Changing of the Guard, Administration, and Leadership
Have you ever heard the saying “without change there is no future”? How about John F. Kennedy’s perspective, “Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future. In any given moment we have two options: to step forward into growth or step back into safety.” This is one of my favorite quotes personally and professionally. I often share with parking employees we have to continue to change to meet the expectations of the future. Embracing change is hard for so many employees, but it is one thing that motivates me to seek out new parking innovations and sparks my creative side on how to improve the customer parking experience. How can I lead better? Do I need to change or does my operation need to do things differently to meet customer expectations? I have been in two different arenas from a university parking environment to now the municipal side. While change may bring some angst or anxiety you get used to a certain response or non-response from administrators. Not only is the City of Bloomington getting a new mayor this year, it is also an electoral year. However, I believe a certain amount of change makes us better professionals, better service agents to our community at large and provides a different look on how we should be doing things differently if it is broken! I know clear directives and strong leadership ensures that we are on the same path to making our City better each year. My hope not only for my staff but for all the parking professionals going through “the changing of the guard”, that you keep moving forward with your mission, listen, seek to understand first and give the new administration the opportunity to prove themselves. Always provide honest feedback to your department head about how the staff is transitioning. Ask questions for clarification if you don’t understand, don’t assume you have all the facts. Be open to see both sides. I am probably going to have to read this advice in the coming months as I go through the first administrative change in my professional career in the city. Are you going through changing of the guard, administration and or leadership? How will approach your next administrative change? From John F. Kennedy’s perspective will you choose, growth or safety? Michelle L. Wahl, CAPP, is the Parking Services Director for the City of Bloomington, IN. Michelle can be reached at michelle.wahl@bloomington.in.gov. Our two on-campus parking structures have about 200 cameras covering almost every inch of space. Our department has a significant role in installing well over 50 other cameras around campus to oversee parking areas and major points of traffic and pedestrian flow. High volume bus stops and pay-station locations are top priorities, and our dispatcher routinely monitors and checks them for things amiss. Perhaps unusually, we are separated from the University Police Department which has shared access to the cameras providing a valuable safety resource. One person with a virtual presence across half the campus at same time, managing equipment and various situations. We are not cruel, though. One of the TVs in dispatch has the Weather Channel on all the time and sometimes we even let them have visitors! Harold Robinson, CAPP, is the Assistant Director of Parking and Transportation Systems for The University of Mississippi. Harold can be reached at hdrobins@olemiss.edu. Growing demand for EV charging: Global EV sales surge: in 2023, global EV sales hit a record 10 million, up 55% from 2022. EVs are expected to account for 18% of total car sales by 2024. EV adoption rates: the number of EVs on U.S. roads is projected to reach 26.4 million by 2030, compared to 2.6 million in 2021. Consumer demand for charging: 81% of EV drivers expect access to charging at places where they park for extended periods (such as parking lots, multifamily developments, and workplaces). EV charging as a competitive advantage: Attracting tenants and visitors: 40% of drivers have said they’re more likely to choose a parking facility with EV chargers. Increase in property value: properties with EV charging stations have seen rent premiums increase by 3-5%, and property values can increase by 7% in markets where EV adoption is strong. Parking facilities with charging stations: facilities with EV charging tend to experience higher occupancy rates, especially in urban areas where EV drivers actively seek charging options. Courtney Henry-Irwin is the Director of Partner Development for EVPassport. She can be reached at cirwin@evpassport.com.
