By  Tiffany Yu

Scheidt & Bachmann GmbH (S&B) partnered with Women In Parking (WIP) to host an introductory networking event during Intertraffic Amsterdam 2016 in April. It served to encourage discussions toward establishing a formal European chapter of the WIP organization for the collective continent. 

More than 70 parking professionals attended the evening occasion, held at S&B’s Intertraffic booth.

Said Anjna Patel, a Past President of the British Parking Association: “The platform provided by Scheidt & Bachmann was vital in bringing together parking organizations and chief officers to not miss opportunities to grow their own companies by ensuring that they tap into and recognize the women in their organizations who ... could enhance their businesses.” 

Representatives from a variety of parking sectors, including vendors, operators, consultants and public specialties, participated in the event to learn more about the mission of the WIP organization. 

A host of industry leaders was invited to speak at the event, including Patel, Principal Parking Officer at the Sandwell (UK) Metropolitan Borough Council; Ashley Bijster, Managing Director of Imperial Civil Enforcement Solutions in Bristol, the UK’s largest provider of parking, environmental and traffic management systems; and Laurence Bannerman, President of the European Parking Association.

The response and turnout for the event were amazing,” said attendee and WIP member Julie Dixon, President of San Diego-based Dixon Resources Unlimited. “It was so rewarding to see how many of our colleagues enthusiastically attended to represent their support.”

The Women In Parking organization was founded in the U.S. in 2011 to serve as the premier association dedicated to promoting the advancement and achievement of female parking professionals by providing networking, leadership and career outreach opportunities to its members. 

WIP has worked persistently to offer resources that all organizations within the industry can access and take full advantage of to improve and capitalize on a gender-balanced workforce within their respective organizations. 

The organization will be holding future information and networking sessions at European parking conferences and expos. In the meantime, WIP will work toward attaining formal establishment of a European chapter, as well as recruiting a leadership board and members.