The Prime parking system from ParkHub.com, launched in January 2015, proved a big winner, along with the Broncos, in Super Bowl 50 in Santa Clara, CA. The mobile point-of-sale platform was used to speed up parking at the big game, and with 75,000 people expected to attend, it did just that. At peak time, one vehicle was processed every two seconds. The Prime system validates any pre-purchased or reserved parking, records cash transactions, and facilitates credit card transactions. “We were so excited to help Levi’s Stadium during this year’s Super Bowl,” said George Baker, ParkHub.com Founder and President. The system was developed by Dialexa, a product innovation company. All parking information is reported in real-time via an LTE network to a “cloud-based” platform, which operators can view from a laptop or a smartphone.

 

Walker Parking Consultants has announced the following promotions – To Vice President: James W. Pudleiner, PE, Philadelphia; Gary S. Rider, PE, Tampa; David W. Ryan, PE, Elgin/Chicago; and Robert E. Staley, PE, LEED, AP, Denver. To Principal: Randall W. Carwile, PE, LEED, Indianapolis; Scott R. Froemming, PE, Minneapolis; and Vladimir I. Ivanov, PE, SE, Seattle. 

 

TagMaster North America has announced that its embedded standalone access control solution now integrates directly with video streams from Axis Communications. This integration is designed to enable users to monitor live streaming video directly within their parking control system.

 

Peter Dingemans has joined Park Assist as General Manager of Europe. Based in The Netherlands, he is responsible for sales and service, and the development of the European branch. “I’ve had the opportunity to work with Peter over the past year through TKH Parking Solutions,” said CEO Gary Neff. “With our increasing expansion in Europe, Peter is a valuable addition.” In other news, this year, Park Assist will install its L4 system, which combines LED lighting with camera-based parking guidance, at Legacy West in Plano, TX. The 240-acre mixed-use site, developed by Karahan Companies, will include retail, dining and residential tenants, plus corporate headquarters for such companies as Toyota, JPMorgan Chase and FedEx. 

 

HID Global, a worldwide leader in secure identity solutions, reported that its identification technologies products for banking and payment smartcard industry have successfully passed MasterCard’s 2015 Card Quality Management (CQM) audit for “dual interface inlays.”  The company’s production site in Malaysia, which passed the required test procedures, is entitled to carry the corresponding CQM label. Worldwide, only a limited number of inlay production sites meet these requirements.

 

MobileNOW! has successfully rolled out a streamlined parking transaction experience for Apple Watch users. Since its April 2015 launch, the Apple Watch has achieved impressive user adoption. With a few simple taps, users can now pay for parking with ease via the free MobileNOW! app. Customers can park and pay without carrying cash, coins, credit cards, or their iPhone (as long as their iPhone is within range). “We are thrilled to further mobile payment access and convenience across the mobile technology ecosystem,” said John Oglesby, President and CEO. “Our development team remains among the very best in the industry to respond rapidly to demand.”

 

Parkeon recently completed an on-street parking project for Harvard Parking Services utilizing pay-by-license-plate technology. Its goal was to implement a system that helps promote turnover of parking spaces around Continuum, a new mixed-use development by Samuels & Associates near campus that includes 300-plus apartments, shops and street-side restaurants. Implementation, by Parkeon’s New England distribution partner, Wescor Parking Controls,included installation of solar-powered Strada multi-space parking meters, featuring a full color 7-inch display screen and capacitive QWERTY keypad for license plate entry. 

 

Parkbytext recorded a 60% increase over 2014 to 530,000 transactions in 2015 for customers parking by text, app, online or over the phone. Visitor parking and virtual permits issued – mainly staff, residential and student parking – rose 10% to more than 270,000 transactions, giving an overall total of more than 800,000 parking transactions. On average, 33% of customers chose to park with their phone over traditional pay-and-display machines. Smartphone parking was the most popular method, with an average 50% of customers preferring to pay through parkbytext. Luas customers were the biggest adopters, with 65% of transactions originating from the app.

 

Code Blue Corp., the industry-leading manufacturer of emergency communications solutions, has promoted Michael Zuidema to Marketing Operations Manager and hired Michelle Wong as Communications Manager. Zuidema will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the marketing department. Wong has extensive experience in cross-country project management and partner communications via global email and digital marketing efforts. 

 

The American Concrete Institute (ACI) has promoted Christopher J. Darnell to Managing Director, Customer & Product Strategy. In support of the ACI’s strategic goal of being more efficient and effective, he will focus efforts on improving the member and customer experience by aligning Institute products and services with user expectations, market demand, and communication channels, the ACI said.  

 

HUB Parking Technology recently installed a new DataPark system at the Center for Care & Discovery Hospital in Chicago. The medical center, which doubles as the heart of the University of Chicago Medicine campus, is a state-of-the-art hospital that offers a full range of specialty and primary care services. The 1,721-space parking facility has been built for the newest wing of the hospital complex. The system comprises three entry and three exit lanes, five automated paystations, and a fee computer for the public lots (floors 2 to 6); plus two entry and two exit lanes accessed by proximity cards (floors 7 and 8) for the nested area reserved for hospital employees. A counting system automatically displays, by each entrance, the available spaces on the different floors of the garage to further reduce the time needed to find a parking stall.

 

SP Plus Corp. has promoted Robert M. Toy, formerly EVP of itsSouthern Division, to the newly created position of President of Urban Operations, which consolidates the company’s urban operations under a single leader. All eight of the company’s Senior Vice Presidents of urban operations, together with the Executive Vice President of its New York Tri-State Region, will report directly to Toy. “(His) strong leadership skills, extensive industry experience, and in-depth involvement with the [company] over the past several years make him well-suited for this important role,” said CEO Marc Baumann. “I believe this streamlined structure will speed decision-making and more effectively leverage [our] resources as we look to accelerate our growth.”

The National Parking Association (NPA) has announced the winners of its 2016 Brett Harwood Leadership Scholarship: Tiffany Yu, Wen Sang and Theo Apanco-Perez. Marketing Specialist for Scheidt & Bachmann U.S.A. (Lowell, MA), one of the world’s largest transportation solutions providers, Yu also serves as Secretary on the Women In Parking Board of Directors. Sang is the Founder and CEO of Smarking Inc. (Cambridge, MA), a technology company that helps parking operators boost revenue, improve operations and increase customer satisfaction. Apanco-Perez serves as Human Resources Director for Towne Park (Annapolis, MD), a premier provider of hospitality and parking solutions.

Laura Lierz has been named a Regional Sales Manager for Cale America. Based near Denver, she becomes the company’s first CAPP-certified member. She also serves on the board of the Pacific Intermountain Parking & Transportation Association.Lierz will join Director of Sales Max Corotis, who said: “Cale’s growing customer base in Colorado includes the addition of key new accounts, such as the city of Aspen, town of Breckenridge and University of Denver.” 

 

Ruth Beaman, Executive Director of Women In Parking (WIP),announced in mid-January the association’s newly elected 2016/17 Leadership Board: Faith Albert, Account Manager, Parking Panda; Melinda Alonzo, Director of Parking & Transportation Services, Arizona State University; Stan Bochniak, Marketing Manager, ABM Industries; Andi Campbell, Vice President of Human Resources, Laz Parking; Tom Carter, President & COO, The Toledo Ticket Co.; Nicole Hankins, Vice President and Regional Manager, SP Plus; Julie North, Director of Parking & Transportation, Illinois State University; and Kelsey Owens, Business Development Representative, Passport. These newly elected Members-at-Large join Kirsten Dolan, President and COO of One Parking, and Nicolle Judge, President of SkyPark. Laura Longsworth, Vice President of National Parking Operations at Brookfield Properties, remains WIP Chairperson. Marcy Sparrow, Advertising Director of Parking Today, and Tiffany Yu, Marketing Specialist for Scheidt & Bachmann, will continue in their roles as Treasurer and Secretary, respectively. And Colleen M. Niese has transitioned into WIP’s Associate Director role. Executive Director Beaman, Founder and Principal of IntegraPark, said: “I look forward to working with this group of professionals, whose collective knowledge and expertise span all industry market segments. I am confident, under this Leadership Board’s guidance, that Women In Parking will continue to elevate membership value in very meaningful ways throughout their two-year tenure.”

 

Amano McGann, the industry leader in parking automation and revenue control, was recently awarded the contract to upgrade the five City of Sacramento downtown parking facilities. The garages are being updated in part due to the construction of a new downtown arena that will be the home of the Sacramento Kings professional basketball team. With installations to begin this month, and be completed by August 2016, the company said it is mobilizing for the modernization of the city’s parking facilities. “The goal of the city’s parking division,” said Parking Manager Matt Eierman, “is to effectively manage [its] parking supply, especially during a time of increased activity. The new technology will enhance the parking experience for businesses, residents and visitors.”