be in tune with where our clients spend their time and how they use their vehicles,” remarked Evans. “Our client’s transportation needs are as diverse as they are, and range from attending festivals and sporting events to shuttling friends and family to racing their cars, or simply enjoying life. We expect the mobile pop up will help us deliver an unparalleled, client-focused experience.”
Ken Schnitzer founded Park Place Dealerships in 1987 with a single Mercedes-Benz dealership on Oak Lawn. Today, Park Place Dealerships employs more than 2,000 people and operates 16 full-service dealerships representing luxury brands including Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, McLaren, and Maserati. For more info, visit parkplace.com.
The 11th annual Park Place Lexus Allen ISD Eagle Run took place on March 2nd at Eagle Stadium in Allen and attracted more than 3,600 participants. The event included a family fun walk/run and 5K with participants and spectators enjoying a festival-like atmosphere including a mascot run, giveaways, musical entertainment and photo opportunities.
Park Place Lexus Plano was the title sponsor for the event and is a champion of the Foundation for Allen Schools which supports educational grants, scholarships, and a reimbursement program for educators. The Foundation has invested more than $1 million in Allen ISD teachers and students.
“Supporting educators and students in our community today has a long-term benefit for the business community,” said Chris Brunner, General Manager at Park Place Lexus Plano. “When we have strong, education programs, we are graduating students with bright futures that will make their way to the work force. We hope to hire some of these students to be a part of the Park Place team in the future.”
While the weather was chilly on March 2, the enthusiasm of participants heated up the event. The winner of the 5k was 28-year old Aaron Pearson with a time of 17:26.
Park Place Dealerships was founded in 1987 with one dealership in Dallas and today employs more than 2,000 people operating 16 full-service dealerships in Dallas, Fort Worth and Houston. Park Place Lexus Plano is located on the Dallas North Tollway at Spring Creek Parkway. For more info, visit parkplace.com.
Mercedes-Benz joins the automotive world in making room for women with the She’s Mercedes campaign, beginning with the story of Bertha Benz.
As the automotive world continues to shift its efforts to make room for women, Mercedes-Benz has made an effort to highlight the amazing professionals who strive to be difference makers within their communities.
Flashback to the very first long distance car ride in 1886, as Bertha Benz – wife of Karl Benz – ensured that the automobile concept that her husband had would carry out the best or nothing principle Mercedes owners enjoy today. There are so many women that strive for excellence with their tenacious grit. Unfortunately, many of these women also go unnoticed.
Mercedes-Benz has other ideas. The brand has inspired an initiative to empower women all over the world who aim to achieve personal and professional success. She’s Mercedes is a hub where women can connect and exchange ideas, share experiences, and learn from one another. The networking circle aims to create conversation, develop new ideas, and drive determination. Women from several backgrounds and industries are encouraged to attend events where they engage in dialogue about their career achievements, mistakes, and goals.
On March 11, 2019, Hollywood star Gwyneth Paltrow was a VIP guest at the “She’s Mercedes Dinner” during the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in Austin, Texas. During an interview session, Paltrow discussed with many professionals in industries ranging from business and fashion to creative and tech. The Goop founder also acknowledged the issues of balancing health, work and family life.
“It’s fantastic that we are able to welcome Gwyneth Paltrow as our guest at our ‘She’s Mercedes Dinner’ at SXSW,” said Kerstin Heiligenstetter, Head of She’s Mercedes. “As a successful actress, entrepreneur and mother she has been a role model for the power and skills of women for many years, so she embodies the objectives which we want to intensify and promote with She’s Mercedes.”
The platform has been a pillar of Mercedes’ “Best Customer Experience” strategy since 2015. The brand’s goal is to dive deeper into dialogue with women and increase the significance of the brand for the group. For more information on the initiative follow Mercedes.me/she and its social media channels on LinkedIn and Instagram. She’s Mercedes continues to grow and encourages women to join the She’s Mercedes Lounge and connect with fellow successful counterparts.
As we celebrate Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day (March 8th) during March, we must remember to appreciate the unwavering integrity our women achieve every day. Whether you’re a Golden Globe and Oscars award winning actress like Paltrow or new to the automotive industry, there are many opportunities for women to own during their careers.
If you have interest showcasing your people passion at Park Place, please visit www.parkplace.com/careers to begin or continue a career in automotive. If you’re interested in learning more about Women in Automotive Council from a few council members, stay tuned as Park Place shares more about this dynamic initiative.
