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Park Place Dealerships Lends a Helping Hand for Back-to-School Efforts Across North Texas

Park Place Dealerships continues its long-standing commitment to community support by partnering with several local organizations for a series of back-to-school initiatives. These efforts include volunteering at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Collin County’s Back to School Fair, along with school supply drives benefitting students in Dallas, Arlington, and Fort Worth.

Park Place team members volunteered at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Collin County’s Back to School Fair. The event provided backpacks and essential school supplies to children in need, ensuring they are prepared for the upcoming school year. Park Place members worked directly with families, distributing supplies and sharing in the excitement of helping children start their school year with confidence.

In addition to volunteering, Park Place Dealerships has organized multiple school supply drives across its North Texas locations:

  • Park Place Motorcars Dallas and Porsche Dallas partnered with For Oak Cliff, an organization focused on enhancing opportunities in South Dallas, to collect school supplies for students in the community.
  • Park Place Motorcars Arlington supported Pearcy STEM Academy and the Boys & Girls Club of Arlington through a school supply drive, aiming to provide these young scholars with the tools they need to thrive.
  • Park Place Motorcars Fort Worth collected supplies for The Welman Project, which helps redirect surplus materials from businesses to schools and nonprofits, ensuring under-resourced classrooms are well-equipped.

“Our commitment to education and the next generation is at the core of our community engagement,” said Kara Connor, Experiential Marketing Manager of Park Place Dealerships. “By supporting local schools and organizations through these supply drives, we aim to ensure that every child starts the school year with the resources they need to succeed.”

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. 

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Local Resident Places First In Statewide Auto Body Association Competition

Dallas technician Adrian Ortiz recently won first place in the Paint Competition at the Auto Body Association of Texas (ABAT) BIG SHOTS Competition at the Irving Convention Center.

“The best part was I got to try new products and learn new things,” said Ortiz. “These are things I can apply daily in my job. The biggest opportunity was being trusted to step into the booth to show what I had learned over the course of my career thus far.”

Ortiz has worked for Park Place Bodywerks for 18 years. He is a certified painter for Bentley, McLaren, and Mercedes-Benz automobiles.

“It is a great honor that our Members can publicly show their strengths and represent Park Place in such a good light,” said Brandon Gillespy, Bodywerks Dallas Shop Manager. “We celebrate their accomplishments and value their commitment to excellence.”

Born and raised in East Dallas, Ortiz graduated from Woodrow Wilson High and the Autobody Tech program at Eastfield Community College. He married his high school sweetheart, Johanna, and they live on the east side of White Rock Lake with their two children. In his free time, Ortiz is restoring his high school car: a 1962 Chevy Nova.


When asked what advice he’d give someone just starting out in the business, Ortiz answered, “Be a sponge and ask questions…learn as much as possible. We have some of the best technicians in the country that reside within the walls at Park Place.”

Other Bodywerks Dallas members representing Park Place in the annual statewide competition included Philip Glass, who placed third in the Estimating Competition out of 25 participants, and Bodywerks Estimator Davis Richards, a two-time winner in the competition. After his first place win last year, Richards volunteered to judge the 2024 estimating competition.

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Park Place Service Technicians Are Experts At Keeping Engines Purring, But This Is Next Level

Sometimes an ordinary day at work turns into a rescue mission with a happy ending. Sebastian Jimenez, a service valet at Park Place Motorcars Fort Worth, recently had an unexpected encounter. A client returning a loan car mentioned hearing a faint “meow” coming from the vehicle while stopped at a red light. Concerned, the client explained that he had seen several cats hiding under the car during a recent rainstorm and feared one might have become trapped.

Sebastian informed the service manager, Mauricio Zenon, who assembled a team of technicians including Jacob Munoz, Mark Hawkins, Josh Brunk, and Josh Chandler.

Equipped with tools, the team proceeded to the service drive to investigate rather than driving the car into the shop and potentially harming the kitten. Jacob, Mark, and Josh crawled under the vehicle and began removing panels. Before long, they discovered a kitten hiding under the passenger front side of the vehicle. The kitten was unharmed and in good spirits. In a heartwarming turn, Mark Hawkins decided to adopt the kitten and give it a new home.

The sweet kitten’s rescue was featured on WFAA and FOX 4 highlighting the compassion of the team at Park Place Dealerships.

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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Meet D’Angalo Jackson

D’Angalo Jackson played basketball for Mississippi Valley State, an HBCU college where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in 2013. He went on to play pro basketball in Belgium, Italy and Mexico before joining Motorcars Fort Worth in 2015 as a Sales Experience Manager.

“What began as a lifelong ambition to own a Mercedes-Benz evolved into an understanding of the broader spectrum encompassing service, lifestyle and culture after retiring from basketball,” said Jackson. “During my training, the etiquette class taught me crucial insights on dining etiquette, attire, communication, and personal demeanor. I shared this experience with my father, and I can still hear his voice affirming, ‘You’re going to be just fine now.’ The level of investment the company made into training was unlike anything I could have imagined.”

In the fall of 2022, Jackson left Park Place to get his MBA at the TCU M.J. Neeley School of Business on a Leadership Fort Worth scholarship. Jackson recently completed his MBA and has returned to Motorcars Fort Worth.

“Data analytics play a crucial role in our day-to-day operations,” he says. “From interpreting data on CRM dashboards to enhancing sales strategies, I find immense value in my ability to problem-solve in an increasingly data-driven world.”

In his free time, he likes to give back to the community. “I enjoy constructing sustainable garden boxes with the South Side Community Gardens. I also mentor youth through basketball.” 

For someone just starting out, his advice is to “prioritize building relationships. Work diligently and make the most of the resources available to you. Stay true to your guiding principles and seek goals beyond your professional responsibilities. Remember, your career is a means to fulfill your purpose, so always strive to align it with your larger life goals.”

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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Catch Up & Read Teamed Up With Park Place Dealerships For Reading Rallies In 18 Dallas ISD Schools

As the end of the school year approached, Catch Up & Read, a Dallas-based nonprofit,sought assistance in preparing for the end-of-year awards program at 18 Dallas ISD schools. During National Volunteer Month in April, members of Park Place Dealerships joined forces with Catch Up & Read for Reading Rallies to celebrate students’ success this year. They helped the nonprofit by preparing packets and awards for the year-end celebrations at these 18 schools, as well as organizing the library and reading to children.

Catch Up & Read is the only reading intervention program in North Texas that works to close the literacy gap by analyzing data, assessing student performance, leveraging technology resources, and enhancing educator preparedness through proven practices in both English and Spanish. This nonprofit equips children in underserved communities to read at grade level by 3rd grade, with the long-term goal of helping students graduate from high school and break the generational cycle of poverty.

Park Place Dealerships was featured on “Wake Up to Something Good” with Laura Harris on NBC 5, highlighting the impact Park Place volunteers had with more than 750 students and 150 specially trained teachers. The story is linked here: Local car dealerships do something good for childhood literacy

“By introducing organizations like Catch Up & Read to our members, we aim to see if it is something they are passionate about so they can give their time and energy. We can also support with funds,” said Kara Connor, Experiential Marketing Manager at 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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Bonton Farms in South Dallas is Beneficiary of National Volunteer Month

April is National Volunteer Month and Bonton Farms in South Dallas was the beneficiary of volunteers from Park Place Dealerships helping with maintenance today. Volunteers assisted with trimming overgrown bushes and weeds, mulching, as well as installing and staining fence panels.

The urban farm in the small South Dallas neighborhood is important to the community which is considered a food desert. More than 48% percent of residents are living in poverty and there is a significant need to have access to healthy food options. Bonton Farms has been transformed from a small garden into two fully functioning farms, a Farmer’s Market, and a Café. 

Park Place Dealerships chose Bonton Farms as one of 17 nonprofits in DFW to volunteer with this week during National Volunteer Month. 

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, Jaguar, 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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MEET KORTINA CHANDLER, SERVICE MANAGER, PARK PLACE ACURA

Kortina started at Park Place in 2007 working in Organizational Excellence and has since moved from Service Coordinator to Assistant Service Manager and now Service Manager at Park Place Acura.

“Technology has come a long way in speeding up our check-in process, more history on our clients’ vehicles, etc., which allows us to spend more time with our clients. I’ve attended management training and learned so much to share with my team. It’s all about giving our clients a better service experience.”

Originally from Oklahoma City, Kortina moved to Dallas in 1997 for a “bigger city and better life.” She’s married with a 30-year-old daughter and three grandchildren. After work, she loves going home, spending time with her husband and watching her “shows.”

Don’t be surprised if you catch her crying while watching the news, commercials, or movies. “I’m super sensitive and cry very easily,” she confided.

Her advice to other Park Place Members: “Make sure you are the Park Place Experience. We take great care of our clients who trust us with their vehicle. No matter whose client it is, it’s all of our client!”

Bottom line: “I’m very passionate about work and providing a great guest experience. I also want to save the whole world!”

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, Jaguar, 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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Porsche Dallas Techs Are Solid Gold

Park Place Porsche Dallas Technicians Tony Araguz and Jade Dugurechaff recently earned the prestigious Certified Porsche Technician – Gold  (CPT Gold) designation! They join six other Gold techs at Porsche Dallas and approximately 575 Gold techs in the U.S., with less than 2,000 worldwide.

‘We are extremely proud of Tony and Jade for their commitment to this lengthy process and accomplishing their goal,” said Patrick Huston, Porsche Dallas General Manager. “Our clients will be the beneficiary of their hard work and we will continue to support each team member in their journey to hone their skills and truly be an expert in the industry.”

A Porsche Gold Technician must have a minimum of one year experience before they are eligible to take the Gold test. The candidate must work their way up from Bronze to Silver, then Gold level. It takes an average of six years to obtain all the required training courses. Testing is broken up into two parts: they must first pass a written assessment in order to be eligible to take the hands-on portion, which includes diagnosing and documenting repairs on a bugged car.

The Gold test was conducted at Porsche Training HQ in Atlanta. It is a pass or fail test. The same test is conducted worldwide. After achieving the Gold standard, the technician has to maintain certification quarterly and attend at least 40 hours of hands-on training at the Porsche facility in Atlanta every year.

“I had never so much as changed a car’s oil before becoming a tech at a Honda dealership when I was 23 years old,” said Tony Araguz. “I spent 10 years at Honda and have been a tech at Porsche Dallas since 2017. I was absolutely in awe when I started at Park Place! It’s a great shop and everyone was so helpful. It’s really a team effort!” 

Porsche Dallas is located at 6107 Lemmon Avenue, near Love Field. 

Park Place Dealerships employs more than 1,400 members and operates nine 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.

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Love at First Sight

It was love at first sight. Their eyes locked together.  “I didn’t go looking to adopt another dog,” said Park Place Lexus Grapevine’s GM Charles Owen. “But seeing how sweet Zeke was just made me want him!” 

A team from Park Place Dealerships recently visited the Apollo Support & Rescue in Justin to present the no-kill animal shelter with a Season of Giving grant.

While there, a man pulled up to surrender a 5-year-old Bernese Mountain dog.

“Unfortunately, this is not at all uncommon,” explained Danielle Stewart, Apollo Support & Rescue founder. “Many days we arrive to find abandoned animals tied to our fence. It’s really heartbreaking.”

A week later the Owen family went back to Apollo to adopt Zeke. Charles’ wife April had reservations at first. They already had Cona, a one-year-old black Labrador. And everyone knows how puppies can be a handful. But Zeke won April over, too.

“April has become the Dog Mom! Zeke helped with Cona’s puppy phase. And Zeke needed someone like April, who would give him around the clock love. Those two are something special. He doesn’t take his eyes off her.”

Charles says Zeke is the biggest lap dog ever! “He has to be right next to you and touching you at all times. He likes to play and run with Cona, but is also content laying on the couch right next to you. The way he looks at you is the sweetest thing it’s almost like he is smiling.”

Park Place Cares delivered $100,000 in grants to a total of 18 non-profits across DFW.

The non-profits included: Sixty & Better in Arlington; Academy 4 (Ft. Worth); Primo’s (Dallas); Vogel (Dallas); Mammogram Poster Girls (Dallas); Hope Center 4 Autism (Ft. Worth); Evan’s Avengers (Denton); 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) and Ability Connection (Irving). 

“I know it was a hard decision for Zeke’s previous owners to take him to Apollo,” said Charles. “I hope they know Zeke found his forever home and gets all the love and attention he wants!”

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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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.