El Camino College Moves Parking Permits Online with HONK

Torrance, CA — HONK, North America’s leading provider of contactless payments for parking, announced that El Camino College has replaced its legacy parking permit system with HONK’s fully digital, automated solution — streamlining operations, improving the campus parking experience, and laying the foundation for future growth. The College’s move away from physical permits represents a broader shift in how parking is managed, with HONK’s digital platform giving El Camino new tools to streamline day-to-day operations for both administrators and campus drivers. Administrative teams now spend less time on manual tracking, accounting, and reconciliation – everything is digital, easier to audit, and less prone to error. “We needed a modern parking solution that would make our internal operations more efficient while improving the overall experience for our students and staff, said Matthew Vander Horck, Chief of Police,  El Camino College. “HONK delivered a system that is intuitive for our team, reduces administrative burden, and gives our campus community a simple, mobile-first way to park— with the flexibility to grow as our needs continue to evolve.” For students and staff — the people parking on campus every day — the change is even more visible. Parking is now mobile-first, giving drivers a faster, more intuitive experience that aligns with how they already use technology. No more waiting in line, managing paper passes, or dealing with lost permits. The system supports popular mobile wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay, which means drivers can pay using the same tools they already rely on every day. Behind the scenes, the system has also helped reduce long-term operational costs. By shifting away from hardware-heavy infrastructure, El Camino has minimized the need for expensive equipment replacements and ongoing maintenance. “El Camino’s move to digital parking reflects what we’ve seen work well across higher education,” said Matt Critchell, Chief Revenue Officer, HONK. “Schools are looking for systems that are easy for students to use and simple for teams to manage, and El Camino now has a parking program that reduces manual work, scales as needs change, and supports a modern campus experience.” About El Camino College Founded in 1947, El Camino College is situated on a beautiful and spacious 126-acre campus near Torrance, California. The college enrolls about 33,000 students each semester and boasts a curriculum of about 200 degree and certificate programs taught by exceptional faculty in an environment that supports equity and student success.


City of Alexandria’s DASH Partners with ABM to Support EV Bus Charging Infrastructure

New York – ABM (NYSE: ABM), a leading provider of energy infrastructure and facility solutions, has been selected by the Alexandria, Virginia, Transit Company (DASH), to deliver critical EV charging infrastructure that supports the growing electrification of the city’s public bus fleet. Under the agreement, ABM provided and installed an in-route pantograph charger, accompanying power cabinets, electrical infrastructure, and civil foundation work. The solution enables DASH buses to charge while in service, expanding route flexibility and supporting uninterrupted operations for Alexandria’s fast-growing electric fleet. “This project represents a forward-thinking investment in clean, reliable transit,” said Mark Hawkinson, President of Technical Solutions, ABM. “We’re proud to help DASH take this important step in expanding their electric bus capabilities and enhancing service for the Alexandria community.” A Milestone in Fleet Electrification The installation is part of the first phase of a broader electrification plan for DASH, transporting more than 15,000 riders daily and over 5.3 million riders annually. By enabling in-route charging, the project helps extend operational range, reduce downtime, and lower greenhouse gas emissions—all while supporting a better rider experience. The milestone was completed through the EV Charging Station Equipment and Services cooperative purchasing agreement under NASPO ValuePoint, a national cooperative purchasing program that allows public entities to streamline the procurement of high-quality, vetted infrastructure solutions. Rider-Centered Benefits DASH riders will directly benefit from this upgrade as it enhances operational flexibility, keeps buses on schedule, and ensures a reliable service experience. For the agency, it provides a scalable solution as electrification expands and further in-route or depot charging assets are deployed in future phases. About ABM ABM (NYSE: ABM) is one of the world’s largest providers of integrated facility, engineering, and infrastructure solutions. Every day, our over 100,000 team members deliver essential services that make spaces cleaner, safer, and more efficient—enhancing the overall occupant experience. ABM serves a wide range of market sectors including commercial real estate, aviation, education, mission critical, and manufacturing and distribution. With over $8 billion in annual revenue and a blue-chip client base, ABM delivers innovative technologies and sustainable solutions that enhance facilities and empower clients to achieve their goals. Committed to creating smarter, more connected spaces, ABM is investing in the future to meet evolving challenges and build a healthier, thriving world. ABM: Driving possibility, together. For more information, visit www.abm.com. MEDIA CONTACT: Michael Valentino media@abm.com


Modernizing Campus Parking

“The university is a series of individual entrepreneurs held together by a common grievance about parking.” Clark Kerr’s observation from his time as Chancellor of the University of California, Berkeley still rings true. Decades later, parking remains one of the most persistent sources of frustration on college and university campuses. Students circle lots looking for spaces, faculty want reliable access near offices and classrooms, visitors struggle to understand where they can park, and administrators are left balancing competing needs with limited resources. What has changed since Kerr’s era is the technology available to manage parking. Yet many universities still rely on physical permits, spreadsheets, and manual processes that no longer align with the expectations of modern campus communities. Parking has become part of the daily campus experience, and outdated systems can undermine that experience before the day even begins. University parking is inherently complex. Faculty, staff, resident students, commuters, athletes, and event attendees all have different needs, usage patterns, and expectations. Managing these demands fairly with legacy tools almost guarantees confusion and dissatisfaction. Cloud-based digital parking management platforms are built to handle this complexity. They provide flexible tools that adapt to different user groups and demand patterns, while offering online self-service for permits, payments, and renewals. Automation reduces errors, eliminates the cost and waste of physical permits, and frees parking staff from routine administrative work. Financial oversight improves as well, with automated reporting and account-level tracking across departments or campuses. Rutgers University’s digital parking management program illustrates the impact of this shift. By moving to a modern cloud-based system, the university was able to combine permit types, enable online transactions and system-wide access, improve event and guest parking, and gain real-time data for planning and pricing. Compliance improved, complaints declined, and parking became more predictable for users. For many people, parking is their first interaction with campus. Digital parking management helps ensure that experience is efficient, transparent, and far less frustrating, turning a long-standing grievance into a strategic operational advantage. Click here to read the Parking & Mobility magazine article. Chris Perry, PTMP, is the Senior Vice President of Parking Base. He can be reached at chris.perry@parkingbase.com.


Ocra Appoints James Hansen as Head of Partnerships to Accelerate Hotel Sector Growth

Chicago, IL – Ocra announced the appointment of James Hansen as Head of Partnerships. Hansen will be instrumental in leading strategic partnerships as the company scales its AI-powered parking revenue management platform across the hotel industry. Hansen brings more than 25 years of experience in hospitality and hotel management, with a career spanning sales, marketing, operations, and finance. He has a proven track record of exceeding revenue, growth, profitability, and return objectives for hotel asset owners while driving strategic partnerships and market expansion. Most recently, Hansen focused on strategic growth initiatives as Vice President of Development at Reeco, where he drove unprecedented growth in ARR and customer acquisition while positioning the company as the leading AI-driven procure-to-pay solution in the industry. Prior, he served as Chief Development Officer at OTH Hotels & Resorts, where he led the growth and development of a portfolio of 15+ hotels across the United States. His previous roles include leadership positions at Hotel Equities, Kolter Hospitality, and Interstate Hotels & Resorts, where he developed deep insight into hotel ownership, management, and operational realities. In his new role at Ocra, Hansen will focus on building and expanding partnerships with hotel asset owners as Ocra propels into its high-growth phase. His appointment underscores Ocra’s commitment to helping hotels unlock incremental, high-margin revenue from underutilized parking assets through AI-powered revenue management and global inventory distribution. “After meeting James at an industry conference a few years ago, it was clear that he understood the value Ocra drives in the hospitality sector,” says Ethan Glass, CEO & Co-Founder of Ocra. “We first had the pleasure of working with James when he was at OTH Hotels & Resorts as a client, then we saw the incredible impact he made on the technology side at Reeco. When the opportunity presented itself for us to bring James on board, it was a no brainer. He’s been an extraordinary champion from the start, and we couldn’t be more excited to have him on our team.” “I’m beyond excited to join such an elite team of thought leaders and a company that is truly leading innovation in the space,” says James Hansen, Head of Partnerships. “I’ve been an advocate for Ocra for nearly two years now. Parking is a massive ancillary revenue stream and profit center for hotels, and one that’s been overlooked for too long. I’m excited to help the industry recognize and maximize this untapped opportunity to grow NOI.” Hansen’s hire indicates momentum for Ocra expanding its footprint in the hotel sector, partnering with assets to unlock parking as a high-margin revenue stream through hands-on revenue management, sophisticated software, robust platform integrations, and AI-driven pricing strategies. About Ocra Ocra is an AI-powered Revenue Management System (RMS) and Global Distribution System (GDS) purpose-built for hotel parking assets. Hotels use Ocra to sell underutilized parking inventory to non-guest customers using online marketplaces (“parking OTAs”) to find parking near airports, venues, and other hotspots. Ocra’s team of parking revenue management experts drives growth without adding labor or disrupting operations, helping hotels increase net operating income (NOI) while never compromising guest parking. 20+ hotel groups partner with Ocra to achieve optimum yield of their parking assets – including MCR, Starwood Capital Group, Aimbridge, Stonebridge, Highwood Properties, Concord Hospitality, and OTH Hotels & Resorts. Ocra has raised $10M in strategic funding to date – $3.5M in an oversubscribed round in April 2024 led by MCR and Parker Technology, and $5M led by Trestle Partners with significant follow-on from MCR in August 2025. For more information, visit getocra.com or email info@getocra.com. Media Contact: Sarah Becherer VP, Marketing Ocra sarah@getocra.com


Free Virtual Learning Lab Presented By HONK: Thinking Outside the Lines: How HONK and UC Davis Are Redefining Campus Parking

Join us for a live interview where Kacey Siskind, SVP of Account Management at HONK, sits down with Linda Braak, Director of Customer Care & Planning at UC Davis, to discuss what UC Davis has learned since redefining its permit parking program and why working with HONK has made a difference.