Jan Parks: Edmonton BMW’s Leader Gets Personal

Jan Parks is a tall drink of water. Seriously, he’s really tall measuring 6’7” to be exact. The General Manager of Edmonton BMW is a family man with a beautiful wife named Laura and two children, a little boy named Weston and a small girl named Ruby. 

Jan Parks has been in the automotive industry for 14 years. The 40 year-old started in vehicle sales and quickly moved into management and then general management roles. 

He’s a man who is focused on bringing happiness to his family, his employees, his employers, and his customers. We sat down with Parks in the airy Edmonton BMW dealership to get to know a little bit more about the man who reaches the top cupboard every single time.

ML: What do you like best about the 2020 BMW M8 featured in this Modern Luxuria edition?

JP: The drive. The feel. The power! It’s an unbelievable car. It’s a driver’s car. When you get it out on the open road, it’s very hard to keep yourself from getting it up to full speed after every single red light. It’s powerful! As soon as you open the door, the M8 logo lights up in the seat and as soon as you sit down in the seat, you just feel the power. It’s a driver’s car!

ML: What would you say is the #1 thing that makes you successful?

JP: My work ethic and compassion is a good way to describe it. You know, wanting to prove myself. Wanting to make family, parents, employers, and people I work with comfortable and happy. I try to be the first one in the office to set an example and I try to instill that into my kids. You know the idea that you’ve got to work for it. It’s not going to be given to you.

ML: What is something that most people would be surprised to learn about you?

JP: A lot of people don’t know that I was recruited to eight different colleges for basketball when I was younger. That was my passion in high school. Most people wouldn’t guess that I spent 10 years working in the oilfield either. I don’t have any crazy secrets. 

ML: What have you done recently for the first time?

JP: I would have to say golfing all the golf courses around the Shuswap in BC in July. I’ve never done that! I hadn’t swung the golf clubs yet this year and I didn’t play a lot last year so it was challenging to say the least. We woke up early one morning and threw all our clubs in a boat and hopped in. We went an hour and a half up the strait and docked right at the golf course and played Hyde Mountain. I’ve never done anything like that before: show up to a golf course by boat! It’s not too often that you get to experience something like that. 

ML: Where do you shop for your clothing?

JP: Believe it or not, I’m a bit of a deal hunter. I custom order all my shirts but the majority stuff is from Hugo Boss. My wife shops online for me and she finds me a lot of great deals.

ML: Living or dead, famous or not, who would you like to spend an hour with?

JP: I need an hour with my grandfather. He died of cancer. He and I were close. That’s where I got my height from. No one else in my family is tall except for him and everyone says I look just like him. Growing up, I’d always go spend a lot of time at their house, we’d do a lot of ice fishing. He was always building something. I’d have to say I’d love an hour with him. 

ML: What brings you joy?

JP: Seeing my kids being happy. Go home to see my family and the kids come running up for a hug, you forget all the trials and the tribulations and the stressors of life. We’re blessed to have a pretty good life but it’s something we talk about all the time. As long as our kids are happy and taken care of we are happy. There’s not a lot else you can compare to that. 

ML: What does Luxuria mean to you?

JP: It’s got to be client service. Luxury for me is understanding the way the client perceives luxury when they walk in the door. I want to make sure we give that to them to a standard that leaves them surprised. One small little thing can completely change the way a client experiences Edmonton BMW and we want to understand that. It looks like honesty, transparency, and authenticity. Car buyers can trust that.

This profile appeared in the August 2020 Edition of Modern Luxuria Magazine