Category: Mercedes-Benz

Motorcars Dallas Pre-Owned Sales Manager Mike Wasserman is passionate about nurturing and developing the Park Place ‘family’ culture. “I’ve spent more than half of my life here,” he said. “And I don’t see myself stopping anytime in the near future.”

Celebrating 30 years at Park Place, Mike’s story really is a family affair. Mike’s wife Linda spent 17 years in sales at Lexus Plano. And for the past year and a half his daughter Ashley has worked as a Sales Experience Manager at Porsche Dallas.

“I remember from the time I was little visiting Lexus Plano and talking to one of the Members who is still at the dealership,” says Ashley. “She’s like an older sister to me. When I got my first car, Park Place always treated me right as a client. Then, coming to work here, it’s like my life has come full circle.”

After graduating from UNT with a degree in Hospitality Management, Ashley started as a greeter but quickly moved into sales. “Personalization is important,” she says. “People don’t want to be treated as a number. That’s true of how we treat our clients, and also how we treat each other. Other Members don’t treat me as Mike’s daughter. They treat me as an individual. In my experience, Park Place is different than other dealerships.”

Mike has seen a lot of change over the years in the automotive industry, but what hasn’t changed is Park Place’s dedication to culture. “You have to experience change in order to grow,” he says. “But you can still build on the legacy of those who came before you. We’re not in the car business. We’re in the people business. Take care of the people – both our clients and fellow Members – and success will follow.”

“After 30 years at Park Place, I feel a certain obligation to protect our culture and nurture new Members for the benefit of our clients. We have so many Members who are tenured here. It’s our responsibility to adopt the new Members and lead by example. It’s important we walk the walk and not just talk the talk.”

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.

DALLAS (May 19, 2021) – Park Place Motorcars Dallas recently was crowned the best Customer Experience team in the country during the Mercedes-Benz Global Customer Experience Challenge. The team included Motorcars Dallas team members Darren Densman, centralized diagnostic technician of Kaufman, Texas; Brian Johnson, sales experience manager, of Dallas; Alfonso McClurg, master technician, of Dallas; C.J. Harper, service manager, of Heartland Texas; Matt Overs, Shop Foreman, of Mesquite; and Erik Bohdan, sales experience manager, of Dallas.

Mercedes-Benz teams from across the country competed online in various quests focused on connectivity. By proving their expertise, the Motorcars Dallas team finished first to win the National Championship. The Park Place Motorcars Dallas team then went on to place 14^th worldwide out of 889 teams and 4,830 participants from 25 countries in the Global competition.

“This is a tremendous honor for our team,” said Tony Carimi, managing director of Park Place Dealerships. “As an organization, Mercedes-Benz is known as ‘The Best of the Best.’ It certainly applies to this talented group of professionals who are committed to working together and delivering only the best for our clients.”

Mercedes-Benz USA recognizes only the top 22 percent of its dealerships with the Best of the Best Award. That means only one out of five dealerships receive this esteemed award. Park Place Motorcars Dallas has been awarded this prestigious honor more than a dozen times.

Park Place Motorcars Dallas, located at 6113 Lemmon Avenue near Love Field Airport, has 350 members; more than 50 who have been with Park Place for more than a decade; 40 have 15 – 20 years tenure; 16 have 20 – 30 years; nine have served 30 or more years, and two people more than 40 years. 

“I’m very proud of our team,” said Park Place Motorcars Dallas General Manager Robert Morris. “This achievement is about our members, and what they do every day to earn trust through honesty and hard work. Our team continues to find innovative ways to deliver an outstanding client ownership experience.”

Park Place Dealerships was founded in 1987. For the past 34 years, the company has been engaged in the community through its support of the arts, medical research, children’s advocacy and education. Park Place Dealerships employs more than 1,400 members and operates eight full-service dealerships representing luxury brands including Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Jaguar, and Land Rover. For more info, visit parkplace.com.