Training/Education

A Deep Dive into Presence, Perception, and Practical Prevention

Zach Pearce, PTMP, is the Associate Director of Operations for Old Dominion University Transportation & Parking Services. Find out why he earned his PTMP and how it’s impacted his career.

In my last blog I started to discuss the challenges of onboarding and suggested that traditional methods of rote training are ineffective for both today's workers and end users in the parking and mobility field. My experience has been that adults have effective learning experiences when the process is interactive instead of one directional.  Scenario-Based learning works well, especially when the student is engaged and challenged. Not only is understanding the material important but hopefully the learner can see a real-world conceptual application.  Having employees practice a skill you've discussed and then asking them to relate why that skill would be important when they were working alone (and had to make a decision) makes the experience significantly better.  Although it's not always possible during the onboarding process, experience has shown that training in groups is superior to one-on-one training.  Students tend to feed - off each other a vast number of correct solutions, allowing the student to apply the correct solution to the problem they may face on their particular shift.  For example, an answer given during daylight hours may be completely different than one given when working the third shift.  I have also found that when students are afforded the opportunity to learn through scenarios, they become more interested in learning new skills and actually want to engage in critical thinking as a driver of problem solving.  Although working in the parking and mobility industry as a frontline worker may not seem to require a lot of critical thinking, you'd be surprised.  I encourage employers to examine their staff, interact with them and assess the problem-solving abilities they possess.  Ask yourself, are they inquisitive? Do they exhibit an open-minded flexible approach? Are they honest and do they have tact?  If the answer to some or most of these characteristics is no, then retraining with an emphasis on critical thinking, may be exactly what's needed.  Applying critical thinking requires one to participate in it, be willing to put in work, and use it to its full potential. Scott Rohde, PECP, PTMP, is the Director of Public Safety for Wesleyan Office of Public Safety. Scott can be reached at srohde@wesleyan.edu.

Open to all airport operations professionals as well as off-site airport parking operators, consultants, and suppliers serving the airport segment.

Frontline staff are the eyes and ears of every parking operation. Their awareness, initiative, and quick action can make the difference between smooth operations and costly disruptions. Explore how to empower frontline professionals to take ownership of their environment and play a proactive role in maintaining safe, efficient, and customer-friendly facilities. 

Register for IPMI's members-only focus group on airports. Open to all airport operations professionals as well as off-site airport parking operators, consultants, and suppliers serving the airport segment. 

Jodi Hart, CPA, CFE, PTMP, is the CFO of the Pittsburgh Parking Authority. Find out why she earned her PTMP and how it’s impacted her career.

Parksmart Advisors lead clients through the GBCI certification process for high-performing, sustainable parking structure design and construction.  Offered by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) and Green Business Certification Institute (GBCI) alongside the suite of LEED rating systems, Parksmart is the only rating system dedicated to improving the quality and performance of parking structures.  As a unique building type, these structures offer unique opportunities to drive greater sustainability practices and outcomes at the intersection of parking, transportation, and mobility.  

Parksmart Advisors lead clients through the GBCI certification process for high-performing, sustainable parking structure design and construction.  Offered by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) and Green Business Certification Institute (GBCI) alongside the suite of LEED rating systems, Parksmart is the only rating system dedicated to improving the quality and performance of parking structures.  As a unique building type, these structures offer unique opportunities to drive greater sustainability practices and outcomes at the intersection of parking, transportation, and mobility.  

Parksmart Advisors lead clients through the GBCI certification process for high-performing, sustainable parking structure design and construction.  Offered by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) and Green Business Certification Institute (GBCI) alongside the suite of LEED rating systems, Parksmart is the only rating system dedicated to improving the quality and performance of parking structures.  As a unique building type, these structures offer unique opportunities to drive greater sustainability practices and outcomes at the intersection of parking, transportation, and mobility.  

Open to members from academic institutions. Register for the free higher education members-only roundtable and ask for advice about your own situation, offer your expertise, and connect with others facing similar challenges.

Open to members from academic institutions. Register for the free higher education members-only roundtable and ask for advice about your own situation, offer your expertise, and connect with others facing similar challenges.