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#BalmoresPlace: Dreaming of a Brighter Future

El Salvador’s Balmore Salmeron Dreamed of a Brighter Future and Found it at Park Place.

Newest “My Place” video spotlights promote-from-within culture at Park Place Dealerships

Soft spoken, thoughtfully articulate and almost always smiling, Balmore Salmeron dismisses praise about his life’s achievements with uncharacteristic modesty.

“I’m not special,” he says. “I just did what I needed to do.”

But the facts are undeniable: When he came to this country from his native El Salvador in 2001, he had no official education degree, just some university computer science training. While he could read and write a little English, his speaking skills – and thus better job opportunities – were slim.

He was, however, eager to prove himself. And Park Place was just as eager to give the young man a leg up in his adopted country.

“My mother-in-law had a friend in the detailing department at Park Place Lexus Grapevine, so I was referred and hired,” he says. “I worked on cars during the day and on my communications skills at night.”

Three years later, his managers rewarded Balmore’s determination with a promotion to the dealership’s service drive, where a quick understanding of client needs along with a cheerful and professional demeanor are must-haves.

By this time, he was also taking accounting courses, since he’d always felt comfortable with the language of numbers and figures. And knowing that Park Place likes to promote from within, he kept his eye on potential internal opportunities.

“To be better than yesterday – that’s something we should always strive for,” he says.

Nearly two years later, he found what looked like a fit when an internal financial analyst position opened up. At each step of the interview process – and there were a lot of steps – he impressed managers with his gumption and positive attitude. But he worried that he didn’t have the necessary skills.

He didn’t need to.

“We hire for attitude and determination,” declares his manager, Park Place Controller David Orenstein. “If a great candidate has that, like Balmore, then we can provide all the training they need.”

“The Park Place philosophy is about helping members improve and move up,” confirms Balmore. 

Since then, he’s been instrumental in refining the company’s accounting processes to be faster and more accurate – always a good thing when it comes to numbers.

He became a U.S. citizen in 2010, completed his accounting degree at Richland College in 2014 and embodies the idea that, with hearty backing from your organization, you can achieve your dreams.

So all in all, it’s pretty clear why Balmore calls Park Place “My Place.”

“America is a dream of freedom, built around the idea that one person can make a difference,” he says. “For me, Park Place is my place because I’m a part of something great and they’ve helped me to achieve my dreams.”

To Apply for a Career at Park Place Dealerships, visit www.ParkPlace.com/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 2,100 people and operates 17 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.

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Member Spotlight: Park Place Porsche Dallas’ Service Director

Meet Jenny Drummond, Park Place Porsche Dallas’ Service Director and Valued Member of the Park Place Family.

The first thing you might notice about Jenny Drummond, Porsche Dallas Service Director, is her ethereal calm. It’s a reassuring quality to have when discussing intricate service issues on the exotic German brand.

The second thing you’ll notice – her thorough expertise. A client needs to replace his worn-out manual clutch. She explains what’s involved, then suggests replacing the IMS bearings too, as long as the assembly’s already open.

If you’re a Porsche person, you already know that her suggestion makes great sense. She’s also a natural when talking about the benefits of N-rated tires and why brake squeal isn’t a big deal.

“I’ve been around these cars for a long time,” she smiles gently. “You learn.”

Jenny comes by her technical prowess naturally. The Dallas native grew up in nearby Waxahachie and from an early age, eagerly pitched in on home repairs with her dad, as well as hunting, fishing and skeet shooting. “I liked working with him and developed an affinity for activities like that. Even today, I’m the one who’s hanging flat-screen TVs and tearing out drywall around the house.”

She laughs, but her husband Joe surely appreciates such a handy partner. (They were high-school sweethearts, married in 1991 and have three children.)

And that leads us to one more thing to notice about Jenny. In her own quiet way, she enjoys demolishing stereotypes.

“There’s a big misconception about dealerships,” says the 19-year Park Place veteran. “People think the hours are terrible, that we live bell to bell, but we don’t, of course. Management knows that family is more important than anything. We do our best to ensure a good work-life balance.”

She also believes that a related misconception – “Automotive is a man’s game” – means that women are missing out on industry opportunities. To change that, she’s a founding member of the “Women in Automotive Council,” an internal group that organizes community events and activities to promote greater career awareness.

“It’s not just sales and service, although those are good fields, too,” she says. “The automotive field presents women with wonderful opportunities across the board to build a rewarding career doing something you like. The old stereotypes are long gone.”

“When I first started in the business, a co-worker told me that if I didn’t plan on doing this for the rest of my life, I’d better get out now,” she laughs. “I’ve been here ever since and haven’t looked back once!”

Learn more about career opportunities at Park Place by visiting us online at ParkPlace.com.

 

 

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Texas Serviceman Welcomed Home after Deployment

Park Place Lexus Grapevine embraces service tech and his family after deployment.

The story began last spring. In April 2018, U.S. Army Reserve Sergeant Joseph Rasey left North Texas for a deployment to Kuwait, leaving behind his pregnant wife Megan and two toddlers. While Sgt. Rasey was deployed, Megan gave birth to their third child, Hannah, last August, while the two older girls Josie-Anna and Martha-Eden celebrated their first and third birthdays, respectively.

On April 30, 2019, Rasey resumed his job as a service technician at Park Place Lexus Grapevine. But Park Place did much more than just hold Rasey’s job for him. They took care of his family while he was deployed.

“Joseph is part of our Park Place family,” said Gary Venner, Park Place Lexus Grapevine general manager. “So that makes Megan and the girls family, too. I can’t imagine how much this family has sacrificed for him to go and serve our country. We’re very proud of him. And we’re glad he’s home safe. We’re very happy to have him back in the shop.”

Before Rasey deployed, Park Place held a going away party for him at the Grapevine dealership

While Sgt. Rasey was deployed, Park Place Lexus Grapevine threw both girls a birthday party where the dealership gave them toys and books featuring their daddy’s voice so they could feel his presence while he was away. 

“Park Place has proven they’re family,” said Joseph Rasey. “They took such loving care of my family while I was gone. There was never a question where I would work when I got back. Without doubt, Park Place is MY place.”

Sgt. Rasey just finished his third deployment. He also served in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Korea. He was active duty for more than eight years before joining the U.S. Army Reserves.

Located at 901 East State Highway 114, off Minters Chapel Road, Park Place Lexus Grapevine is has been recognized as an Elite of Texas dealer 11 years in a row, and received a number one national ranking for customer satisfaction. In 2005, Park Place Lexus was the first automotive dealership to ever be awarded the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award.

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.

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Skyline High School Visits Park Place for Automotive Career Preview

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.

 

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West Texas Roots Run Deep, a #MyParkPlace Moment

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!”

Miss a story? Watch Dr. Hearne’s #MyParkPlace moment online at www.ParkPlace.com/MyPlace

 

 

 

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Mercedes-Benz Campaign Empowers Amazing Women Contributors

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.  

For the Latest She’s Mercedes Campaign Visit:  Alondra De la Parra 

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The Park Place Luxury and Supercar Showcase is Set to Return on September 28, 2019

IRVING, Texas (March 4, 2019) – The 3rd Annual Park Place Luxury & Supercar Showcase, Dallas-Fort Worth’s premier luxury lifestyle and automotive event, will return this fall to the Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, September 28, 2019.

“The community has come out in force to support this event the last two years,” said Ken Schnitzer, Park Place Dealerships founder and chairman. “The third annual event will again showcase some of the most exotic and exciting vehicles that will please enthusiasts of all ages. What began three years ago as an engaging opportunity to celebrate our 30th anniversary has quickly turned into the foremost luxury lifestyle and automotive event in this region.”

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.

In keeping with a true lifestyle event, Park Place will expand its 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.

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 motoring festival also will include a Car Club Expo powered by Park Up Front as well as the beloved Kid’s Zone. 

Iconic luxury shopping and dining destination, 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.

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.

In 2018, the top Collectors’ Concours award winners were presented with the “Spirit of Park Place” hand-crafted sculpture by Dallas artist Brad Oldham:

  • Best of Show – 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB 6C
  • Chairman’s Choice Award – 1933 Rolls-Royce Phantom II
  • Salesmanship Club Award – 1980 BMW M1

A Thank You To Our Returning Sponsors

Returning partners include the Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas, VIP Lounge Sponsors Allie Beth Allman & Associates – A Berkshire Hathaway Affiliate|URBAN, Captain’s Lounge Sponsor Celebrity Cruises, The City of Irving, Hill & Wilkinson, Hagerty, Event Architecture, AT&T Business, AVSD Productions, Digital 3 Printing, Fauxcades Décor, Brad Oldham Sculpture, D Magazine and NBC 5.

Restaurants featured in the VIP Lounge include The French Room, LAW, III Forks, Cool River, Chop House Burger, Dallas Fish Market, Wild Salsa, Oven and Cellar, Outlaw Tap Room, Kai, Toulouse, Whiskey Cake, Texas de Brazil, Princi Italia, CRU Wine and Food Bar, Pacific Table, Cork & Pig Tavern, Make Your Life Sweeter, and Carlton Provisions.

Additional sponsors include Lilium Florals, Perks & Provisions, Promo Resources, Sunnyland Furniture, RideCentric, iDesignMeetings, Marquee Event Rentals, Bachendorf’s, Jack Black, Maui Jim, Renegade Cigars, Tito’s Vodka, Peroni Beer, Waste Management, GL Seaman, Ratcliff Financial Services, Garages of Texas, Thermal Printing, and MarineMax Yachts.

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.

 

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Park Place Volvo Wins 2018 Excellence Award

Your local leader in Scandinavian luxury vehicles, Park Place Volvo continues to strive together for a personal commitment to excellence. The Park Place Volvo team’s efforts were recognized as a winner of the 2018 Volvo Excellence Award.

Park Place Volvo General Manager Donny Lambrecht and his team members were one of only 12 Volvo retailers to receive the award.

What is the Volvo Excellence Award?

Winners of the Volvo Excellence Award are a driving force for leadership and growth. The exclusive group of retailers are also vital contributors to the brand, business, and customer experience pillars that support evolving the Volvo journey.

Areas of focus for a retailer to qualify for the Volvo Excellence Award include: new car retail sales must meet or exceed the previous year sales numbers, year-end sales SSI and service CSI must meet or exceed the year-end national averages, training must meet sales, service, parts, and technical requirements in all four quarters.

Volvo Cars Global Record Setting Year

Volvo set a new global sales record in 2018 and experienced 20.6% Y-O-Y growth from the 12 month period of January – December 2018. The Swedish brand’s remarkable sales growth was supported by the increasing demand of SUVs, most notably Volvo’s best-selling model, XC60.

Park Place Volvo is grateful to receive the Volvo Excellence Award that symbolizes each member’s focus to having a personal commitment to excellence, taking responsibility for their actions, and doing things right the first time. This is the first Volvo Excellence Award for Park Place Volvo since 2015.

Thank you to our Dallas-Fort Worth Community for choosing Park Place Volvo as Your Place to build your Volvo relationship for years to come.  To all of our team members in the service department – from the Valets and Car Washers, in the sales department – from the Sales Managers to the Porters: Without your efforts, we would not be able to provide an excellent client experience each and every day.  

Check out what’s new at Park Place Volvo by visiting ParkPlace.com. 

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2018 Park Place Dealerships – Texas Rangers Triple Play Game Show Spectacular Raises $750,000

Fundraiser Benefits Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation’s Efforts to Help Area Youth

In keeping with the “Sultan’s Soirée” theme, magic-filled The Hilton Anatole ballroom for the Park Place Dealerships Texas Rangers Triple Play Game Show Spectacular event.

Bedazzled and bejeweled, the Texas Rangers largest fundraising event of the year featured a roaming snake charmer and an opportunity for a photo op with a camel. Wishes were granted as fans met their diamond heroes and bid on trips they’d only dreamed about their whole lives. But the biggest winners of the 2018 Park Place Dealerships Texas Rangers Triple Play are the kids that will benefit from the nearly $750,000 raised for the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation.

 Texas Rangers Foundation Triple Play at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas on Wednesday, May 9, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)

 

“This was one of the most successful Triple Play events we’ve ever had,” said Karin Morris, executive director of the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation. “Demand for our exclusive experiences in the live auction was so strong that we were able to duplicate several of the trips to double the amount raised. Our Texas Rangers MLB Youth Academy at Mercy Street Sports Complex, which was only a dream just a few years ago, is open and serving kids from across North Texas because of funds raised from previous years of the Park Place Dealerships Texas Rangers Triple Play.”

The event featured attendance by Texas Rangers players, coaches, broadcasters, and alumni. Fans enjoyed unparalleled access to their favorite Rangers for autographs, photos and just chatting about baseball.

“We’re very proud to be associated with such a worthy cause,” said Gary Venner, general manager of Park Place Lexus Grapevine. “Seeing how the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation has grown over the years, and all the great things they are doing for kids, makes this one of our favorite charitable events of the year.”

The highlight of the evening was the Rangers players competing against each other in a pair of hilarious game shows. This year’s competitions included the fan favorite Fielders Feud and Wheel of Fortune. The teams were made up of the following players: Fielders Feud: Infielders: Elvis Andrus, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Joey Gallo, and Jurickson Profar. Outfielders: Shin-Soo Choo, Delino DeShields, Nomar Mazara, and Ryan Rua. The infielders dominated Fielders Feud, emceed by Hall of Fame announcer Eric Nadel. The crowd roared with laughter at some of the players’ answers and the witty banter between them.

Texas Rangers Foundation Triple Play at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas on Wednesday, May 9, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)

Fox Sports Southwest Field Reporter Emily Jones hosted Wheel of Fortune, which matched a trio of two-man teams against each other: Team #1 Tony Barnette and Jake Diekman; Team #2 Jesse Chavez and Chris Martin; Team #3 Doug Fister and Kevin Jepsen. Pitchers Fister and Jepsen were obviously on the same wavelength as they handily won Wheel of Fortune.

Texas Rangers Foundation Triple Play at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas on Wednesday, May 9, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)

Among the items available for bidding in the live auction were a trip to Los Angeles to watch the Rangers play the Los Angeles Dodgers; a trip to Boston for the Rangers – Red Sox series at Fenway Park; a trip to San Francisco and Napa Valley aboard Rangers owner Neil Liebman’s private jet; and a five-day hunting and fishing trip to Argentina hosted by former Ranger All-Star Jim Kern.

In addition, the silent auction featured a Top Golf experience with Delino DeShields, on-field instruction and game-type experience hosted by Texas Rangers manager Jeff Banister, private hitting and pitching lessons with current Rangers players, and many other exclusive experiences. In addition, there were rare and unusual autographed memorabilia items from across the sports and entertainment worlds.

ABOUT THE TEXAS RANGERS BASEBALL FOUNDATION: Since its inception in 1991, the 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 health and wellness programs like the just keep livin programs, educational programs such as the Richard Greene Scholars program, and support of the military and first responders and their families.

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, Lotus, Land Rover, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Bugatti, McLaren, and Maserati. A new Porsche dealership will open in Grapevine this summer. For more info, visit parkplace.com.

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Then and Now: Matt Woolsey Celebrates 20 Years At Park Place

On February 2, 1998, Matt Woolsey began his journey before Park Place was even “Park Place.” He had no intention of making the car business his career, but little did Matt know that it was simply in his blood. After 2o years, he says “it’s all about going to bat for your teammates and sticking up for them whenever need be.”

Today, Matt Woolsey is the General Manager of Park Place Jaguar Land Rover dealership in Grapevine, TX.  Twenty years ago he shifted gears and fate set him on a new career path with Park Place, where he would have the opportunity to make an impact across the group and across multiple brands. 

Matt began his journey on February 2, 1998, at what would be Park Place Motorcars Mid-Cities and quickly hit the ground running: “I started on a Monday, and on the following Thursday, I sold my first car. That month I was named Salesman of the month for pre-owned.”

After transitioning to new car sales within 6 months of Ken Schnitzer owning the dealership, Matt was promoted to his first management role at the age of 25. A year later he really “hit his stride” and made a name for himself in the Finance department. 

“I eventually made my way over to Jordan’s side [Jordan Case, President of Park Place Dealerships], and did a little bit of everything,” says Matt. After a few years of being General Sales Manager, he was named General Manager at Park Place Lexus Grapevine, the first automotive dealer to win the prestigious Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award.

20 years may seem like a long time for most, but for someone like Matt, it all comes down to loyalty. “One thing in my life that I appreciate is loyalty. I appreciate those who are loyal to me and I appreciate being loyal to my employers, like Ken Schnizter. It’s really crazy how fast 20 years have gone by, it really is.”

His accomplishments are many, but it’s the relationships that really matter: “The accomplishments are nice, but I know a lot of people across the organization because I’ve been on both sides. Today, I would still do anything for Robert Hinkle, even though he sits across the street now [at Park Place Motorcars Grapevine.] It’s about going to bat for your teammates and sticking up for them whenever need be.”

Matt brings an inspirational, competitive, and collaborative leadership to the team, and always stays engaged. It works for his team and the dealership as it provides open and honest communication.  His one piece of advice for new members:

“Invest in yourself. Commit to yourself and to your team. The grass is greener where you fertilize it. Your future is up to YOU!”