Leadership

Confronting the Invisible Burden of Advocacy: Why Organizations Must Act to Support Those Who Support Others

Hartford, Connecticut – Propark Mobility announced today that Tamer Shaban has been promoted from Senior Vice President to Executive Vice President of Operations, Southern New England. This promotion reflects Shaban’s outstanding contributions to the company and his longstanding dedication to driving strong results for clients and team members alike. “Tamer has been an essential part of Propark’s success in Connecticut for over two decades,” said David Schmid, Chief Executive Officer of Propark. “His commitment to excellence and strategic growth has been pivotal to our expansion. I’m excited to see him bring that same energy and focus to his new role as Executive Vice President for Southern New England.” Since joining Propark in 2000, Shaban has risen through the company’s ranks, developing a deep understanding of operations and the diverse needs of clients across industries. Throughout his tenure, he has consistently leveraged his expertise to deliver innovative solutions that help clients achieve and exceed their goals. His dynamic leadership and ability to implement forward-thinking strategies have positioned Propark as a parking and mobility leader in Connecticut and beyond. “We are proud to recognize Tamer’s leadership with this promotion,” said Stephen Duffy, President of Propark. “His passion, expertise, and commitment make him the perfect fit for this role. I know he will continue to elevate our operations and deliver exceptional outcomes for our clients throughout the Southern New England Region.” “Tamer is a standout leader in the Propark organization,” said John Reimers, Chief Operating Officer. “His dedication to our team and his talent for building meaningful client partnerships have led to outstanding success for 25 years. As Executive Vice President, Tamer will undoubtedly take Propark to the next level.” In his new role as Executive Vice President of Operations, Shaban will oversee strategic planning, client service, financial management, and talent development across the Southern New England Region. About Propark Mobility Propark Mobility is a national, innovation-driven parking management company that provides full-service parking and mobility services for over 1,000 hospitality, healthcare, commercial, and off-airport locations in over 140 cities across the United States. For more information, please visit www.propark.com.

Leadership lessons in action. Trials and errors of leaders are often on display and can have an impact on others. Let’s hear about what our panel of leaders wish they knew when they first started their careers and how that has changed them to be the leader they are now.

Everyone is looking for a silver bullet to unveil the five leadership principles that will lead to a 100% probability of success. The hard truth is that there is no silver bullet.

Amherst NY – The New York State Parking and Transportation Association (NYSPTA) is pleased to announce that Kevin C. Wood has been elected President of the association. His two-year term will officially begin on January 1, 2025. Kevin Wood, the President of Parking and Mobility Consultants, Inc., based in Shoreham, NY, brings extensive experience and leadership to his new role. With a distinguished career in transportation and municipal services, Wood’s vision and expertise are expected to drive innovation and growth within NYSPTA over the coming years. “I am honored to take on the role of President and look forward to collaborating with our talented board and members to address the evolving needs of parking and transportation across New York State,” said Wood. “Our industry is facing dynamic changes, and I am excited to contribute to solutions that enhance mobility, sustainability, and accessibility.” Wood has been an active member of NYSPTA and has previously served in various leadership capacities within the organization including the role of VP and heading the communication committee. His commitment to advancing the association's mission and fostering professional development within the industry has made him a respected voice in the field. For the first time in the association’s history, its President is from downstate who is set to serve a two-year term. NYSPTA serves as a key resource for professionals involved in parking, transportation, and mobility services throughout New York State. The association’s initiatives focus on education, networking, and advocacy to promote efficient and sustainable transportation solutions. For more information, please visit the NYSPTA website at: https://www.nysparkingandtransportation.com/. To join the association, please visit: https://app.joinit.com/o/nyspta Contact: Kevin C. Wood President, NYSPTA President, Parking and Mobility Consultants, Inc. PO Box 667 Shoreham, NY 11786 Email: kevin@parkingmobilityconsult.com NYSPTA PO Box 614 Amherst, NY 14226 https://www.nysparkingandtransportation.com/ Email: nysparking@gmail.com

Los Angeles, CA – ParkHelp Technologies, a global leader in smart parking guidance and management solutions, today announced the appointment of Devon Graham as Senior Project Manager. An experienced parking technology professional with more than ten years of experience, Graham oversees the installation of ParkHelp Technologies solutions for customers throughout the United States. “ParkHelp is excited to welcome Devon to our team as we continue to drive innovation and provide our clients the best and most customer-friendly parking solutions,” said Colin Knell, President, USA for ParkHelp Technologies. “Devon’s experience and expertise will be instrumental in assuring the success of our customer’s parking technology projects.” Devon Graham brings extensive experience to ParkHelp Technologies. Prior to joining to ParkHelp, he served as regional service manager for WorkSmart, overseeing successful delivery of the company’s technology products and services throughout the Charlotte, NC area. Prior to that, he was a project manager for SKIDATA, overseeing the installation of PARCS technology. Graham is a veteran of the United States Navy, where he served in the United States Construction Battalion, otherwise known as the Seabees. He is a resident of Easley, South Carolina. About ParkHelp Technologies ParkHelp is one of the world’s leading providers of smart parking solutions, offering a range of innovative products designed to optimize parking management, improve the user experience, promote sustainable urban mobility, and help parking owners generate more revenue. The company manufactures, sells, and services advanced parking guidance systems (PGS), digital guidance signage, license plate recognition (LPR) cameras, and integrated software solutions tailored for diverse environments, including commercial complexes, shopping malls, hospitals, corporate campuses, airports, and municipalities. ParkHelp can be found online at www.parkhelp.com.

Blue Bell, PA – Timothy H. Haahs, PE, AIA, the visionary founder of Timothy Haahs & Associates, Inc. (renamed THA Consulting, Inc. following his retirement in 2020), passed away on December 26, 2024. Tim founded the firm over 30 years ago and his dedication to innovation, creative design, and exemplary client service made him a nationally recognized leader in the parking design, engineering, and consulting industry. Tim’s impact extended well beyond the architectural and engineering profession as he served as the founding pastor of the Calvary Vision Church, co-authored the United Nations’ East Asia Low Carbon Green Growth Roadmap, and received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. Known for his enthusiasm for life, Tim enjoyed traveling, flying planes, and scuba diving, embodying his adventurous spirit. Above all, Tim will be remembered for his servant leadership, faith, lasting friendships, and passion to help those in need. Though he is no longer with us, his legacy of love, service, and excellence will continue to inspire.

Caryn Walline has accepted the position of Director of Parking Operations at UW Transportation Services, a part of Facilities Planning & Management. Caryn comes from Seattle, Washington, and brings 16 years of experience in the parking and transportation sector in both municipal and university settings. Caryn comes to UW–Madison from Seattle, Washington. In her most recent role as Deputy Director of Communications and Public Engagement with the Seattle Department of Transportation, she led a public engagement campaign to promote citywide initiatives, including the department’s climate and safety response and light rail expansion. Caryn also served as the Interim Director of Transportation Services at the University of Washington where she oversaw a wide range of parking management and operations. Among her accomplishments in this role, Caryn focused on transportation demand management (TDM) programs and managed efforts to reduce the campus drive-alone rate to 12% to comply with the City of Seattle master plan. “Caryn will be a strong leader for campus parking services,” said Patrick Kass, Assistant Vice Chancellor of Transportation Services. “With her experience advancing transportation demand management at the University of Washington, a campus with limited parking availability like ours, she will contribute to the university’s sustainability mission in meaningful ways.” Caryn has a masters’ degree in sustainable transportation and a bachelor’s degree in communications, both from the University of Washington. “I am thrilled to join the UW–Madison community and am committed to advancing transportation solutions that enhance our campus and community,” Caryn said. “My goal is to work collaboratively with all stakeholders to implement innovative strategies that not only improve mobility but also contribute to our shared vision of a sustainable future.” Caryn succeeds Tanara Teal-Tate, who left UW–Madison in February. By Lauren Vander Kamp, Marketing Specialist UW-Madison Transportation Services lauren.vanderkamp@wisc.edu

EnforcePlus, a premier provider of parking enforcement and management solutions, is excited to announce the appointment of Rebecca Groth as National Sales Manager. With more than a decade of leadership in the parking technology industry, including senior roles at ParkMobile and OmniPark (Flash), Rebecca brings a wealth of experience in sales strategy, business development, and client relationship management to her new role. Rebecca joins EnforcePlus at a pivotal moment as the company expands its innovative solutions across North America, helping cities, universities, and private organizations improve parking operations through advanced enforcement technologies. Her extensive experience in developing high-performing sales teams and her deep understanding of the industry will be instrumental in accelerating EnforcePlus’ expansion and market leadership. “We are thrilled to welcome Rebecca to our team,” said Mitch Carter, CEO of EnforcePlus. “Her expertise in sales strategy and her ability to cultivate strong client relationships will be invaluable as we continue to scale our operations and deliver cutting-edge enforcement solutions to our clients nationwide.” Rebecca's career is distinguished by her ability to consistently exceed sales targets and build lasting customer partnerships. “I’m excited to join EnforcePlus at such an exciting time of growth and innovation,” said Rebecca Groth. “I look forward to working with the talented team here and helping to advance our mission of providing exceptional parking enforcement solutions that enhance efficiency and customer satisfaction for our clients.” In her new role, Rebecca will oversee EnforcePlus’ national sales strategy, working closely with the executive team and the board to strengthen relationships with current clients and develop new opportunities across North America. Her appointment signals EnforcePlus’ commitment to continued growth and delivering unparalleled service to the parking industry. About EnforcePlus EnforcePlus is a leader in parking enforcement and management solutions, delivering advanced technologies that help municipalities, universities, and private organizations streamline operations, increase efficiency, and improve customer experiences. With a commitment to innovation, EnforcePlus offers a comprehensive suite of tools that include automated license plate recognition (ALPR), mobile enforcement solutions, and data analytics to transform parking management.

“The Great Relocation” is significantly redefining the urban landscape. The current situation demands immediate action from urban parking and mobility leaders.

The Power to Transform the Parking Industry

Ocra announces that Ethan Glass and Nate Dunning, co-founders of Ocra, have been named to Forbes 30 Under 30 2025 in the Transportation & Mobility category. In 2019, while they were soccer teammates at Occidental College, Glass and Dunning began day-leasing spaces for parking during events at the L.A. Coliseum. Listing inventory on third-party reservation channels like SpotHero and ParkWhiz for consumers to book ahead of time boosted revenue, but managing it was labor-intensive, so they developed software to centralize rate and inventory management across multiple channels. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, they reached out to 3000+ parking professionals to validate the fragmentation problem and ascertain product market fit. As a result of these conversation, they pivoted to turn their system into a SaaS platform for omni-channel rate and inventory management, powered by sophisticated custom APIs built and maintained by Ocra. Today, Ocra is a true agnostic partner to 50+ parking operators and asset owners and numerous demand channels including SpotHero, ParkWhiz, and more. The software is live at 600+ locations with 50+ operator partners, with $120mm in GMV and 2.9mm transactions projected to flow through it this year. Ocra CoPilot, Ocra's revenue management division, uses internal expertise and data to grow NOI for asset owners without extra labor. For one hotel partner, MCR, Ocra generated $3.4m in gross sales and $2.5m in incremental NOI in 2023. Ocra has raised $4.8 million from backers including MCR and Parker Technology. Glass and Dunning believe that facilitating the open flow of data between parking technologies is prerequisite to unlocking opportunities with industries like transportation, mobility, hospitality, and real estate that have undergone similar transformations. Ethan stated, "We are very humbled to be recognized by Forbes 30 Under 30. This is most certainly an entire team Ocra recognition and we share it with all of you that have helped shape this company. We strive to be the rising tide that raises all ships and that is a testament to the community that we have around us. Our team is grateful to Forbes for the recognition and we are only just getting started." Click to read more from this Ocra story as well as some insights into their executive mindsets.