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Long-time Parking Consultant Cullen Retires

February, 2014

In His Own Words

After 42-plus years of being part of the parking industry, I decided to retire – I prefer the term “planned unemployment”) at the end of 2013.  I will, of course, fulfill any obligations for projects currently underway.

I entered the parking business as a cashier, hoping to earn enough money so I could continue my education.  Since that first night in the booth, I have never stopped learning. 

I learned that a revenue control system is not a substitute for management.  I learned that customers are not always right, but they must leave the facility thinking they are.  I learned that for every parking action, there is an equal and opposite parking reaction. 

I will miss seeing a precast double-tee being positioned onto a new garage.  I will miss the smell of fresh asphalt being laid onto a new lot.  I will miss the sound of a coin dropping into a meter’s coin canister.  I will miss the glare of the overhead lights as it reflects off the roof of vehicles parked beneath. 

I will miss the silence as I explain to a supervisor how the cashiers are able to steal money regularly from their facility.  Yes, I will miss a lot of those things, but, most of all, I will miss the many friends that I have made during the years.

I will maintain an association with The Integrity Group, so my e-mail address will remain active.  If you have need for parking consulting services, I trust you will consider them for the assignment. 

I close with the words of “J. Alfred Prufrock” by T.S. Eliot:



... No! I am not Prince Hamlet, nor was meant to be;

Am an attendant lord, one that will do

To swell a progress, start a scene or two,

Advise the prince; no doubt, an easy tool,

Deferential, glad to be of use,

Politic, cautious, and meticulous;

Full of high sentence, but a bit obtuse;

At times, indeed, almost ridiculous –

Almost, at times, the Fool. ...



Chuck Cullen, CAPP, CPP

Senior Associate, Parking Advisory Services

chuckcullen@integrityparking.com



 


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