By Rachel Yoka, CAPP, LEED AP BD+C, WELL AP

We can always learn from other people. I was blessed to find a mentor in my early days as a young marketing coordinator in Philadelphia. I interviewed with her, and even though I didn’t take the job, I made a lifelong friend, mentor, and confidant.  (Leaving out names to protect the innocent, and selfishly, make sure she always has time for me!)

This story reminded me of my experience. Although I don’t know what it’s like to be a young woman of color in an almost all-male environment, I do keenly remember being a young woman in the architecture, engineering, and construction (A/E/C) industry. I found my mentor(s), and then I found a tribe in the marketing world–by joining a chapter and an association for marketing in the A/E/C world. Marketers (like parking, transportation, and mobility professionals) may be in position as “lone wolves”–they don’t always have a team or a staff to back them up or brainstorm with. That extended work family became my greatest resource at that point in my career. When I transitioned from straight up A/E to the parking industry, it made beautiful sense to jump right into our association, IPMI. Encouraged to be active in the organization, I jumped right into whatever I could, and I gained far more than I can ever say I contributed.

At IPMI we aim to bring you the greatest member benefit possible–access to an engaged, educated, and friendly community of professionals who GET you. That happens at Conference, it happens every day on the Forum, it happens on Facebook, it happens through volunteering and sharing your experience, and a million other ways.

So come on, friends, jump on in. Find your mentor, find your tribe (and if you aren’t sure where to start, send me a note!).

Rachel  Yoka, CAPP, LEED AP BD+C, WELL AP, is IPMI’s vice president of program development.