The late, great Whitney Houston sang to us, “I believe the children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way.”

This week, I had the privilege of attending the 59^th annual conference of the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA). It was my 16^th consecutive year of attending PCMA’s Convening Leaders and it’s where I go for my professional development, the way you participate in IPI’s Conference & Expo for yours.

I was a mentor to a college student who was attending for the first time and I served in a round table session for all of the college students, called PCMA U. It was so refreshing to speak with more than 25 wide-eyed young people all wanting to be event planners (and a couple wedding planners) upon graduation, and to hear their questions about the meetings and hospitality industries. They came prepared with calling cards and LinkedIn requests. Their initiative and financial sacrifice to attend were impressive. I offered to be there for them, not just during the conference, but going forward. I would happily send them job announcements and give résumé advice or help them connect with other professionals in my network.

In your varying roles as parking professionals, I would urge you to pay attention to and nurture the young people around you. One day, they will be the ones doing the jobs we do. Whether you can help them understand what you do every day, or recommend them for an internship or even a job, you’re helping the next generation of the parking industry. There are lessons that only our experiences can impart—lessons that are not taught in textbooks or classrooms.