Park Place Lexus Grapevine recognized Grapevine – Colleyville Independent School District Teachers of the Year, Ashley Benson and Patton Garay. Benson, a teacher at Brandford Elementary, was named Elementary Teacher of the Year with Garay, a teacher at Grapevine High School recognized as Secondary Teacher of the Year.  

The two Grapevine – Colleyville ISD teachers were offered their choice to drive a Lexus IS or NX for the 2023 summer, plus two tickets to a Texas Rangers game with a parking pass and access to the Lexus Lounge that includes an “all you can eat” buffet and drinks of choice. In addition, the teachers will receive four passes to the Dallas Arboretum, a $100 gift card to Southlake Town Square, and a Park Place insulated bag with Park Place swag.

“We love celebrating the teachers who commit their time, energy and resources to ensuring the next generation of leaders get the best opportunity to learn,” said Charles Owen, Park Place Lexus Grapevine General Manager. “What makes our community a great place to live and work begins with the teachers who show up everyday to encourage their students to explore new concepts and topics. We applaud all the teachers at Grapevine-Colleyville ISD for their passion to educate.” 

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, Jaguar, 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. 

Waterpark Opens to Public Mother’s Day Weekend May 13 – 14

School is winding down and summer is right around the corner which means Hawaiian Falls is preparing for fun in the sun! The family-friendly waterparks have a lineup of great events beginning with an exclusive Season Passholder weekend Saturday, May 6 and Sunday, May 7 from Noon to 5 p.m. 

During this sneak peak, guests will enjoy special entertainment including daily foam parties and specialty food items. The waterparks will not be open to the general public on Season Passholder weekend, May 6 – 7.

Hawaiian Falls locations will open to the general public on Saturday, May 13 and Sunday, May 14 for Mother’s Day weekend. Moms will be treated to free admission and receive a special Hawaiian-themed gift.

Memorial Day Weekend, May 26 – May 29 the parks will officially kick off the summer season with free admission to all active duty and retired military personnel with a valid Military ID. The parks will be open daily beginning Friday, May 26.

Other special events planned throughout the summer include:

• Father’s Day weekend – Dads get in free June 17 – 19
• Champions Day – June 20 and July 22 Champions (individuals with special needs) and their families will have exclusive access to the park from 9 am -10 am. Champions tickets are FREE and family companion tickets are only $10 (limit 4).
• World’s Largest Swimming Lesson – June 22
• Independence Day weekend – Active duty and retired military personnel as well as first responders receive free admission.
• Aloha Fest – July 15 in Roanoke, July 22 in Mansfield, and 
  July 29 in Waco.
• Family Fun Fridays throughout July with Ohana Games led by Hawaiian Falls Activity Director.  

Season passholders can visit their home park to secure their passes beginning May 1 – 5 and May 8 – 12 from 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. at the park’s front gate.

Hawaiian Falls continues to hire applicants 15 years of age or older to work in a safe, fun environment. There are opportunities for first-time job seekers, students, teachers, single parents, extra wage earners and senior citizens to become Hawaiian Falls Ambassadors. 

Ambassadors will enjoy the flexible hours and schedules to fit an individual’s availability, Ambassadors receive a complimentary Season Pass plus four daily admission tickets per month they work to bring friends and family to the parks. For more info and job descriptions, visit hfalls.com/employment. 

For information about special events, operating hours, directions, tickets and season passes, visit hfalls.com.

Offer Exclusively Available Via the DQ Texas Mobile App

DQ restaurants in Texas are celebrating the 1985 introduction of Blizzard® Treats with an 85-cent Blizzard Treat offer. Available exclusively via the DQ Texas mobile appfrom April 10 - 23, fans can enjoy a small Blizzard Treat at participating restaurants for less than a dollar.  

The NEW Summer Blizzard Treat Menu is also available at participating DQ locations for a limited time featuring five new and returning Blizzard Treat flavors including the NEW Peanut Butter Puppy Chow; NEW Oreo Brookie; Cotton Candy; S’mores; and Choco-Dipped Strawberry. 

Fans can keep up with all the new innovative ways to quench their cravings with “The Best Treats & Eats in Texas” in the DQ Texas mobile app.

The mobile app has lots of benefits including users earning rewards – spend $5 and collect a “Red Spoon” (five Red Spoons are worth $5) – and receive alerts about exclusive app deals redeemable at participating DQ restaurants in Texas. Users also can order online through the mobile app for greater convenience, where available. 

New users will receive a free mini Blizzard Treat just for signing up.

Redeeming rewards is super simple – when you arrive at your neighborhood DQ restaurant, just click “Redeem” and present the 7-digit code to the cashier. Just like that, you’ve got deliciousness in the palm of your hand! 

Users will learn about special offerings and monthly deals which is great for planning around busy schedules.

About Texas Dairy Queen Operators’ Council 
There are few brands as iconic as the DQ brand. Innovative DQ treats and eats, along with the unique DQ restaurant concepts, have positioned DQ restaurants in Texas as a leader in the quick service restaurant industry. The Texas Dairy Queen Operators' Council is a nonprofit organization made up of DQ franchisees operating in Texas. The Council develops the advertising and marketing program for DQ franchisees in Texas and controls the Texas Country Foods menu along with managing supply/distribution for the nearly 600 DQ restaurants in Texas. The DQ restaurants in Texas are franchised by American Dairy Queen Corporation and the DQ franchise system includes approximately 7,000 franchised locations in the United States, Canada, and more than 20 other countries, including the nearly 600 DQ restaurants in Texas. 

For more information about the Texas Dairy Queen Operators’ Council, visit dqtexas.com or follow us on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook.

U&I, a 72-year-old nonprofit that works to build opportunities of inclusion for veterans, adults and youth with disabilities, announced the lineup of artists performing on Saturday, March 25, 2023 at the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge in Dallas for the 29^th Annual The Dash Experience.

DJ Throwdown Sam from Majic 94.5 will kick off the day mixing music at 4:30 pm with live entertainment throughout the evening featuring Paul Wall, Chris Pérez, Angel Cintron, Laci Mercede, ItsErnie, Scarlet Parke, XB Valentine, and Made Ent.

The Dash 2023 includes a certified 5k glow-run, a one-mile walk, shop small market, a kid’s zone, food trucks and live music. Registration for the race is now open at TheDash23.Com or participants can register the day of the event. The 5k is $30 per person and the one-mile walk is $20 per person. On-site registration and pre-race activities begin at 4:30 p.m. Registration increases to $35 for the 5k and $25 for the one-mile walk on race day.  

Rapper and DJ Paul Wall began his career performing alongside fellow Houston rapper Chamillionare, with whom he released several albums. In 2005, he signed with Atlantic Records and became successful with his major label debut “The People’s Champ.” He was nominated for a Grammy Award for "Grillz," his collaboration with rapper Nelly.

Guitarist Chris Pérez, best known as lead guitarist for the Tejano band Selena y Los Dinos, married Selena nearly 30 years ago. He formed The Chris Pérez Band in 1998 with John Garza, Rudy Martinez, Jesse Esquivel and former Selena y Los Dinos keyboardist Joe Ojeda. The group’s debut album, Resurrection, was released in 1999 and won a Grammy Award for Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album. In 2010, Pérez formed the Chris Pérez Project with Puerto Rican singer Angel Ferrer, releasing "Todo es Diferente." Normally shy and introspective, in 2012 he wrote “To Selena, With Love,” a deeply personal account of their relationship.

Native Texan XB Valentine grew up in Georgetown but she’s lived in Dallas for the past year. The 25-year-old XB Valentine is an LGBTQ artist who came out at 21. In 2022, she officially became a part of the Roc Nation family. Her music is often romantic songs of a woman serenading another woman like “Hate the Way,” which features Chris Pérez on lead guitar. She’s an Official SXSW Showcase Artist.

Scarlet Parke is a Seattle-born, Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter and Grammy-featured artist, known for her unique blend of soul, pop, jazz, and electronic sounds. As the founder of Dreamgirl, a female artist empowerment brand, Parke is committed to promoting women's voices in music. Her recent album, "Dreamgirl" showcases her versatility as an artist with themes of love, loss, and self-discovery.

Italian-American R&B/soul/pop artist, Laci Mercede, is a singer, songwriter and creative force based in the LA area. Laci's sensual tone breathes life into her emotionally connected lyrics about love, life, and coping with change. The 24-year old's music has been featured on Billboard, LadyGunn Magazine, Voyage LA, and many other outlets.

San Antonio native Angel Cintron is a songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist, and classically trained vocalist based in LA. Angel describes her sound as music for “sensitive gangstas.” As Angel continues to genre bend, experiment with her sound, and break all the rules, her focus remains on expressing her truest self while helping her fellow “over thinkers” to see they are not alone.

MADE Ent blends a mix of Detroit and Pakistan. Twan and Moneeb formed the group in 2010. They produce Rap, Hip Hop, R&B and Soul music. MADE is an acronym for Making All Dreams Evolve.

Detroit-born and Fort Worth-based rapper ItsErnie has made a name for himself as a rapper with tight bars. A dedicated student of the craft, his performances are trademarked by him guzzling liquor and Pedialyte onstage. In addition to his onstage antics, he also hosts a daily tik-tok series called “crazy bars I’ve heard,” which has racked up almost five million views.

In 1951, Jean Walker Bentley overcame cultural barriers and spoke out for disabled children and their families. She started the Children’s Development Center to meet the scholastic and socialization needs of children with special needs. In 1981, the Federal Government mandated that educating children with disabilities was the responsibility of public schools, so U&I shifted to be the answer for “Where do I go from here?” as individuals and families dealing with disabilities & other opportunity barriers move into life after public school.

Today, as one of the largest workforce development centers in DFW, U&I continues to meet the needs of disabled individuals by providing vocational training, job readiness training, paid work opportunities, transportation needs and community placement annually to more than 1,500 youth, adults and Veterans with all-types of intellectual, physical and/or mental health disabilities. More information about U&I is available at www.uandispreadthelight.com.

Jaguar Land Rover GM Grew Up and Raised Family in Southlake

According to a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report released last September, the median employee tenure for men was 4.3 years and 3.8 years for women, relatively unchanged from 2020. Park Place Dealerships’ median tenure is nearly double the national average with 8 years for men and 6 years for women. Matt Woolsey, General Manager at Park Place Jaguar Land Rover DFW, recently celebrated 25 years at Park Place Dealerships.

“When I first started at Park Place, we were just beginning to use this thing called the internet,” Woolsey says with a chuckle. “Today, we have all the tools necessary to provide our Members (Park Place employees) with everything they need to do their jobs. What I love most about Park Place is the commitment to help our members learn and grow, and ultimately to ensure the client has the best experience.”

Woolsey moved to Southlake in 1980 with his parents and sister Kristina. “There were less than 1,000 people here. After graduating from Carroll High, I went to Austin and studied Business Economics at the University of Texas. Hook ‘em! I met my wife Anne there. I graduated in 1997 and got in the car business in ‘98.”

Woolsey started as a sales consultant at Park Place Motorcars in Bedford. He worked his way up to General Manager at the Mercedes-Benz store and has served as GM at Lexus Grapevine; Jaguar Land Rover North Austin; Jaguar Land Rover Porsche Volvo of Greenville, South Carolina; and Jaguar Land Rover DFW, where he currently works.

“Matt’s passion for our members makes him a leader that others are eager to follow,” said Tony Carimi, Park Place Dealerships’ Managing Director. “His relentless drive for excellence has helped him meet our clients’ needs and mentor hundreds of members. Over the years, he has assisted families with multiple generations of drivers.”

While everyone wants to be liked, Woolsey says it’s imperative he continues to earn his employees’ respect. “When I walk through the store, people see “the GM” walking by. Not the person. It’s just human nature to see the title, and not necessarily the person for who they are. I told one of my directors just last week: it is so much more important to be respected than to be liked. As leaders we have a responsibility to provide for our members and to make sure they can provide for their families. Having our members see our dedication and commitment to excellence will ultimately lead to respect. I’d love for all our team members to like me. I’m human, too!  But I’d rather have their respect.”

He and his wife Anne raised their sons Austin (23) and Bennett (20) in Southlake. “They graduated from the same high school as me. Austin graduated from Carroll in 2017. He was the band president. He graduated from UNT with a major in Jazz studies. He married his college sweetheart, and they live in Austin. Bennett graduated in 2021. He’s in Nashville pursuing his dream of being a singer/songwriter.”

Woolsey’s advice to young people just starting their careers: “Stay the course. The grass isn’t greener on the other side of the fence. It’s greener where you water it. Keep working hard and great things will happen for you.”

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.