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2014 Convention Breaks Records; Award Winners, NPA Leaders Named

December, 2014

National Parking Association

By Christina Garneski

The National Parking Association (NPA) Convention & Expo 2014 saw record attendance, and the most exhibitors and educational sessions ever at an NPA event. The energy in the session rooms, on the expo hall floor and at the networking events was palpable. Connections were made, deals struck and innovation sparked.

Standing Room Only

Change is in the air at the NPA, and its focus on inclusiveness and making the pie bigger for everyone’s success is a message that was loud and clear in late October at NPA 2014, themed “Parking Trends, Tech & Transportation.”

On opening day, it was standing-room-only at the education sessions. One attendee said, “I come to the NPA convention because it’s the leadership convention.” An exhibitor said, “I got more booked sales at the NPA convention this year than I have in the last six months.”

The expo hall opening day was a crush of attendees. The Amano McGann booth, for example, had people lined up five-deep to see new equipment. With more than 1,200 attendees and 120 exhibitors, the annual event is growing and dynamic.

The Innovation Lounge, Tech Talks, NPA Smart Bar and roundtable discussions all brought more interactive question-and-answer sessions to attendees who could go back to work with real take-home value for organization performance.

Honorees Showcase the New NPA

The NPA has always been known as the commercial operators’ organization. And it still is. But now we see many valet operators, too. And the big change is just how many municipal, university, hospital, airport and engineering attendees are choosing this event.  It’s easy to see why, when the NPA recognizes the value of all parking sectors.

A case in point was the 2014 NPA Innovation Award winners, announced at the convention. This year, all were from sectors other than parking operators. In the past, this would have been unheard of. Today, the NPA shows that every top performer is welcome and valued.

• Innovator of the Year: Frank Ching, CPP, Parking Administrator, City of Santa Monica, CA, Parking Operations

• Innovative Organization of the Year: City of Tampa Parking Division, Public Safety Team.

• Innovative Facility of the Year: City of Santa Monica Parking Structure #6 (with architect International Parking Design and technology partner HUB Parking Technology).

• Innovative Sustainability Project of the Year: New Balance Field and Parking Facility, Boston University (with parking consultant and structural engineer Desman Associates).

NPA Board

Leaders Announced

At the convention, the NPA Board of Directors elected Mark Muglich, President of ABM Parking Services, Cleveland, as its chairman. His two-year term took effect Oct. 21, 2014.

“It’s truly an honor to have been elected as NPA’s board chair,” Muglich said. “Over the years, I’ve come to know and admire many of my industry colleagues affiliated with NPA … and I look forward to the challenge of continuing the NPA’s important job

of bringing best-practices to the

parking industry.”

The Board of Directors also announced new executive committee positions:

• Chair-Elect: Alan Lazowski, Chairman & CEO of Laz Parking, Hartford, CT.

• Vice-Chair: Nicolle Judge, President of SkyPark, San Bruno, CA.

• Treasurer: Robert Zurisky, President of Parkway Corp., Philadelphia.

• Secretary: David Damus, CEO of System Property Development Co., Pasadena, CA.

• Immediate Past-Chair: Jeff Wolfe, President of The Car Park, Boise, ID.

Finally, two new members were elected to the NPA board: Frank Ching, CPP, former City of Santa Monica Parking Administrator and now Director of Parking Management, LA County Metropolitan Transportation Authority as Public Council Chair; and Jerry South, Founder and CEO of Towne Park, Annapolis, MD, as an At-Large Member.

NPA 2015 Events to

‘Save the Date’

If you are wondering why the NPA is becoming so popular, see it for yourself. In February, the NPA hosts its annual Winter Leadership Forum, at The Ritz-Carlton St. Thomas, USVI, which will look at recent mergers and acquisitions, parking asset management trends, business models and the economy.

In April 2015, you can attend one of five NPA Parking Power Network tour “happy hour” events, free of charge. Scheidt & Bachmann sponsors the 2015 networking tour in Boston, Chicago, Miami, Seattle and LA.

Mark your calendars now for the NPA Convention & Expo 2015. We will be heading to the Fontainebleau Miami Beach resort hotel next year, Aug. 31-Sept. 3. Make sure you don’t miss out.



Christina Garneski, CAE, is Senior Director of Marketing, Communications & Events at the National Parking Association. Contact her at christinagarneski@npapark.org.

 


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