Leadership

LAZ Parking, the largest privately owned, tech-enabled parking, transportation, and mobility company in North America, today announced a comprehensive growth and leadership strategy that includes the creation of more than 1,000 new jobs and career opportunities across North America within the next year, an expansion of its Hartford headquarters to accommodate more than 100 additional employees, and the launch of a nationally recognized Leadership Continuity Plan designed to position the company for decades of future growth.

Leontyne Green-Sykes, former Chief People Officer at Wayfair and COO/CMO at IKEA US, shared insights on authentic leadership as an introvert. She discussed balancing professional growth with staying true to one's natural style, distinguishing between "performing" and "stretching." Green-Sykes emphasized that both introverted and extroverted leadership styles are valuable and highlighted strategies such as providing pre-meeting context, allowing reflection time, and creating inclusive environments where different personalities can thrive. She concluded by encouraging participants to identify ways to stretch their leadership style while remaining authentic.

Los Angeles, CA - Get My Parking (GMP), a global leader in AI-driven smart parking and mobility software, today announced the appointment of Gary Means, PTMP, as Vice President, Business to Government (B2G) Solutions, North America.

Before he built parking technology, Sean Glavin spent nine years in the Army, including six as a Green Beret with the 5th Special Forces Group, the Army's elite unconventional warfare unit. Green Berets deploy in small teams into ambiguous, high-stakes situations where decisions must be made with incomplete information. He came away with one conviction that outlasted the uniform: Nothing is ever finished; it is either being improved or neglected.

Parking is often one of the first and last points of interaction people have with a city. At the Hartford Parking Authority (HPA), we shared a commitment to doing our part to make that impression positive, even as we worked toward larger strategic goals. Together, we focused on something we could accomplish quickly and affordably while creating the greatest possible value for the community.

If you work in university parking and transportation, you quickly learn that parking is rarely just about parking. Our departments serve a remarkably diverse group of people—students, faculty, staff, medical professionals, visitors, contractors, administrators, and other university departments. Each group has different needs, expectations, and priorities. Trying to balance those needs can make parking operations one of the more challenging areas of a university to manage.

I am relatively new to my role directing parking and transit services at Kent State University, and, as you can expect, I’ve had some challenges and lessons along the way. I’ve found it both cathartic and beneficial to reflect on the challenges and lessons learned since stepping into leadership in this industry. I’ve learned how much of a collaborator I truly am and how this has helped me to be a better leader. I’ve dealt with the strain of not being fully staffed and struggling to remain operational while also trying to manage burnout for myself and my staff. Finally, dealing with the politics of parking has challenged me and spurred me to grow as a leader.

This Frontline Fundamentals session, "Stronger Together: Building Solid, Supportive, and Successful Teams," was led by Vanessa Cummings (Ms. V), a parking and mobility consultant with more than 32 years of experience. Participants explored four key work styles, task-oriented, time-oriented, risk-taker, and follower, and learned how understanding these styles can improve teamwork, communication, and task delegation. Ms. V also shared practical strategies for collaborating with and managing different personality types across organizational settings.

VANCOUVER, CANADA – PayByPhone, a global leader in parking and mobility payments, today announced the appointment of Bob Shepard to its Executive Leadership Team as Chief Product Officer (CPO), reporting to President and Chief Executive Officer, Jonny Combe, effective immediately. Backed by Lightyear Capital, PayByPhone is intensifying its investment in product-led technology to achieve its global growth ambitions.

Every organization experiences turnover, but there’s a particular kind of departure that leaves leaders with more questions than answers — the sudden resignation. When a long tenured employee leaves abruptly, especially after weeks of uncharacteristic quiet, it’s natural to wonder what happened beneath the surface.

The International Parking & Mobility Institute is pleased to announce the newly appointed Executive Officers of the 2026-2027 Board of Directors. Elections for the Board of Directors were held by the association in April 2026, and the members began their terms at the conclusion of IPMI’s 2026 Parking & Mobility Conference & Expo in Milwaukee, WI, June 14-17.

Los Angeles, CA — Metropolis Technologies, Inc. (“Metropolis”), the leader in applied AI for the real world, announced the appointment of Eric Garcetti, Hugh Wyman Howard III, and Jason Park as advisors to the company. The appointments bring together leaders across government, security, and finance at a pivotal moment for Metropolis, as it expands its footprint across urban infrastructure, mobility, and the systems that power how people move through the physical world.