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Season of Giving Kicks off Today Benefiting Local Non-Profits and Organizations

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 pursues the highest standards of corporate responsibility in everything we do – and that includes supporting and empowering our team members to improve the quality of life in the communities where we do business. A new initiative from Park Place Dealerships provides local organizations an opportunity to apply for assistance through the luxury automobile group’s SEASON OF GIVING campaign, which kicks off today.

Under the umbrella of Park Place Cares, the company’s philanthropic arm, Park Place’s SEASON OF GIVING campaign offers local non-profits the chance to apply for a one-time, end-of-year grant. The company will give away a total of $100,000 before the end of 2021 to deserving non-profits who are serving the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area.  The SEASON OF GIVING campaign coincides with the start of Park Place Dealerships’ 35th year of “Experts in Excellence” serving North Texas.

“Park Place has a long history of giving back to our community,” said Anam Ali Hashambhai, Park Place Dealerships Marketing Director. “Over the past 35 years, we’ve donated millions of dollars to deserving non-profits. We want to expand our benevolence giving this holiday season by reaching out to non-profits and organizations who haven’t received support from Park Place in 2021. We encourage local organizations to apply.”

Non-profit organizations must fit the following criteria:

  • The organization must be a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
  • The charity must be able to support one of Park Place Cares’ Pillars of Giving which include: Education; Medical Research; Children’s Advocacy; or the Arts.
  • The charity must serve in at least one of the following counties: Dallas, Tarrant, Collin, Denton, Ellis, Rockwall, Kaufman, Hunt, or Johnson.
  • The charity cannot have already received donations or in-kind support from Park Place in 2021.
  • Charities must apply by midnight Nov. 30, 2021.

Charities can apply at ParkPlaceCares.com and the winners will be announced on December 6, 2021.

“Giving back is part of our culture,” said Tony Carimi, managing director of Park Place Dealerships. “Our members take great pride in knowing the company they commit so much of their time to is dedicated to making North Texas a better place to live. We have encouraged our members to reach out to organizations they are connected to and invite them to apply for a grant. We want to bless as many non-profits as we can during our SEASON OF GIVING.”

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The Good Samaritans

Motorcars Fort Worth shop foreman James Kuebler was taking a car for a test drive early one morning when he spotted a lady sitting in the middle of a bank parking lot, next door to the dealership, holding her ankle.

I walk that path all the time, said Rev. Wil Gafney, a professor at TCUs Brite Divinity School. I don’t know what happened. I just heard my ankle crack, and I went down. I couldn’t get up on my own.

James stopped and helped Dr. Gafney into the car and drove her home, where her personal assistant gathered the necessary papers and took her to the hospital.

I can’t thank James enough for stopping to help me, she said. Id always heard Park Place had great service. It’s true.

James has worked for Park Place for more than 35 years, starting in Oak Lawn in 1984. He went to work in Euless for a Mercedes-Benz store, then returned to Dallas before transferring to Motorcars Fort Worth in 2005.

But James is not the only good Samaritan in his family. James’ daughter, Rachel Kuebler, a booker with Porsche Dallas, just celebrated her five-year anniversary. Park Place recently received a gushing email from another grateful lady who had been helped by Rachel.

Last week Rachel from your Porsche store was my angel, said the thankful woman. I was stranded on the side of the road with a flat tire when she stopped to help. She insisted on changing my tire, then offered to follow me to the tire shop down the road so I could get the tire replaced. I was floored. If this is the kind of help you give to people who aren’t your customers, I can only imagine the top-notch service your regulars receive. I don’t know if a luxury vehicle will ever be in my family’s budget, but the next time I need a car I will absolutely be checking out your used cars. Park Place and Rachel, you are doing it right.

When the email reached Tony Carimi, he replied, It’s a great nod to James leadership, both in his professional role and with his family. The stories show how his great example at work and home contributes to the goodwill running in the family. This perfectly exemplifies the Park Place spirit of serving!

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Spotlight on Rutilio Anguiano

Rooty, as he’s known by his teammates, is a humble man. He’d rather talk about his co-workers than himself.

His teammates describe Rutilio as one of the most likable guys, and say, he goes out of his way to greet everyone with a smile. They describe him as a team player and a delight to work with every day. 

Bryan Martin, his supervisor, says. Rutilio is the ideal employee. He’s a pillar of integrity. Always has a positive attitude and is never late. That says a lot about a man who starts work every day at 7 a.m.

Rutilio joined Lexus Plano in 2009 as a car washer, and he loves his job. I love my team, he says. And, more than anything, I love my schedule. While he comes in at 7, he also leaves at 4 p.m.

When he’s not working, you might find him taking care of one of his kid’s cars. Rooty is married with three children: a son 27; and two daughters – 23 and 21. He likes to ride his bicycle and watch football (the Dallas Cowboys of course) and boxing.

He says Park Place is a good place to work. There are lots of opportunities for anyone who wants to grow.

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HIPsters Tour Park Place Lexus Plano

The term “hipster” can have many meanings these days, but for the adults who attend My Possibilities (MP) in Collin County, the term is much more than a label. For them, HIPsters stands for Hugely Important People, and they have an important role to play in society.

Recently a group of HIPsters stepped out of their comfort zone to take a tour of the Park Place Lexus Plano dealership and participate in an auto safety expo, including demonstrations on how to safely jump-start a battery and check the air pressure on a tire. The goal of the field trip was to better prepare the HIPsters to flourish in the community.

“Everyone who interacted with these amazing young people received much more than they gave,” said Chris Brunner, Park Place Lexus General Manager. “The HIPsters were attentive and witty and full of life. We were thrilled to meet them and plan to host another group soon.”

MP is a Plano-based non-profit that serves as a pioneering leader in vocational education and job placement for adults, 18 and above, with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) such as Down Syndrome, Autism, Cerebral Palsy, traumatic brain injuries, and many more diagnoses.

“We first met with Park Place Lexus in February 2019,” says Michael Thomas, Executive Director of My Possibilities. “Our Campus Life Manager Jamie Zozaya engaged Park Place, and they were eager to help. We were unable to move forward with our annual gala due to the pandemic, and some things were put on hold. As we began to reopen, Park Place was first to step in, and they made ‘Welcome Back’ signs for our HIPsters’ first day back on campus. They also joined our car parade for North Texas Giving Day last September. Through coordination with our Campus Life Manager, one of Park Place’s shop teams came out on their own time and brought supplies to trim bushes and edge the front of the MP campus. We are grateful for Park Place’s intentions and its genuine passion for giving back. They are true HIPster Heroes!”

Park Place Lexus members who set up the tour, put together swag bags, and conducted the auto safety expo included Assistant Service Manager Stephen Enloe (whose younger brother was a HIPster and now works at a restaurant in Allen); Service Warranty Administrator Romayne Brown; GM Administrative Assistant Katie Stutts; Preowned Sales Administrator Olivia White; HR Krissi Elliott; and GM Chris Brunner.

The Park Place Cares program supports more than 250 organizations around the Dallas-Fort Worth area throughout the year. Park Place’s members are also encouraged to volunteer their time to serve local communities.

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 two collision centers, an auto auction, and eight full-service dealerships representing luxury brands including Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover, and Sprinter Vans. For more info, visit parkplace.com.

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North Texas Residents Conquer Challenging Competition in North Carolina

 

Park Place Land Rover DFW members Cade Mannetti, new car sales manager, of Frisco; Jeff Boyd, parts department, of Little Elm; and Jeff Kersh of Richardson, diagnostic specialist, recently participated in the 2021 Land Rover TReK event at The Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina, one of Land Rover’s four North American Experience centers.  

“This was our first experience as a Trek team,” said Cade Mannetti, “and we were proud to represent Park Place in a grueling set of mental, physical, and driving tasks.  A Top 10 finish was a remarkable reward after working as a team covered in mud, drenched by rain, cold and tired with the incredible backdrop of the Biltmore Estate.”

The Land Rover TReK 2021 was a multi-day event comprised of 70 teams from Land Rover retailers across the country. Each three-man team drove a 2022 Defender 110 SE P300 with a 4-cylinder gasoline engine across rugged terrain while executing a series of off-road driving events, navigation games, and team challenges.

“We had to pitch our own one-man tent in an open field next to the Biltmore vineyards,” Mannetti explained.  “I slept fully dressed in preparation for a 4:30 a.m. wake-up. With it raining overnight, it wasn’t as comfortable as staying in the Biltmore Hotel and not much sleep was achieved before an exhausting full day of challenges.”

The teams started off on foot, racing a quarter of a mile carrying their gear to receive the coordinates of where their vehicle was hidden on the 8,000-acre estate.

“Using a handheld GPS unit, we hiked over hills and through the woods to find our vehicle,” continued Mannetti.  “There were 15 tasks set up around the estate, all plotted on a crude map with GPS coordinates.  One of the biggest challenges was navigating the maze of trails without getting lost or backtracking.  The full week of rain made the clay turf as slick as ice and paths were often submerged in muddy water and deep mud-filled ruts.”

Challenges were both mental and physical, including building a wooden bridge over raging water. The most grueling task was constructing a hand-operated winch using the hi-jack, tow straps, and chains to leverage the 6,000-pound Defender backward up a slick, muddy hill for a full two car lengths… less than an inch at a time. Mannetti stated the challenge took a full hour and drained the team of everything they had.

The last challenge of the day involved a search through the woods on foot in overgrown thorn bushes and vines to find three clues leading the team to disassemble a part of the Defender to find a password to complete the task. During this time, the temperature had dropped significantly and it was pouring rain for a solid 45 minutes, said Mannetti. 

Some of the terrains across the course seemed impossible for a vehicle to pass through, but Mannetti reports the Defender made easy work of everything they encountered.

“Clay-like mud is unpredictable. Even a 4-wheel-drive vehicle can slide off a trail and rollover. But whether we were on wet grassy slopes, loose rock, submerged in water, or clawing our way through muddy ruts, the Defender never hesitated.  The Land Rover Terrain Response system worked its magic, and the surround cameras allowed us to see in front of the vehicle as well as what our tires were encountering.  The Defender is the most capable production SUV on the road while keeping us in refined comfort in the cabin.”

Give the experience and lessons they learned from this challenge, Mannetti and the team say they hope to compete again next year.

Park Place Jaguar-Land Rover DFW is located at 1300 E. State Highway 114 in Grapevine.

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 two collision centers, an auto auction, and eight full-service dealerships representing luxury brands including Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover, and Sprinter Vans. For more info, visit parkplace.com.

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Spotlight on Matt Overs: Technical Advisory Board Chairman

Although he was born in a small town outside of Philadelphia, Matt Overs considers himself a full-on Texan!! His family actually had a big influence on him. Most of his family has been in the automotive industry since he could remember. Particularly, his family has been in repair shops, which is why working at a repair shop came naturally to him. Before coming to Park Place, he used to work as a technician at a repair shop called Christian Brothers. He heard about Park Place when he was in high school. It was through an outreach program that Park Place had at the time. I guess Park Place stuck with him because he has been with the company for 10 years.

Matt has had various roles at Park Place. He started as a technician and stayed in this role for two and a half years. Then, he was a technician leader for three years. After that, he became a shop foreman, which he has lasted 5 years in. One of the things he enjoys the most about being a shop foreman is being able to develop his own strategies to fix a problem. Recently, Matt has become chairman of the Technical Advisory Board. Being a part of the Technical Advisory Board means providing insights on the strategies that help contribute to solving problems. “It is satisfying when you can find the hard problem, and you can actually fix it,” he says.

Career growth has always been in his vision. Maybe in the future, he hopes the company opens an executive position as a technician director. He says, “One of the biggest challenges we face is the integration of full-electric vehicles into traditional workshop equipment and repair processes. I think the company would benefit from an executive-level position that oversees technical directives.”

A great moment he experienced within Park Place is being Coach of the Year in 2016. This moment was so dear to him because you have to be voted to become Coach of the Year. “It is not easy to impress your peers,” he adds on.

Although he says he is an introvert, he has an adventurous side to him. He has a passion for mountain biking. Especially, anything with two wheels. He has a dirt bike and a street bike. A fun fact is that he takes a yearly trip to Colorado. He loves going to a place called The Chicago Basin in Colorado. When he is there, he enjoys his time mountain biking, rafting, and hiking.

One advice he would give a new hire is “Everybody is approachable, so ask questions.” He brags about the Park Place culture. “Park Place has worked a culture of members helping each other.” He truly believes that you have the power to solve problems. His quote to others would be “Listen First.”                    

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Seantrel Sloan: Porsche Dallas Technician Wins Awards For Restoration in Porsche Challenge

 

Park Place Porsche Dallas technician Seantrel Sloan, 26, recently completed a year-long restoration of a 1990 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 Targa, one of only 1,500 Targa 964s in existence. The rare sportscar (number 90) was restored as a tribute to the family’s father, who was only the second owner of the vehicle.

When the client asked Park Place to help restore the car, no one imagined it would be chosen as the top restoration in the Area, then the best in the Porsche Cars of North America South Region. Sloan and the car traveled to Indianapolis for the Porsche Sportscar Together Festival September 10 – 12, where his work finished as one of the top three cars in the country in the Porsche Classic Restoration Challenge national championship.

“I’m proud and honored to represent the brand,” said Sloan. “The skills and training I got from Park Place prepared me to do the quality of work I put into the car.”

For nearly 20 years, the 911 Carrera 4 Targa had been stored in a garage. When the car arrived at Park Place Porsche it had vacuum leaks, multiple oil leaks, aged rubber hoses, fouled spark plugs, and carbon tracked distributor caps and rotors. All of these were replaced and updated, along with new cylinders, machining the cylinder heads, replacing the radio with a new Porsche Classic Communication Management system (PCCM), paint correction, and some interior restoration.

“We were given the opportunity to participate in the Porsche Classic Challenge with our client’s 911 C4 Targa in Dunkleblau – ‘Dark Blue’ in English,” said Porsche Dallas General Manager Patrick Huston. “Being able to feel the performance during its first test drive, compared to how the car would barely move when we first received it, was well worth our efforts to make the car like new again.”

One of the biggest challenges of the restoration was sourcing parts for the 30-year-old sports car. The competition required all parts to be original manufacturer’s parts. Porsche Dallas Parts Specialist Keith Jones rose to the challenge, literally tracking down parts from all over the world. Shop Foreman Steven Taylor helped keep the project on track and even helped Sloan mount the engine back into the car.

The 2021 Porsche Classic Restoration Challenge saw nearly 40 dealerships from around the U.S. take part by giving Porsche sports cars expert attention. Teams of certified Porsche Technicians and the official catalog of 60,000 unique Porsche Classic Genuine Parts were enlisted to return the cars to their former glory. Represented in the competition were 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. After months of diligent work, documentation, and check-ins, cars judged to be regional winners moved on to compete in the August 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 two 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 UTI Universal Technical Institute (UTI) in Irving to receive his automotive technician certification, graduating in 2014. Then he served two years of active duty in the U.S. Army, most of which was in Pyeongtaek, South Korea as a petroleum specialist for aviation and ground vehicles. After being honorably discharged as a Specialist E-4, he returned to work at Park Place Porsche Dallas as a technician. He currently lives in Lancaster, Texas.

Park Place Porsche Dallas, one of only two Porsche Exclusive dealers in Texas, is located at 6107 Lemmon Avenue near Love Field. The dealership has been honored as a Porsche Premier Dealer 20 times by Porsche Cars North America.

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 two collision centers, an auto auction, and eight full-service dealerships representing luxury brands including Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover, and Sprinter Vans. For more info, visit parkplace.com.

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Park Place Dealerships Updated Response to COVID-19 as of August 11, 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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Kendall Richards Leads Veterans on Their Last Ride

JLR SEM Kendall Richards swore he’d never go into the car business. “My dad owned a VW Audi dealership, and I wanted nothing to do with the family business,” he said.

After graduating from Hillcrest High in 1980, Kendall got his undergraduate degree at Stephen F. Austin. Then he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, where he spent seven years as an air traffic controller, the last three as an instructor.

“I served on the Honor Guard at Keesler AFB in Biloxi, Mississippi,” he said. “It was a very special duty, but I thought I was done with that part of my life when I got out.”

While in the Air Force, Kendall got his MBA from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. After working in IT at EDS, he moved into the mortgage banking business until the economic bust of 2008, when a friend suggested he consider Lexus Plano.

“I can do this for a while until something else comes along,” he thought. He steadily rose up the ranks from Sales Consultant to Internet Sales, Finance Director to New Car and Pre-Owned Sales Manager before moving to JLR a year ago.“

A friend’s dad knew I liked to ride my Harley, and he asked if I’d be interested in joining the Patriot Guard Riders,” explained Kendall. The Patriot Guard Riders is a volunteer nonprofit that ensures dignity and respect at memorial services honoring fallen active duty military, first responders and honorable discharged veterans.

“I was hooked from the first mission!” he said. “The majority of our rides are at DFW National Cemetery, but this one was a service for a 95-year-old World War II vet at a little country cemetery in Savoy, Texas. When his kids and grandkids got up and spoke, it made me want to be a better dad, grandfather and friend.

For the past year, Tuesdays have been Kendall’s day off. “The ride captain leads the mission,” he concluded. “I’m the first guy they call for a Tuesday funeral.” And that’s just the way he wants it.

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Park Place for Preemies

The morning after he quit a sales job he loathed, George Johnson had a problem: he was 21, unemployed and still living at home. He needed to find a new job quickly. Luckily for George, a friend of his had just started at a local car dealership.

Meredyth Haller, of Cook Children’s Hospital and George Johnson, Genera Managers of Park Place Motorcars of Fort Worth, stand in front of the hospital in Fort Worth Texas, Friday, September 11, 2020. (Michael Ainsworth)

“I took a job selling cars until I could find a real job,” said George. Now, 38 years later, George oversees Park Place Motorcars Fort Worth as the executive general manager.

“I was always passionate about cars, but never realized how much so,” said George, when he recalled how his temporary gig turned into a career. “I think I really fell in love with connection with the client. I still remember the first person I sold a car to. She was so joyful and I felt such a connection after sharing this exciting moment in her life. I was hooked.”

This past year, many nonprofits in our community had to reimagine in-person fundraising events due to the pandemic. That included the annual Pickin’ for Preemies benefiting Cook Children’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). With the move to a virtual event, we weren’t sure if we’d receive the same level of community support, but Park Place Motor Cars Fort Worth stepped up and generously chose to sponsor the online silent auction.

The Pickin’ for Preemies family was elated. Plus, it was a meaningful decision for George.

Years ago, when George and his wife Cathy were living in Northern California, they had their own experience in a NICU. Their youngest son Dylan was born two months early, weighing just 3 pounds and 11 ounces.

“You know, you just go into survival mode at that point,” said George. “What we were so impressed with was all the nurses and doctors in that NICU. They must be highly trained on how to handle parents. You have to keep the parents in the game.”

Dylan spent six weeks in the NICU before being sent home with his loving parents, and the experience left a mark on George and Cathy. George and Park Place supported Cook Children’s through contributions to Jewel Charity for eight years, making donations totaling half a million dollars, and Cathy spent time volunteering in the NICU as a baby rocker. When George heard about Pickin’ for Preemies, he saw a way for Park Place to directly help NICU families.

“I’ve always had a special place in my heart for Cook Children’s because of what they do for children, especially with preemies, so when I saw that, it just kind of hit me over the head,” said George.

Without the support of corporate sponsors like Park Place and passionate leaders like George, Cook Children’s simply wouldn’t be the incredible place that it is today.

Story Provided by Cook’s Children’s.