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The Power of a Lego

This past week, Park Place brought all of our team members together, with their guests, to celebrate our 35th anniversary.  Aligned with our core belief of Expressing Care and living with a genuine spirit of service, our team members chose to use the evening to align with Children’s Health, the leading pediatric health care system in North Texas by bringing toys and making donations to “Cape Day,” a fundraiser for patient and support services, research, and new equipment.

Our Park Place Family showed up in a big way.  Not only did they completely fill an extended-length Sprinter with toys and backpacks, but our members opened their hearts to show how much Park Place cares for others and our communities.

After the event, Tony Carimi, Park Place Dealerships Managing Director, received the note below from a member of our team, sharing the impact of how a single toy affects lives and creates real experiences.  Individually, we’re strong.  Together, we’re unstoppable.

I wanted to say that Park Place’s decision to collect toys for Children’s was very meaningful to me. 

When my 9-year-old daughter Julianne was in the hospital after her brain cancer diagnosis a little over a year ago, one of the bright points was when a social worker offered her a choice of toys that a generous person had donated. Julianne chose a Lego set that she began but had to abandon when her motor control deteriorated because of the tumor. Later, after radiation treatments, we were able to continue and finish the set. 

In November of 2021, Julianne passed away. But that toy donated anonymously was a bright spot at a difficult time that gave my girl some joy and pride. We still display that Lego set in our home.

I was overwhelmed to see all of the toys Park Place members had given at the 35th Anniversary party for kids at Children’s Health. A whole van full! Believe me, they will cause a lot of happiness for some sweet kids who need something to smile about. I loved the opportunity to bring a Lego set to donate in honor of my daughter.

Kurt Rongey
Sales Experience Manager, Park Place Volvo

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Extra Girly Service Technician– Citlali Reyes

Citlali Reyes, 23, has been a technician at Park Place Motorcars Arlington for four years. But if you were to see her outside of the dealership, you would never guess her profession.

“I’m extra girly,” she proclaims. “I’ve always loved working on cars. I find it amusing how I love makeup, nails, heels, and all the typical girly things so much. On the same note though, I’m a high flagging, efficient technician that has committed the hours, blood, sweat, and tears to get where I am currently.”

Citlali was born in Denver but moved to Texas with her parents in 2012 and graduated from Irving’s MacArthur High School before finishing at UTI Dallas in 2018.

“My first impression when I came to Park Place was how luxurious the entire dealership is in all departments, from sales and service to parts, the client waiting area, and our shop.”

When not at work, Citlali manages a small apparel business and is co-owner of a small business in the custom truck scene. She’s also currently in the process of becoming a licensed nail technician.

When asked what advice she would give someone just starting out, she responded, “Advancement is simple. Just keep your long-term goal in clear sight and make small steps towards the big picture.”

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Lexus Plano Service Director: Rod Moreno – Woodworking Expert

Rod Moreno, Service Director at Lexus Plano, has been with Park Place for 22 years. He started as a Sales Assistant/Porter at Lexus Grapevine.

“It was the most luxurious dealership I’d ever seen,” he said. “I was an ASM at Lexus Grapevine when they told us we would be applying for the Malcolm Baldrige award. I had never heard of the award. It didn’t really hit home until we spent months and months preparing and executing our processes. Then we won, and all the hard work paid off.”

In addition to being an expert in the service department, Rod is also a very talented woodworker.

“I love woodworking!” he explained. “I converted my two-car garage into a shop. I’ve always had an interest dating back to middle school woodworking class. I enjoy building any project that my wife and daughters will love… dollhouses, play kitchens, barn doors, nightstands, etc.”

Born and raised in Fort Worth, he graduated from Southwest High School in 1996 and attended two years of college while working at a Fort Worth Lexus dealership.

“I live in Trophy Club with my wife Reagan and our three daughters Sylvie (11), Natalie (8), and Dylan (5). I am an only child. My mom said I was too bad for her to have more.”

When asked what advice he would give to someone just starting at Park Place, he answered, “Patience. Have patience when you are trying to grow in a company. Make yourself the obvious choice when the opportunity presents itself.”

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Dan Le, The Unexpected IT Expert

You could say Dan Le’s path to becoming an IT Tier III Engineer for Park Place Dealerships was a long and winding road. It started in 1975 when he was only 9 years old and he immigrated to the U.S. from Vietnam. Dan is quick to thank all the Vietnam veterans who helped his family relocate.

After graduating from Carrollton’s R. L. Turner High School in 1984, he went straight to Universal Technical Institute (UTI) in Houston. Afterward, he was hired as a service technician at a Mercedes-Benz dealership on Oak Lawn in Dallas that would become Park Place’s first dealership.

“At 19 and working for a well-known Mercedes-Benz dealership was a dream came true,” said Dan. “I worked as a technician for two years, then became a service dispatcher, where I helped with a variety of functions related to IT support, including phone system administrator and installation, tech payroll, and ADP program setup. During this time, the company had yet to integrate computers or even email into its processes.”

“ADP installed a hand-full of green screens throughout the dealership to improve car flow,” he explained. “It was hard for some people to trust the automated features of managing car flow. But it was easy for me to understand so I helped train others. During this period, we had several ADP systems upgrades. I became Park Place’s local ADP support.”

As technology was rapidly progressing, Le was able to demonstrate how the technology could have a positive impact throughout the organization.

“Within 10 years, ADP installed our first Cisco network infrastructure. Shortly after, Mercedes-Benz asked Park Place to be one of their test dealerships to implement the new NetStar Mercedes-Benz system. I worked alongside Mercedes’ NetStar team on a full-blown WAN network infrastructure between all our dealerships. Porsche deployed their own system and I got involved. Soon after, Lexus deployed their Dealer Daily system. Basically, every brand we have represented, I helped introduce their system into our dealerships and have worked in IT at Park Place ever since.”

Dan and his wife of 28 years live in Highland Village. Their daughter Liz lives in Vista, California and their son Nathen is a senior at Texas A&M.

Dan’s advice to someone just starting out? “Treat everyone with kindness and respect. Believe in yourself and work hard, even when no one is looking.”

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The New Range Rover

“We’re honored to share the exciting “New Range Rover” with our valued clients,” said Jason Feuerberg, new car sales director. “As the original luxury SUV, Range Rover has led by example for over 50 years. This latest evolution raises the bar in every way, bringing refinement, comfort, and capability to new heights.”

The New Range Rover arrives in showrooms this spring. The fifth-generation luxury SUV takes the Land Rover brand’s modernist design philosophy to the next level, with a contemporary interpretation of its trademark profile to create an incredible design statement.

The new 2022 Range Rover is available in SE and Autobiography models. A First Edition model will be available throughout the first year of production, based on the Autobiography and featuring a unique specification. It is exclusively available in a Sunset Gold Satin finish, among a choice of five exterior colors. Both Standard (SWB) or Long Wheelbase (LWB) body designs are available with five seats, while the New Range Rover LWB model is available with a third row for extended comfort for up to seven adults.

Available for order in early 2022, the new Range Rover SV is an exquisite interpretation of Range Rover luxury and personalization from the experts at Special Vehicle Operations. Available in both SWB and LWB body designs, with exclusive design details, material choices, and enhanced functionality, this hand-crafted model will be the first Land Rover vehicle to carry the new ceramic SV roundel and simplified naming strategy – known simply as SV. The SV roundel represents the distillation of Special Vehicle Operations design and engineering passion for modern luxury, performance, and capability. This is also the first time the LWB model is offered in a five-seat configuration on SV models.

A new extended-range plug-in hybrid (PHEV) model will also be available for order in early 2022. The new 434hp powertrain provides up to 62 miles of near-silent pure-electric driving. The clever packaging of the battery, beneath the vehicle, and within the wheelbase, ensures both luggage space and all-terrain capability are uncompromised. The use of advanced eHorizon navigation data also allows the hybrid system to optimize energy usage across a journey, to provide a peaceful arrival at a destination on electric power, while also optimizing EV usage.

A suite of innovative technologies contributes to the peerless comfort and refinement of the New Range Rover. New third-generation Active Noise Cancellation technology delivers one of the quietest cabins on the road. It builds on the hushed and sealed body architecture by using microphones on the outside of the vehicle and headrest speakers on the inside to create personal quiet zones for the cabin occupants – much like high-end active noise-canceling headphones.

The New Range Rover offers intuitive voice control with Amazon Alexa built-in in certain markets. Using natural voice commands enables customers to manage everything from favorite infotainment features and music track selection to navigation or phone contacts – all while keeping their hands on the wheel and their eyes on the road.

The Land Rover brand’s award-winning Pivi Pro infotainment technology is elevated by the New Range Rover with its largest-ever touchscreen. The 13.1-inch curved, floating screen embodies the architectural lightness of the interior with a minimalist frame design. It provides intuitive control of all the major vehicle functions, using the latest consumer technology to deliver a smartphone-inspired interface, haptic feedback when customers touch and press the screen, allied to convenient hard switches for climate control.

Every New Range Rover features All-Wheel Steering for an effortless drive with heightened stability at speed and improved maneuverability at low speeds, making it equally at home on the open road and negotiating tight city streets.

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Grace Holds 4th Annual Poker Tournament at Park Place Jaguar Land Rover

“We are so proud to partner with Park Place and the Wright family, “said Shonda Schaefer, GRACE CEO. “Their support for GRACE and the community is what allows us to put on amazing events such as the Poker Tournament.”

Roy Choi, CEO of Champions Club with Johnny Campanello during the Fabulous Poker Tournament benefiting GRACE at Park Place Land Rover/Jaguar in Grapevine, Texas, Saturday Feb. 5, 2022. (Michael Ainsworth)

More than 30 players joined the poker tables along with their “lucky charms.” The tournament lasted more than three hours with back-and-forth action between the competitors, until Scott Coolbaugh was crowned the champion, winning a trip to Las Vegas, including a 3 day/2 night stay at the luxurious Cosmopolitan Hotel Courtesy of Shannon O’Brien – the Travel Purveyor, and a bottle of Columbia Valley Magnum Pedestal. Runner up, Paul Bischler, won a bottle of Tequila Clase Azul Reposado. Roy Choi came in third place and won a 15-year-old Macallan single Malt Scotch whiskey.

Scratch Kitchen & Fine Foods provided hors d’oeuvres and delicious tacos while Classic Wine and Storage supplied extraordinary wines for the evening.

“We’ve supported GRACE for many years,” said Kara Connor, Park Place Experiential Marketing Manager. “In addition to the recent Poker fundraiser, we will host the organization’s Christmas Cottage Kick-Off and Toy Drive at Park Place Lexus Grapevine in November. We’re proud to support the great work they do in our community. Park Place members often volunteer to help GRACE’s programs, such as the Feed Our Kids summer program.”

during the Fabulous Poker Tournament benefiting GRACE at Park Place Land Rover/Jaguar in Grapevine, Texas, Saturday Feb. 5, 2022. (Michael Ainsworth)

GRACE was organized in 1987 as a response to the growing need for emergency assistance services in far northeast Tarrant County. Local churches responded to community needs with a plan for distributing available resources through Grapevine’s Ministerial Alliance. Today, GRACE continues to be a centralized, coordinated effort of churches, businesses, and individuals donating food, clothing, monetary donations, and even professional services to Grapevine, Colleyville, and Southlake residents, as well as homeless and transient families in need. Programs have grown to include low-cost medical services, transitional housing, and general emergency assistance (food, clothes, furniture, financial assistance, information, and referrals). More information is available at gracegrapevine.com.

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2021 Member of the Year Winners

Since its founding in 1987, Park Place has remained devoted to creating an exceptional automotive purchase and ownership experience.  From numerous manufacturer and industry accolades to becoming the first-ever dealerships to be awarded the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, Park Place Dealerships has created a culture of excellence that endures.  

“We have repeatedly evolved to stay at the forefront of the automotive industry. We want to highlight who we have been, who we are, and who we are becoming.” Tony Carimi, Park Place Dealerships Managing Director

Our purpose is “To create and province extraordinary experiences.” The core values help build and redefine the company’s brand:

Experts
Drawing on our experience to actively innovate with optimism and determination.

Exemplary
Leading by example with integrity and always doing the right thing.

Expressing Care
Respecting our team members, clients and community with a genuine spirit of serving.

Excellence-Driven
Taking ownership, anticipating needs and exceeding expectations.

Every year the company recognizes members who have gone above and beyond to create extraordinary ownership experiences every day. Our members are truly the X factor in Experts in Excellence.

Below is the 2021 Member of the Year Winners

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In Its First 35 Years, Park Place Dealerships Helped Shape an Industry

When the Mercedes-Benz store on Oak Lawn Avenue became the first store in the Park Place Dealerships brand back in 1987, there were no computers to track inventory or formal employee training programs, and no one talked about company culture. In fact, there wasn’t even a company website or email. Now, 35 years later, Park Place is a leader in the automotive industry with technology, training, and a culture that has been rewarded at the national level. And, one thing is certain, Park Place Dealerships’ next 35 years will be as vastly different as the first.

“Our industry is always evolving with innovation and that has a direct impact on how people shop for cars, purchase a vehicle, visit our stores, and communicate with us,” said Tony Carimi, managing director at Park Place Dealerships. “We have to adapt and engage our clients in every interaction whether that is onsite or online. Our plans for Park Place include increasing the presence of our technology platforms, recruiting a new generation of talent from outside of our industry, and preparing for a boom in electric vehicles.”

Over the next five years, Park Place will hire more technicians and train them to handle the increase in electric vehicles expected to hit the market. By 2025, Mercedes-Benz plans to roll out 25 new plugin hybrid electric vehicles in addition to fully electric vehicles, and Lexus will introduce 20 new or improved models. Volvo expects its all-electric cars to be 50 percent of its global sales by 2025 with the remainder hybrids. By 2027, Porsche anticipates nearly every vehicle will be fully electric. While Jaguar will become a pure-electric luxury brand by 2025, Land Rover will introduce six pure-electric vehicles in five years.

“We have to be prepared at the dealership level to accommodate a client’s preference to purchase and service both electric and fuel-based vehicles,” said Carimi. “In addition to technicians, we will need to train sales associates and service managers to advise clients. We also will need to hire in accounting, human resources, marketing, and administration positions to accommodate our growth. As we attract key talent, we have a plan in place to protect our culture including a new onboarding program.”

The company recently appointed a new Director for Center of Excellence to focus on growth, Member development, leadership, and process training.

Attracting and retaining the right people is a key priority for Park Place Dealerships. It’s not enough to be known as the best in the industry. For Park Place, it is about establishing a culture of excellence that endures. Park Place Members are committed to creating memories for clients that resonate beyond a transaction. They are highly trained to deliver a personalized experience for every client.

“There is no doubt that the strength of our brand is in our people,” said Anam Ali Hashambhai, marketing director for Park Place Dealerships. “We want every Member to be proud of the organization where they choose to work. As we mark our 35th year in Texas, we created a bold, forward-thinking design to resonate with our Members, clients, and the community. We are introducing a creative perspective around our timeless “Experts in Excellence” campaign. Excellence is the driving force behind everything we do, therefore you will start to see “X is for Excellence” come alive with a playful treatment of words such as eXceptional, eXtraordinary, eXhilaration, eXplore, and luXury.”

The modernized look underpins Park Place’s position as a leader in the luxury retailing space. Park Place has proven it delivers an automotive experience worthy of the world’s finest cars and will continue to innovate while anticipating the needs of its clients and exceeding their expectations.

“We are so proud of our heritage and are looking forward to the next chapter of our story as we continue to cultivate relationships, customize experiences and serve our community,” said Hashambhai. “Our clients, members, and partners can expect us to be innovative, respect each other, lead by example, and take ownership of our actions. We have set the course for the future of our company.”

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Park Place Dealerships Updated Response to COVID-19 as of January 1, 2021

Thank you for making Park Place, Your Place to purchase and service your vehicle. Your safety and well-being is our top priority!
Park Place Dealerships currently has many services clients can take advantage of during this situation including online service appointments, express pay for vehicle pick up, virtual test drives, and 100% online purchasing. With the ever-changing climate, we are doing our best to continue to put our clients first. Going forward, we have implemented the following measures to protect clients and employees:
 
GREETINGS: We have advised all dealership employees to suspend handshakes and physical contact with our guests. Smiles and great client service will continue!
 
SANITATION: Our teams are actively wiping down high traffic areas throughout the day, and nightly custodial activities are hyper-focused on cleaning and sanitizing those same high traffic areas. We encourage you to utilize the hand sanitizers that are conveniently located throughout the dealership.
 
CLIENT and LOANER VEHICLES: We take great pride in caring for each and every client and loaner vehicle. Vehicles are diligently inspected and meticulously cleaned and cared for upon their every return. Our team of professional detailers, car-washers, valets, and service managers are diligently providing extra care for each vehicle for your safety.
 
EMPLOYEES’ HEALTH: We are following all CDC guidelines for businesses and employers. We are asking employees to stay home if they feel ill and we ask clients to exercise good judgment if they have traveled to high-impact areas, been exposed to a COVID-19 patient, or feel ill.
 
MASKS MANDATE: Per recent rules in Dallas County, we are currently requiring all team members and clients to wear a mask at any of our establishments until further notice.
 
While there is a lot of uncertainty because of COVID-19, we are grateful you have entrusted us to help you purchase, service, and repair your vehicle. We are closely monitoring this evolving situation, and we will continue to update you with any changes to our company policies.
 
Thank you for your continued support of Park Place Dealerships. Please reach out to us with any questions or concerns!
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More than 350 Applications Received for the $100,000 Park Place Season of Giving

24 local non-profits were awarded a total of $100,000 from the SEASON OF GIVING campaign by Park Place Dealerships, which is celebrating its 35th year in North Texas. Park Place selected the organizations for its SEASON OF GIVING campaign because of their commitment to serving the Dallas/Fort Worth community.

A committee comprised of Park Place members from different dealerships across North Texas selected the non-profits out of more than 350 applications received. Under Park Place Cares, the company’s philanthropic arm, the company donated $100,000 to 24 charities that met the following criteria:

  • A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
  • Supports one of Park Place Cares’ Pillars of Giving, which include: Education; Medical; Advocacy; or the Arts
  • Serves at least one of the following counties: Dallas, Tarrant, Collin, Denton, Ellis, Rockwall, Kaufman, Hunt, or Johnson
  • The charity cannot have received donations or in-kind support from Park Place in 2021

“Selecting these non-profits was very challenging,” said Tony Carimi, managing director of Park Place Dealerships. “There are so many worthy non-profits doing admirable work in the areas we would like to impact. Our team had the difficult task of narrowing down the charities from 350 to 24 across North Texas to make the greatest impact during our Season of Giving.”

The charities receiving a grant for the 2021 Season of Giving representing Park Place Cares’ four pillars include:

Advocacy

  • Denton Co. Friends of the Family
  • Journey to Dream Foundation
  • Canine Companions
  • For Oak Cliff
  • Rainbow Room of Rockwall
  • A Wish with Wings
  • Don’t Forget to Feed Me Pet Food Bank
  • Ally’s Wish
  • Tara Sawyer Foundation
  • LGBTQ Saves
  • Defenders of Freedom

Arts

  • Dwell with Dignity
  • Laughter League
  • Cara Mîa Theatre
  • Texas Winds Musical Outreach
  • Sixty & Better

Education

  • AVANCE
  • Camp Summit
  • The Jordan Elizabeth Harris Foundation
  • Bettie Gonzalez Foundation of Hope
  • Computers for the Blind

Medical

  • Heavenly Hooves Therapeutic & Recreational Riding Center
  • Heroes for Children
  • Project4031

“We are humbled to have received such an incredible response to the Season of Giving campaign with the opportunity to reach so many people across our community through these outstanding non-profits,” said Anam Ali Hashambhai, Marketing Director for Park Place Dealerships. “Over the past 35 years, we’ve donated millions of dollars and countless volunteer hours to support great causes across North Texas, but this is the first time we have implemented this type of giveaway. The Season of Giving campaign expands our benevolence giving this holiday season to organizations we haven’t worked with previously. We look forward to developing these new relationships in the year to come.”