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SPCA of Texas Opens Sensory Garden for Shelter Dogs at Animal Care Center in Dallas

Park Place Dealerships Members Built Sensory Garden to Provide Physical and Mental Challenges for Animals

Members from several local Park Place Dealerships recently volunteered to build a Sensory Garden at the SPCA’s Animal Care Center in Dallas to provide shelter dogs an environment to use their natural senses to relieve stress, and in some cases, to aid in rehabilitation.

“Enrichment is what we use to improve our dog’s quality of life by providing them things in their environment that stimulate them mentally and physically,” said Dr. Valarie Tynes, SPCA of Texas Shelter Veterinary Behaviorist. “Ultimately, when you provide environmental enrichment, you are attempting to give an animal the ability to utilize as many of its natural behaviors as you possibly can. Olfactory enrichment is good at doing that, simply because dogs love using their nose to investigate their world.”

The Sensory Garden’s different textures, scents and materials stimulate a dog’s brain, activate their natural canine instincts, and build their confidence.

“We had some dogs coming in who were high-arousal and high energy like Django, a German Shepherd,” said Rebecca Woodward, SPCA of Texas Behavior Program Manager. “He had some kennel stress, so we started agility training using the Sensory Garden. It completely de-compressed him. Django became a different dog and was adopted right away. We developed a program we call the ‘Django Treatment’ in the Sensory Garden. Some dogs just want to do Zoomies (running around at top speed to burn off energy) so we use the Garden in many ways. But it’s already been extremely useful in our Behavior Program.”

In addition to Park Place providing the supplies for the Sensory Garden, the company’s generous VTO (Volunteer Time Off) program allowed Park Place Members paid time off to donate their time and energy to build the Sensory Garden.

“When we look to give back to North Texas communities where we live and serve, there’s no better advocate for our four-legged friends than the SPCA,” said Park Place Managing Director Tony Carimi. “To start with a pile of boards and some tires and see this end result is very exciting! It’s easy to write a check, and that’s very beneficial, too. But our Members also enjoy giving their time and talents to such a worthy cause.”

The SPCA of Texas plans to rotate dogs in and out of the Sensory Garden three times per day.

Park Place Dealerships has supported the SPCA of Texas financially for many years, but when polled about which causes Park Place Members wanted to personally volunteer their time for, SPCA of Texas ranked very high.

About SPCA of Texas

SPCA of Texas is the leading animal welfare organization in North Texas. Founded in 1938, the non-profit operates two shelters, two spay/neuter clinics, two mobile spay/neuter and wellness vehicles, one mobile adoptions vehicle and an animal rescue center, all located in Dallas and Ellis Counties, and maintains a team of animal cruelty investigators who respond to thousands of calls in North Texas counties. The organization does not euthanize animals for time or space. Moreover, the SPCA of Texas serves as an active resource center for an array of services that bring people and animals together to enrich each other’s lives.

The SPCA of Texas is not affiliated with any other entity and does not receive general operating funds from the City of Dallas, State of Texas, federal government or any other national humane organization. SPCA of Texas is dedicated to providing every animal exceptional care and a loving home. To learn more about the SPCA of Texas, visit spca.org.

About Park Place Dealerships

Park Place Dealerships was founded in 1987 and employs more than 1,400 members. Park Place Dealership operates three collision centers, an auto auction, and nine full-service dealerships representing luxury brands including Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover, Acura, and Sprinter Vans. Park Place was acquired in 2020 by Asbury Automotive Group, Inc., a Fortune 500 company headquartered in Duluth, GA. Asbury is one of the largest automotive retailers in the U.S. For more information, visit parkplace.com.

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Nolan Bedford is TCU Purple Through and Through

TCU Alum and Super Fan Experienced CFP Championship with Son

A TCU alum and former football player, Bedford invited Park Place client DJ de Jesus, president of the Fort Worth – Mercedes-Benz Club of America. Bedford also invited his 20-year-old son Reece Bedford, a U.S. Marine stationed at Miramar Air Station in San Diego.

“I flew to San Diego to meet up with Reece and we drove up to LA together to go to the game,” said Bedford. “My son has grown up as a fan of TCU. We went to Nebraska to watch TCU in the College World Series back in 2016. The last TCU Bowl game we attended together was the Alamo Bowl in 2017 when they defeated Stanford. I was extremely excited to go to California to support my Frogs, but even more excited to have time to spend with my son. We have always bonded over our love for TCU and I’m sure we always will. Go Frogs!”

Bedford was born in Fort Worth, then moved all around Texas before ending up back in Fort Worth. He played football at L.D. Bell High School in Bedford, Texas, where he graduated in 1995. He was a quarterback at Bell and moved to wide receiver at TCU, where he walked on to play for the Frogs in 1997 – 98.

“My roommate at TCU also graduated from Bell,” he explained. “Eric Anderson was strong safety and one of the best players on the TCU team. It was our senior year and Eric was projected to be selected in the NFL draft after our season. One day in practice he was rushing the quarterback when he jumped up to deflect a pass. The running back blocked him, flipping him over, and Eric landed on his head. They took him to the hospital for x-rays, put him in a neck brace, and sent him home. I was with him at our apartment when he received the call from the doctor. I will never forget the look in his eyes when they said he would never play football again. He had surgery and had to wear a halo for the next six months. He didn’t have any local family, so I helped care for him.”

While the Georgia and TCU National Championship game didn’t exactly turn out the way TCU fans had hoped, Bedford enjoyed the trip and the game very much.

“I was very proud to see the turnout of TCU fans at the game,” he said. “There was just as much purple in the stands as there was red, if not more! It was exciting to see the support TCU fans brought and how loud they were to support our team.”

“In addition to Reece, I have a daughter Kenidi who is 19, and a two-month-old daughter Charlotte Sophia. Being a father has been so great that I decided to give it another run with my wife Lucina.”

Nolan joined Park Place Dealerships in 2008. He became New Car Sales Director at Motorcars Fort Worth in 2019. Park Place Motorcars Fort Worth is located at 5601 Bryant Irvin Road, just south of I-20.

Nolan and Eric are still best friends. “Eric was actually just here at the dealership getting his Mercedes-Benz CLS serviced earlier this week.”


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 Acura, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Jaguar, 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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Jaguar DFW Parts Specialist Earns Jaguar’s Marque of Distinction Award

Jim Park – Parts Specialist | JLR DFW

Park Place Jaguar DFW Parts Specialist Jim Park won the Marque of Distinction for Parts Professional of the Year for all Jaguar dealers nationwide. Jaguar Land Rover North America recently announced 14 Marque of Distinction winners for 2022. The Marque of Distinction is the highest individual honor within the Journey to Excellence program, JLRNA’s reward and recognition program for individuals. 

“It is a great honor for Jim to be named the top parts professional out of nearly 200 Jaguar dealerships across the country,” said Park Place Jaguar-Land Rover DFW General Manager Matt Woolsey. “Jim is a valued member of our team.”

The Marque of Distinction winners were announced by Joe Eberhardt, Paul Cooke and Tori Morandi at the Unico Resort, Riviera Maya, Mexico. 

According to Paul Cooke, Jaguar Land Rover Training, Development and Recognition Director, “Programs such as this allow us to recognize individuals who demonstrate excellence in their role. This year’s winners represent individuals who demonstrate success in their everyday role, training achievement, customer feedback, as well as high achievement in both online and in-person assessments.”

Park Place Jaguar-Land Rover is located on the south side of East State Highway 114 in Grapevine. The dealership has been the recipient of the Pride of Jaguar Retailer Excellence Award for the past three years in a row. Park Place Dealerships has been named among the “Top 100 Places to Work” by the Dallas Morning News for nine consecutive years. Park Place Dealerships also ranked in the top 10 for corporations in Dallas/Fort Worth and was named the best company for training.

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 Acura, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Jaguar, 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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Park Place Jaguar Land Rover Presents Grapevine AMBUCS with AmTrykes

Park Place Jaguar Land Rover DFW presented Grapevine AMBUCS with AmTrykes to the organization and several local children. Grapevine AMBUCS was one of 23 DFW non-profits to receive a total of $100,000 in the 2nd Annual Park Place Dealerships Season of Giving campaign. 

“We were thrilled to host Grapevine AMBUCS,” said Matt Woolsey, Park Place Jaguar Land Rover General Manager. “Children with disabilities often feel left out. The innovative AmTryke is a therapeutic tricycle that gives a child freedom of movement and builds their self-esteem. With the AmTryke, kids with disabilities can have freedom of movement just like family and friends.”

More than 400 charities applied for the 2022 Season of Giving grants, representing Park Place Cares’ four pillars. The local non-profits who received grants included:

Advocacy

·         Assistance League of Greater Collin County

·         Emily’s Smile Boxes

·         Alliance for Children

·         Seniors’ Pet Assistance Network (SPAN)

·         Amy’s Wish with Wings

·         Carson’s Crusaders Foundation

·         Operation Once in a Lifetime

·         Just Because, Inc.

·         C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation

·         Christmas Wish Project of Tarrant County

·         Dallas Leadership Foundation

·         AUsome Moms

·         Dallas Hope Charities

Arts

·         Art House Dallas

·         Texas Girls’ Choir

Medical

·         Black Heart Association

·         Cancer Care Services

·         Wipe Out Kids’ Cancer

Education

·         It’s a Sensory World Inc.

·         City House

·         Tarrant County Samaritan Housing Inc.

·         Dallas Furniture Bank

Grapevine AMBUCS is dedicated to creating mobility and independence for individuals with disabilities through weekly meetings; performing community service projects; providing AmTryke therapeutic tricycles to people with disabilities; awarding scholarships to therapy and vocational students; and building wheelchair ramps. More information about Grapevine AMBUCS is available at https://grapevineambucs.wildapricot.org

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, Jaguar, 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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Land Rover DFW Competes In The TReK 2022 Competition

Land Rover DFW Members Roxie Byars, Juan Ramirez, and Teddy Clements recently completed the Land Rover TReK 2022 adventure off-road competition. The DFW team finished fourth out of 10 teams in their division. In total there were 100 three-person teams: 90 teams from across the U.S. and 10 from Canada.

“This trip started in Mahwah, New Jersey at Land Rover Headquarters,” explained Juan Ramirez, JLR DFW Service Advisor. “Then we drove 4.5 hours to Manchester, Vermont, one of Land Rover’s four North American Experience centers. We competed in a number of tasks including a one mile run relay as a team and driving the Defender through different obstacles where we received points based on accuracy and timing. We camped overnight in freezing weather and had to cook our own dinner on a small gas stove they provided. The experience showed us how well the Defender performs under any circumstance.”

Comprised of qualifying trials and finals utilizing the all-new Defender 110, the competition is designed to test some of the best driving experts across the U.S. and Canada in off-road driving, navigation and team collaboration.

The teams competed in 100 identically customized 2023 Land Rover Defender 110 vehicles with factory-approved accessories including a Remote-Control Electric Winch, Raised Air Intake, Roof Rack, Air Compressor, Front Undershield and Exterior Side Gear Carrier. Additionally, accessories from Lucky8 included TReK Edition badging, recovery bag and equipment, Roofnest Tent, Pull-out Awning, ARB refrigerator, Solar Panel, and more.

The first Land Rover TReK was held in 1996, and the competition continued in North America through 2003. It returned in 2019 with preliminaries at The Biltmore in North Carolina, another of Land Rover’s North American Experience centers. 

Located at 1300 East Highway 114, northwest of DFW Airport, Jaguar-Land Rover DFW is one of only 16 Land Rover retailers in the U.S. to earn the prestigious Pinnacle Retailer Excellence Award for exceptional sales, service and customer satisfaction.

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, Jaguar, 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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Chris Brunner Celebrates 30 Years with Park Place Dealerships

The automotive industry has evolved in the last 30 years and one local resident has seen incredible changes – from safety and design to elevating the client experience. Chris Brunner joined Park Place Dealerships in 1992 as an assistant sales manager and today, he manages one of the largest Lexus dealerships in the country.

Under Brunner’s leadership, Park Place Lexus Grapevine received a number one national ranking in customer satisfaction and has been recognized as an Elite of Lexus dealer 18 times. In 2005, the Park Place Lexus dealerships in Grapevine and Plano became the first automobile dealerships ever to win the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the nation’s highest Presidential honor for quality and organizational performance excellence. 

Brunner has been the General Manager at Park Place Lexus Plano since 2010.

“Chris is the epitome of leadership and customer service,” said Tony Carimi, Park Place Dealerships Managing Director. “He’s built an incredible team at Lexus Plano and is very committed to developing each Member into leaders in their own right.”

Greg Duerr, Lexus Plano Parts Director has worked with Brunner since 1995. “I don’t take that for granted, says Duerr. “Chris has a great sense for what clients expect, and he walks the talk of the Park Place Culture.”

Lexus Plano Finance Director Shiva Olumi recalls, “Chris has been a guide for the 21 years I’ve worked at Park Place. Regardless of the position you hold, he gets to know you and the things that are important to you. He has been the ultimate mentor to me. You see his influence in how pristine everything is when you walk in the Lexus dealership: the white orchids, the attention to detail, the laughter in the halls. He has created an energy and culture of family.” 

Katie Stutts, Brunner’s Administrative Assistant, says, “Chris is a great leader. He possesses a clear vision, is courageous, has integrity, and has a clear focus. Chris is a wonderful coach and always wants his members to succeed. He is a true leader, and we are honored to have him in our lives.” 

Brunner is very involved in supporting the Plano and North Texas communities, including working with Collin County Children’s Advocacy Center; SPCA of Collin County; My Possibilities; Samaritan Inn; Habitat for Humanity, and Plano, Allen and Prosper Teacher of the Year programs and Prize Patrols. When not at work, Chris enjoys spending time with his wife Amie and children Alexa and Camden.

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Porsche Challenge 2022 Restoration Unveiled

Park Place Porsche Dallas recently hosted the Maverick Region Porsche Club of America for a Coffee & Classics meet on a Saturday morning at the Lemmon Avenue dealership. The star attraction was the reveal of a Guards Red 1996 Porsche 911 (993) Carrera, which Porsche Dallas TechnicianSeantrel Sloan, 27, recently completed during a year-long restoration. 

“I’m honored our clients entrust me with their Classic Porsches,” said Sloan. “The skills and training I received from Park Place prepared me to do the quality of work I put into this amazing car.”

One of the biggest challenges of the restoration was sourcing parts for the nearly 30-year-old sports car. Park Place Porsche is entering the car in the 2022 Porsche Classic Restoration Challenge. The national competition requires all parts to be original manufacturer’s parts from Porsche.

During the 2021 Porsche Classic Restoration Challenge Sloan finished second in the nation with a 1990 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 Targa he restored. Classic Porsche models from 40 dealerships around the U.S. competed in last year’s Challenge, including Porsche 356 models from as early as 1956, five generations of the 911, transaxle models like the 944, and 928, as well as modern classics such as the first-generation Boxster. Cars judged to be regional winners moved on to compete in the semifinals in each of the three U.S. Porsche sales areas. 

Sloan’s love of the Porsche brand began when he was just eight years old. “My grandfather bought me the “Need for Speed” video game dedicated to Porsches. I learned everything about every car in the game. And I fell in love with the brand…the heritage…the tradition. Every single car that I’ve touched in the shop, I’ve driven in the game. And now I’ve had the opportunity to drive those cars with my own hands and feet. To be a Porsche Classic Tech, and keep these cars on the road today, is an honor.”

Sloan grew up in Dallas, graduating in 2013 from Duncanville High School. He worked as a car washer/valet at Park Place while attending Universal Technical Institute (UTI) in Irving to receive his automotive technician certification, graduating in 2014. After serving two years in the U.S. Army, he returned to work at Porsche Dallas as a technician. He currently lives in Lancaster, Texas.

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Work hard – Ted Wernimount

Ted was just 24 years old when he joined Park Place 32 years ago. 

“I came to Park Place hoping to get into a company that would allow me to grow and prosper in a great environment and have a long career. Park Place has surpassed all of my expectations. Two things that have impacted all of us is how much Park Place has grown as a company and the technology that is constantly changing.”

Ted’s parents moved his family to Grand Prairie when he was 14 after his father was severely injured in an accident. His mom became the main breadwinner and Texas was a better environment for her career as a registered nurse. 

Ted graduated from South Grand Prairie High and the Wyoming Technical Institute.

“The biggest challenge I face is to stay on top of the ever-changing technology of all of the different makes and models that we repair. When I worked in Mercedes service it was only one manufacturer, but at Bodywerks we repair all of the different makes that we sell in the Park Place family. Having access to all of the manufacturer’s technical information and assistance from team members at the different stores tremendously helps us overcome these challenges.

Ted’s advice for anyone just starting out: “Work hard. Don’t expect anything to be given to you and earn everything that you get. It will benefit you personally throughout your career with Park Place or wherever you are.” “I’m petrified of heights but my daughter and I took an amazing hot air balloon ride in New Mexico that involved rising to 2,000 feet and then descending down into the Rio Grande Gorge until the basket skimmed the Rio Grande River and then back up again. Life lesson: Face your fears and reap the rewards.”

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Park Place Porsche Hosts 2022 Cattle Baron’s Ball Dallas Raffle Kickoff Event

Pete Hodges, Lora Farris, Nancy Gopez, Patrick Huston, Tony Carimi at the Cattlebaron’s Ball raffle ticket event at Park Place Porsche in Dallas, Tx on June 11, 2022.

Park Place Porsche Dallas recently hosted the Raffle kickoff party for the 2022 Dallas Cattle Baron’s Ball, which will be held September 17 at Southfork Ranch in Parker, Texas. The ball is the largest single-night fundraising event for cancer research in the world.

The event also featured the introduction of the new 2023 Porsche Macan SUV. With the base turbo four-cylinder, the Macan leaps to 60 mph in just five seconds. Upgrade to the twin-turbo V-6–powered S or GTS models, which squeeze out 434 horsepower, and nimbly reach 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds. More importantly than the speed, the Macan performs remarkably like a Porsche sports sedan. And isn’t that really what you want from a Porsche SUV?

Miller Wortley, Susanna Mae Wortley, Avery Lesikar and Ashely Lesikar with waffles at the Cattlebaron’s Ball raffle ticket event at Park Place Porsche in Dallas, Tx on June 11, 2022.


Power is sent to all four wheels via Porsche’s seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, but the Macan T’s all-wheel-drive system sends more power to the rear wheels to help the crossover turn in more sharply. The T also rides on 20-inch wheels, gets a firmer suspension, and comes with Porsche’s Sport Chrono package as standard. The Macan T also comes with sportier front seats as standard.

Guests enjoyed scrumptious delicacies from Nightowl coffee, a waffle bar, Biscuit Bar, and a Mimosa Bar. Guests also enjoyed viewing unique art pieces crafted from the rear wing of Porsche “Whales Tails” by French artist Johans Lamic. More information on his fascinating project is available at https://thewhaletailproject.com/

Artist Johans Lamic and Susan Francia at the Cattlebaron’s Ball raffle ticket event at Park Place Porsche in Dallas, Tx on June 11, 2022.

The 2022 Cattle Baron’s Ball will feature superstar country band Old Dominion as the headliner with Chris Young playing the VIP party. Old Dominion has been the Country Music Association Vocal Group of the Year 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021, known for hits like “One Man Band,” “Never Be Sorry, and “I Was On a Boat.” VIP party entertainer Young shot to superstardom after winning season 4 of Nashville Star; his biggest hits include “The Man I Want to Be,” “Gettin’ You Home,” and “Drowning.”

The VIP and Live Auction Stage will be outside on the ranch, with the Main Stage under a tent and the silent auction inside the Southfork Ranch Event and Conference Center, organizers say.

Park Place will once again provide a choice of luxury vehicles to choose from for the raffle winner, valued at approximately $60,000: from their lineup of Jaguar, Land Rover, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, or Volvo models. Raffle tickets are on sale now at $100 each or six for $500. The winner is responsible for all taxes, title, and registration fees. To purchase raffle tickets, call 214-4434-9222 or email cattlebaronsdallas@cancer.org.

Cattle Baron’s Ball is the premier fundraiser for the American Cancer Society in North Texas and has raised more than $89 million since its inception in 1974. More information, including tickets, is available at https://www.cattlebaronsball.com

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Hard Work Pays Off– Juan Ramirez

Juan Ramirez, 31, started in the Car Wash, then advanced to Valet, Warehouse, Parts Counter, and is now an ASM at Jaguar Land Rover DFW. A native Texan, Juan graduated from South Grand Prairie High School in 2008. 

He’s worked at Park Place for 13 years. “My first impression: It was a great environment. All members are extremely polite! I found all members treated me well and had a service focus.”

Juan resides in Grand Prairie with his wife and two kids. He describes his family as “supportive and very energetic!” His son is 13 and his daughter 7. “My wife and I are very involved with our kids’ sports,” he says. Juan is an avid Texas Rangers fan and helps coach his son’s baseball team. He is also very involved with his daughter’s gymnastics.

“The best thing about working at Park Place are the opportunities. You can move to different departments and take advantage of learning opportunities. New situations can feel risky, but there is always help if needed.” His advice to someone just starting at Park Place: “Listen to everyone who has been there. Hard work pays off. The doors will open for you. Always ask questions. It will make you better.”