Meet the Man Behind the Wheel of Park Place Premier Collection

A corner office with a view is great, but Heath Strayhan prefers an office with a view of high-end European luxury vehicles. Originally from Calgary, Canada, he now calls Texas home and is the General Manager of Park Place Premier Collection.

Heath’s high-energy leadership style and high-expectations from his team are befitting of the Premier Collection’s brands and the clients they serve. “Our members (employees) know what is expected of them and are given the autonomy to execute at a high level,” says Heath.

From Bentley and Rolls-Royce to McLaren and Maserati, the Premier Collection is home to high-end vehicles that exude an air of exclusivity. It’s also the premier destination for clients who want the best of the best, and Heath and his team are ready to deliver.

Getting to where he is today took a lot of hard work and dedication. After graduating from SMU with a degree in Economics with Financial Applications, Heath was recruited by Nissan to work as a collections representative.  Shortly thereafter, he went to work for Mercedes-Benz Credit Corp as an analyst.

Having been immersed in the automotive industry for a while, Heath turned his attention to Park Place Dealerships.  He saw the company as “a forward-thinking organization that was becoming more involved in internet sales,” and he saw a lot of potential for the future.

Starting in sales at Mercedes-Benz, he quickly transitioned to Bentley, Rolls-Royce, and Maserati in 2005 when they introduced their new models. “I have a passion for our brands and this business” says Heath, “and the fact that the parent manufacturers have continued to invest in these brands has helped foster the growth of our organization.”

Seventeen years later, he is behind the wheel of the most prestigious dealership in DFW.  With Heath on board, Park Place Premier Collection has won numerous awards including the top honors of 2014 McLaren International Dealer of the Year and 2013 Rolls-Royce North American Dealer of the Year.

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2013 Rolls-Royce North American Dealer of the Year Award Recipient

In the Summer of 2015, Park Place Premier Collection received National attention when Heath and his team, along with Make A Wish, and Bugatti granted a 7-year-old boy his wish to ride in a $3-Million Bugatti Veyron.

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Read the Bugatti Make-A-Wish story here.

Furthermore, Heath is the North American representative on Bentley Academy Dealer Board and the Southern Region representative on Rolls-Royce Dealer Board.

In his free time he plays men’s league hockey on a team called the Beavers.  Family time includes attending volleyball and lacrosse tournaments with his wife and 3 children. Working on home improvement project also helps him unwind. And, Heath is a supporter of the March of Dimes, as his daughters were born premature.

So what’s the secret to Heath’s success? “Park Place is a standout organization in our industry. In that, you should be prepared to engage in your career at an incomparable level and understand that what works for others may not work for us.”

Toys for Tots & Good Cheer for All

Tis the season to give back, and give they did. What started out as a toy drive for Toys for Tots turned into a shopping spree for the Park Place Motorcars Grapevine team.

The generosity didn’t end with toy donations- collecting 3 full boxes of toys, many associates donated money. Word spread like wildfire and more donations came pouring in.

Having raised nearly One-Thousand Dollars, their efforts didn’t go unnoticed. General Manager Robert “Santa” Hinkle saw the generosity and determination of his associates to give Toys for Tots as much as they could, so he personally matched the monetary donations.

The team, including Santa Hinkle himself, channeled their inner child and went toy shopping.

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Carts, filled to the brim, overflowing with toys zigzagged through the aisles. From dolls, to stuffed animals, to bicycles no item was too big or too small.

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The excitement in the store was contagious as Santa and his elves shopped for kids, anticipating the excitement on their faces on Christmas Morning.

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At the end of the day, Park Place Motorcars Grapevine delivered a Sprinter van FULL of toys to Toys for Tots.

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Although the toy drive just wrapped up, we’re already looking forward to the next one. The experience and the coming-together as a team to benefit the community was a fun and unforgettable experience.

Park Place Motorcars Arlington Grand Opening Celebration

Park Place Dealerships recently celebrated the grand opening of its new Mercedes-Benz dealership at I-20 and Collins in Arlington. The fête attracted more than 750 guests, who also brought hundreds of toys to donate to the Boys & Girls Club of Arlington.

When we opened our first Mercedes-Benz dealership in 1987, we had 128 members (employees),” said Ken Schnitzer, chairman of Park Place Dealerships. “Today, we have more than 2,000 members across 18 dealerships. With the opening of Park Place Motorcars Arlington, our fourth Mercedes-Benz dealership in North Texas, we’ve added another 76 members and expect that number to grow.”

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The University of Texas at Arlington drumline lined the entrance to the new dealership as guests arrived, setting the tempo for a spirited evening.

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The party spread throughout the dealership and on to the service drive as guests mixed and mingled and sampled a variety of scrumptious fare from area restaurants, including Blue Mesa, the Melting Pot, Lombardi’s Taverna, Andalous Mediterranean Grill and Chamas do Brazil.

Libations ranged from classic Hendricks Gin and modern Reyka Solerno martinis to Krombacher beer and Robert Mondavi wines.

The Mercedes-Benz Club of America – Fort Worth Section brought several classic cars to the party, including a 1960 Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Cabriolet owned by Cecile & DJ de Jesus, which was prominently displayed in the new car showroom next to a 2016 AMG SL63 Retractable Hardtop Convertible.

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The Jennifer Baldwin Combo entertained guests with soothing jazz in one of the two new car showrooms.

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Guests glammed it up in the photo booth and savored frozen treats by Frost 321.   Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams set the stage for comfortable relaxation with custom seating  in The Star Lounge After-Party, featuring Drambuie cocktails and V-gars along with decadent desserts from Nothing Bundt Cakes. DJ Andre had guests dancing into the night to classic hits and soul music.

Park Place Motorcars Arlington features two showrooms designed to showcase 16 new vehicles, a shop with 35 service bays and 10 make ready bays, as well as a beautiful client lounge and a private kids playroom. In 2016, Mercedes-Benz is introducing 10 new vehicles in the U.S.; including a new four-door mid-sized SUV, several new diesel models, a plug-in hybrid C-Class and a sleek new SLK roadster.

For more information about a new or pre-owned Mercedes-Benz, please contact:

Richard Wasson, New Car Sales Director at (817) 807-4811; RWasson@10.2.54.33

Joel Moss, Pre-Owned Sales Director at (817) 807-4812; JMoss@10.2.54.33

 

Porsche 911: The Best vs The Best

Your best and greatest challenger is yourself. To do better and grow, compete with the person you were yesterday. Greatness comes from within. From pitting you against you. Onto the greatest version of you. What would happen if Muhammad Ali stepped in the ring against himself? Or if Maria Sharapova faced off against herself. And if Magnus Carlsen sat across a board from himself. Only the best have a chance against the best.

What happens when a Porsche 911 meets a new Porsche 911 on the road? Only a Porsche 911 can beat a Porsche 911.

Porsche takes a look at the greatest competition and how it challenged itself to create the new Porsche 911.

For more information about Porsche please contact:

Pete Hodges at Park Place Porsche (214) 525-5408 or PHodges@10.2.54.33

Friendly Competition Benefits Tarrant Area Food Bank

Nearly 2-tons of food were donated to the Tarrant Area Food Bank, thanks to the amazing efforts by the team at Park Place Motorcars FW. When General Manager George Johnson issued a challenge to his team members, they rose to the occasion. And George- well, he had to go shopping!

Two teams competed to see who can collect the most canned goods, and encourage others to do the same. As donations trickled in, George upped the ante: he’ll go out and buy enough canned goods to match all the donations.

That spurred an outpour of donations, with 1,819 food items collected. George was excited to go shopping! He brought in a heavy-duty Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van for the shopping trip.

It was off to the grocery store. Going through the aisles and loading the cart with boxes of canned goods, it looked a lot like the old TV show “Supermarket Sweep.”

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With help from the store associates and Park Place team members, they loaded up the Sprinter van.

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The Park Place Motorcars Fort Worth team delivered over THREE-THOUSAND pounds of food to the Tarrant Area Food Bank. 3,557 pounds or 1.78 tons to be exact.

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$50,000 Cash Left Behind in a Mercedes-Benz

Service technician Juan Ibarra was working on a Mercedes-Benz SL550, that Park Place Motorcars Fort Worth received as a trade-in, when he discovered a bag in the trunk. When he opened the bag he saw stacks of $100 bills.
I jumped back like I’d seen a snake,” said Ibarra. “My first thought was, ‘is this dirty money?’ I immediately took it to my service director. Nobody wanted to touch it. We didn’t even count it.

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Juan has always been a real ‘go-to’ guy,” said George Johnson, General Manager at Park Place Motorcars Fort Worth. “He’s a man of the highest integrity. I’m very proud of him.”

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Juan Ibarra with Park Place Motorcars FW General Manager- George Johnson

It never even crossed my mind to take any of the money,” said Ibarra. “We just wanted to find out who the money belonged to and get it back to them.”

It took about a week before the owner was tracked down. Turns out he was a bail bondsman and the cash didn’t exactly belong to him either. The money was given to him for a bond. Needless to say, he was very relieved to get it back.

After counting the money, he confirmed that all $50,000 was accounted for and was thankful someone honest had found it.   “About a month later the guy came back with a nice card and some money in it,” said Ibarra. “The card was enough for me. He was very grateful.”

Maserati Expands 2016 Portfolio

The 2016 Maserati line-up has two powerful new additions in its latest product portfolio. The Italian automaker is now offering an S version of its Ghibli and Quattroporte sedans, each equipped with a high-powered V6 410 HP rear-wheel drive variant. Maserati also introduces new enhanced safety and convenience features to its expanded range of sedans such as Start & Stop System, Blind Spot & Rear Cross Path alert, Power Trunk Lid/Hands Free feature, premium Harman Kardon 900 watt audio system, Clari-Fi on Bowers & Wilkins sound system, SIRI Smart Personal Assistant and a new wheel collection.

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Other product highlights include exclusive Ermenegildo Zegna specially fashioned interior trim package now available on both Ghibli and Quattroporte models. Designed in collaboration with the legendary Italian fashion brand, these silk interiors are specially outfitted and woven, much like a fine Italian suit. Available in three color variants (Nero, Cuoio and Rosso), this tailored interior option is now available on the 2016 Maserati sport sedans and will later extend to the full Maserati range.

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Maserati continues to offer its range-topping GranTurismo coupe and convertible models. The GranCabrio Sport and GranTurismo MC Centennial Edition feature an exceptional degree of personalization for clientele to pair with its vigorous naturally aspirated V8 engine and signature drive. The GT line is the ultimate expression of Maserati’s design ethos, combined with the purest of driving pleasure.

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As Maserati expands its offerings, it continues to strengthen its position and grow its share in the luxury segment. The Company persists, pushing the cusp of design innovation to stay its course on the cutting edge of the automotive industry.

For more information about Maserati please contact:

Malcolm Gage at Maserati Dallas, (214) 849-5355; MGage@10.2.54.33

Oscar Restrepo at Maserati Fort Worth, (817) 263-3696; ORestrepo@10.2.54.33

Park Place Lexus Grapevine Takes Service to New Heights

The all-new 2016 Lexus RX 350, sits in an equally brand new, state-of-the-art showroom at Park Place Lexus Grapevine. The newly renovated dealership is getting ready to reveal more exciting renovations this week.

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Our new, expansive service drive is now open!

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The new service drive has 4 lanes to better accommodate our clients, and if you’re stopping-in for a car wash, be sure to pull into the exclusive “Car Wash” lane furthest to the right.

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After you drop off your vehicle, enjoy the newly renovated client lounge with Admiral Club- which includes a kids play room and a TV. Grab a snack, or enjoy a cappuccino from our state-of-the-art coffee machine- that we bet rivals some coffee shops in town.

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While you enjoy the Lexus lounge, your Lexus is also in for a luxurious experience in our brand new, top of the line car wash.

Have errands to run, but your car needs service? Great news! We just expanded our fleet of loan cars, so you won’t miss a beat while our Certified Lexus Technicians work on your car.

Add Park Place Lexus Grapevine to your list of things to experience. We’re excited about our latest renovations, and additions. We invite you to come experience it for yourself.

For more information about a new or pre-owned Lexus, please contact:

Charles Owen, New Car Sales Director at (817) 416-3130; cowen3@10.2.54.33

Juan Puentes, Pre-Owned Sales Director at (817) 416-3308; JPuentes@10.2.54.33

Park Place Tailgating Fun With Southlake-Carroll Dragons

Park Place Lexus and Motorcars Grapevine have been a proud sponsor of the Southlake-Carroll Dragons for 5-years. Carroll High School and the Dragons Football are near and dear to alum Matt Woolsey, Park Place Lexus Grapevine General Manager. We love tailgating with the amazing Dragons fans, and they get in on the fun as well.

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From weekly tailgating party giveaways to theme spirit nights, Park Place has our clients covered in true Southlake-Carroll fashion. From t-shirts to green flashing rings, the Dragon spirit is hard to miss.

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Mike Roberts- largest tailgate party winner November 6, 2015

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Amy McBride- largest tailgate party winner November 13, 2015

Fun contests and scratch off tickets provide fun prizes from a free car wash to weekend use of a fun new Lexus or Mercedes-Benz.

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The Dirty Car Contest is always a hit and allows us to engage with the fans. While everyone’s tailgating, we drive around and find the dirtiest vehicle. It is then featured on the big screen during half-time and the owner walks away with a complimentary detail from Park Place Lexus and Motorcars Grapevine.

Don’t miss us at the next Southlake-Carroll game, you could win fun prizes! Happy tailgating, and Go Dragons!

For more information about a new or pre-owned Lexus or Mercedes-Benz, please contact:

Park Place Lexus Grapevine:

Charles Owen, New Car Sales Director at, (817) 416-3130; cowen3@10.2.54.33

Juan Puentes, Pre-Owned Sales Director at, (817) 416-3308; JPuentes@10.2.54.33

 

Park Place Motorcars Grapevine:

Matthew McPherson, New Car Sales Director at, (817) 310-7361; MMcPherson@10.2.54.33

Joseph Turner, Lead Pre-Owned Sales Manager at, (817) 310-7362; JTurner@10.2.54.33

Bentley’s First SUV -The Bentayga Unveiled at Bentley Dallas

An air of excitement and anticipation filled the showroom at Bentley Dallas as guests awaited the unveiling of Bentley’s first ever SUV- the Bentley Bentayga. Draped with a large black cloth, the $229,000 ultra-luxury Bentley Bentayga drew a large crowd.

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Park Place Dealerships Chairman Ken Schnitzer and Bentley Motors CEO Michael Winkler personally unveiled the Bentayga to much fanfare.

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Guests surged forward for a chance to sit in the car and admire the fine details up close.

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The Bentley Bentayga is the fastest, most powerful, and exclusive SUV in the world. And it’s clearly the most luxurious.

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As with all Bentleys, the Bentayga will be handmade in Crewe, England, by third- and fourth-generation craftsmen who spend hours stitching, polishing, and refining to perfection the tiniest detail.

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While the car comes with a choice of four or five seats covered in a choice of 15 different hues of leather, plus dozens of combinations of exotic woods and brushed metal and carbon fiber trim, the true beauty of a Bentley is the Bespoke program, which offers the ultimate in customization.

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This was the first and only opportunity for North Texas to see the vehicle until the 2017 Bentayga hits the market next year.

Powered by a 600 horsepower, twin turbo, W12 engine, the Bentayga will go from 0 – 60 mph in 4.0 seconds and has a top speed of 187 mph.

For more information about the Bentley Bentayga please contact:
Malcolm Gage at Bentley Dallas, (214) 849-5355; mgage@10.2.54.33

The Bentley Bentayga reveal also included delicious treats. Guests enjoyed fresh seafood bites by Eddie V’s and crafted cocktails from Blue Nectar Spirits while relaxing with hand-rolled cigars from Cigar Art, and delectable sweets by Chocolate Secrets.

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