Our Parking Industry®

Episode Overview

For the first time, Our Parking Industry Podcast goes live from the National Parking Association Conference & Expo.

Krista Olien and Leigh Thomas sit down with parking professionals from across the industry, asking each guest the same five questions about today's challenges, emerging technology, impactful ideas, what the industry should stop doing, and bold predictions for the future.

Part 1 features Rico Henderson (TEZ Technology), Nick Nicholas (California Police Captain), Sarah Blouch (Campus Parc), Sam Medile (Parking Management Company), and Frank Ching (UC Santa Barbara). Together, they share perspectives on customer experience, frontline safety, AI, technology, leadership, and the future of parking.

Why This Matters

Parking is changing quickly, but the industry's greatest strength remains its people.

This live episode brings together leaders from operations, technology, higher education, consulting, and public safety to discuss the challenges and opportunities shaping parking today.

What You'll Learn

• The biggest challenges facing parking today
• How AI is influencing parking operations
• Ways technology can improve the customer experience
• What industry leaders believe should happen next

Key Takeaways

• Customer experience remains the top priority
• AI should support people, not replace them
• Better data leads to better decisions
• Collaboration will shape the future of parking

Episode Breakdown

00:27 Welcome from the NPA Conference & Expo

01:30 Rico Henderson on seamless customer experiences and AI

07:40 Nick Nicholas on frontline safety and compliance

14:05 Sarah Blouch on data, integration, and customer experience

21:50 Sam Medile on creating opportunities and "Parking for Good"

34:12 Frank Ching on strategy, data, and parking's future

46:02 Preview of Part 2

About the Guests

Rico Henderson Regional Sales Manager at TEZ Technology and NPA 40 Under 40 recipient.

Nick Nicholas Police Captain specializing in parking management, enforcement, and frontline safety.

Sarah Blouch President and CEO of Campus Parc at The Ohio State University.

Sam Medile Parking entrepreneur and founder of Slice Parking.

Frank Ching Parking executive with experience in private operations, municipalities, transit, and higher education.

About the Hosts

Krista Olien President of TPN Consulting and host of the podcast.

Leigh Thomas Project Manager at TPN Consulting, specializing in data analysis and operational performance.

Listen & Follow

Catch the full episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.

Connect with TPN Consulting

Visit: https://www.parkingnetwork.com

Follow TPN on LinkedIn and Instagram for industry insights and podcast updates.

Episode Overview

In this episode of Inside The Lane, Leigh Thomas sits down with Jordan Justus, Co-Founder and CEO of Automotus, to discuss how curb management is changing as cities, airports, delivery services, rideshare companies, and autonomous vehicles compete for limited curb space.

Jordan explains how Automotus uses cameras, computer vision, and automated curb management tools to help cities and airports better understand activity at the curb, reduce traffic, improve access, and enforce policies more effectively.

From airport congestion to commercial loading zones and bus terminals, the conversation shows how curb management is becoming a critical part of the transportation experience.

Why This Matters

The curb is no longer used primarily for traditional parking.

Delivery drivers, rideshare vehicles, commercial fleets, buses, autonomous vehicles, and private drivers are all competing for the same space. Cities and airports need better tools to understand that demand and create policies that improve safety, traffic flow, and access.

What You’ll Learn

• How Automotus uses computer vision to manage curb activity

• Why changing transportation habits are creating new curb challenges

• How automated curb management can reduce congestion at airports

• Why successful curb programs require both technology and strong policy

Key Takeaways

• The curb has become one of transportation’s most contested spaces

• Technology can help cities understand and manage short-term commercial activity

• Better curb management can improve traffic flow and customer experience

• Effective programs must adapt to local policies, users, and stakeholders

Episode Breakdown

00:33 Introducing Jordan Justus and Automotus

01:30 How Automotus began

02:45 Why curb demand has changed

03:20 Automating curb payment and enforcement

04:25 Solving airport congestion

06:45 Adapting technology to customer needs

07:30 Philadelphia’s smart loading zone program

09:00 CurbPass and intercity bus management

09:55 Building a smart curb program in Miami

11:00 Who can benefit from Automotus

About the Guest

Jordan Justus

Co-Founder and CEO of Automotus. Jordan and his team work with cities and airports to improve curb management through computer vision, automated payment and enforcement, and policy-driven technology designed to reduce congestion and improve access.

About the Host

Leigh Thomas

Project Manager at TPN Consulting with a background in mathematics, data analysis, and operational performance. She co-hosts Our Parking Industry Podcast and conversations focused on improving the parking industry through better information and resources.

Listen & Follow

Catch the full episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.

Connect with TPN Consulting

Visit: https://www.parkingnetwork.com

Follow TPN on LinkedIn and Instagram for industry insights, podcast updates, and more.

Episode Overview

In Episode 23, Krista Olien, Leigh Thomas, and Clyde Wilson reflect on their conversation with Keith Jones, Executive Chairman and Owner of ACE Parking, and what his perspective reveals about the direction of the parking industry.

The team discusses hidden fees, transaction-based business models, customer service, operational accountability, and the challenges traditional parking operators face as new technology companies enter the market.

They also explore why transparency matters during the RFP process, why asset owners need to understand where parking revenue goes, and why the fundamentals of parking remain essential as technology evolves.

Why This Matters

Parking is changing quickly, but the industry's core responsibilities have not.

Asset owners still need strong operations, customers still expect good service, and every transaction should be accounted for. This episode asks whether new business models improve operations or simply create new fees.

What You'll Learn

• Why transaction fees deserve greater scrutiny
• How new business models affect customer service and asset performance
• Why transparency matters during operator selection
• How mentorship and operational knowledge protect the industry's future

Key Takeaways

• Know where every parking dollar is going
• Low fees do not always mean greater value for the asset owner
• Technology should support parking, not replace its purpose
• Strong operators stay focused on customers, transactions, and performance

Episode Breakdown

00:26 Reflecting on Keith Jones and ACE Parking

02:45 Parking as an economic bellwether

04:35 Customer service, management, and hidden fees

06:30 Are transaction-based companies still in the parking business?

08:35 Protecting the fundamentals of parking

11:25 What transaction fees really mean for owners

13:25 Rate sensitivity and lost customers

15:15 Customer service in the return-to-office era

16:25 Transparency and ownership of parking revenue

18:05 What asset owners should ask during an RFP

20:15 Mentorship and preserving industry knowledge

22:00 Preparing for EVs, autonomy, and future change

23:40 Is your company improving the parking industry?

About the Hosts

Krista Olien

President of TPN Consulting and host of the podcast.

Leigh Thomas

Project Manager at TPN Consulting with a background in mathematics, data analysis, and operational performance.

Clyde Wilson

Founder of TPN Consulting with more than four decades of experience in parking operations and financial performance.

Listen & Follow

Catch the full episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.

Connect with TPN Consulting

Visit: https://www.parkingnetwork.com

Follow TPN on LinkedIn and Instagram for industry insights and podcast updates.

Episode Overview

In Episode 22, Krista Olien and Leigh Thomas welcome Keith Jones, Executive Chairman and Owner of ACE Parking, for a conversation about leadership, transparency, customer service, and the future of parking.

Keith shares how growing up in a third-generation family business shaped his leadership style and why parking can serve as an indicator of economic activity. The discussion explores accountability, operational data, customer ownership, technology, and the importance of authentic partnerships.

Keith also shares how ACE uses its Deep Blue dashboard to improve visibility and decision-making while keeping people at the center of the operation.

Why This Matters

Technology is changing parking, but innovation alone does not guarantee better outcomes.

This episode explores why operators must know their numbers, remain transparent with owners, invest in strong managers, and use technology to support customer service rather than replace it.

What You'll Learn

• Why parking can reflect broader economic activity
• How transparency strengthens owner-operator relationships
• Why technology should support people, not replace them
• How better data helps managers make stronger decisions

Key Takeaways

• Know your numbers before making operational decisions
• Customer experience should remain a priority
• Transparency builds trust with asset owners
• Innovation works best when paired with accountability

Episode Breakdown

00:27 Keith's family history in parking

02:10 Parking as an economic indicator

05:30 Knowing your numbers

07:40 Looking beyond revenue

12:20 Transparency and hidden technology costs

16:40 Deep Blue and operational dashboards

21:10 Accountability through real-time data

24:00 Why managers and mentors still matter

28:20 Customer service as a competitive advantage

31:00 Predictions that missed the mark

34:40 Today, Tomorrow, and Tomorrowland

39:00 Authentic innovation and parking's future

About the Guest

Keith Jones

Executive Chairman and Owner of ACE Parking. Keith represents the third generation of family leadership at ACE and focuses on operational excellence, customer service, technology, transparency, and long-term asset owner partnerships.

About the Hosts

Krista Olien

President of TPN Consulting and host of the podcast.

Leigh Thomas

Project Manager at TPN Consulting with a background in mathematics, data analysis, and operational performance.

Listen & Follow

Catch the full episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.

Connect with TPN Consulting

Visit: https://www.parkingnetwork.com

Follow TPN on LinkedIn and Instagram for industry insights, podcast updates, and more.

Episode Overview

In this episode of Inside The Lane, Krista Olien sits down with Bob Andrews, CEO of Zevtron, to discuss how EV charging can become a seamless part of the parking experience instead of a separate technology that creates new operational challenges.

Bob explains how Zevtron approaches EV charging from a parking-first perspective by integrating with parking operators, PARCS platforms, and facility workflows. Rather than treating charging as a standalone service, Zevtron helps owners, operators, and customers enjoy a single, streamlined parking and charging experience.

From dynamic energy management to campus credentials and airport charging strategies, this conversation explores how EV charging can improve customer service while creating long-term value for parking assets.

Why This Matters

Electric vehicle adoption continues to grow, but many charging deployments create operational complexity instead of improving the customer experience.

This episode highlights how parking operators can integrate EV charging into existing operations, simplify payment, improve asset performance, and prepare facilities for the future.

What You'll Learn

• Why EV charging should be built around parking operations

• How integrated payment improves the customer experience

• The value of dynamic energy management for airports and campuses

• Why parking operators play a critical role in successful EV deployments

Key Takeaways

• EV charging should enhance, not complicate, parking operations.

• Integration with parking systems creates a smoother customer experience.

• Different parking environments require different charging strategies.

• Future-ready parking assets begin with flexible, scalable technology.

Episode Breakdown

00:00 Introducing Zevtron

01:00 A parking-first approach to EV charging

05:45 Choosing the right facilities for EV deployment

08:00 Destination charging and the future of parking

09:30 Supporting universities, airports, and mixed-use facilities

14:30 Dynamic charging and energy management

16:50 The customer experience from arrival to departure

20:35 Why parking operators are essential partners

23:25 Zevtron's vision for the future of EV charging

About the Guest

Bob Andrews is the CEO of Zevtron, an EV charging solutions company focused on integrating charging infrastructure into parking operations. His team works alongside parking operators and technology providers to deliver customer-focused charging experiences, simplify operations, and help facilities prepare for the future of electric transportation.

About the Host

Krista Olien is President of TPN Consulting and host of Our Parking Industry Podcast, where she explores the people, technology, and ideas shaping the future of parking.

Listen & Follow

Catch the full episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.

Connect with TPN Consulting

Visit: https://www.parkingnetwork.com

Follow TPN on LinkedIn and Instagram for podcast updates, industry insights, and new episodes.

Episode Overview

In this roundtable episode, Krista Olien, Leigh Thomas, and Clyde Wilson reflect on their conversation with Graham Haldeman, CEO and General Manager of HUB Parking Technology.

The discussion focuses on a recurring challenge across the parking industry: technology is advancing quickly, but the goal should still be simple operations, strong customer service, and useful information. The team explores what happens when disconnected technology creates more complexity, why AI should support judgment rather than replace it, and why having more data does not automatically lead to better decisions.

The conversation also turns to parking conventions, vendor selection, and how operators and asset owners can move past sales pitches to find solutions that actually address the challenges in their facilities.

Why This Matters

Parking technology should make operations easier, not more complicated.

As operators gain access to more software, analytics, AI, and integrations, leaders must understand which information actually matters and how technology supports the basic goals of parking: serve customers, collect revenue, and operate efficiently.

What You’ll Learn

• Why simplicity should remain a priority as parking technology grows

• How AI and data should support operational judgment

• Why facility-level details matter more than high-level reports alone

• How to approach conventions and vendors with specific operational needs

Key Takeaways

• More technology does not automatically create a better parking experience

• Data becomes valuable only when someone understands how to interpret and apply it

• AI should support people, not replace operational expertise

• Know your facility’s problems before shopping for solutions

Episode Breakdown

00:00 Reflecting on Graham Haldeman’s episode

01:30 Simplicity, collaboration, and customer experience

03:00 Keeping operations at the center of technology

05:20 Data, AI, and the importance of interpretation

09:00 What parking data is actually useful

10:45 Looking beyond top-line revenue and expenses

13:00 Technology versus the fundamentals of parking

18:20 How parking conventions have changed

20:00 Technology vendors entering the industry

26:45 Finding meaningful conversations at industry events

29:00 Knowing your facility before looking for solutions

32:00 Why operational details matter

About the Hosts

Krista Olien

President of TPN Consulting and host of the podcast, leading conversations around strategy, transparency, data, and parking performance.

Leigh Thomas

Project Manager with a background in mathematics and data analysis, focused on improving operational clarity through better questions and better information.

Clyde Wilson

Founder of TPN Consulting, bringing more than four decades of experience in parking operations, technology, audits, and financial performance.

Listen & Follow

Catch the full episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.

Connect with TPN Consulting

Visit: https://www.parkingnetwork.com

Follow TPN on LinkedIn and Instagram for industry insights, podcast updates, and more.

Episode Overview

In Episode 19, Krista Olien and Leigh Thomas sit down with Graham Haldeman, CEO and General Manager of HUB Parking Technology North America, to discuss his journey from valet operations to parking technology leadership.

Graham shares how experience across hospitality, universities, healthcare, airports, and parking operations shaped his approach to leadership and technology. The conversation explores connected platforms, integrations, AI, clean data, customer choice, and why people must remain at the center of every solution.

Graham also shares his vision for an industry that extends beyond gates, tickets, and payments toward a more connected customer and operational experience.

Why This Matters

Parking technology is advancing quickly, but more tools do not always create a better experience.

Disconnected systems, poor data, and overly complicated solutions can create new challenges. This episode explores why technology should simplify operations, improve customer service, and support better decisions.

What You’ll Learn

• How Graham advanced from valet operations to technology leadership
• Why connected systems and vendor collaboration matter
• Where AI helps and where human judgment is still essential
• How leadership and customer service influence successful organizations

Key Takeaways

• Technology should simplify the parking journey
• AI is only as useful as the data supporting it
• Open integrations preserve customer choice
• Strong leadership listens to employees at every level

Episode Breakdown

00:25 Graham’s parking career

02:10 Mentors and industry relationships

04:35 Technology’s growing role

06:30 Vendor collaboration and integration

09:00 Customer choice and disconnected systems

10:20 AI, machine learning, and clean data

13:50 Turning data into useful information

17:50 Customer service and technology

18:45 HUB’s connected-platform approach

20:05 FAAC and HUB’s global perspective

21:30 Building industry collaboration

25:05 Global parking trends

30:10 Leadership and employee engagement

33:20 Graham’s vision for parking

About the Guest

Graham Haldeman CEO and General Manager of HUB Parking Technology North America. Graham began his career as a valet and has held roles across parking operations, hospitality, healthcare, universities, airports, and technology. He now leads HUB’s North American organization with a focus on connected technology, customer experience, and collaboration.

About the Hosts

Krista Olien President of TPN Consulting and host of the podcast.

Leigh Thomas Project Manager at TPN Consulting with a background in mathematics, data analysis, and operational performance.

Listen & Follow

Catch the full episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.

Connect with TPN Consulting

Visit: https://www.parkingnetwork.com

Follow TPN on LinkedIn and Instagram for industry insights, podcast updates, and more.

Episode Overview

In this special bonus episode, Krista Olien, Leigh Thomas, and Clyde Wilson examine Donald Shoup's influential book, The High Cost of Free Parking, and its impact on parking policy and planning.

The team discusses how Shoup helped bring national attention to parking while questioning whether statistics drawn from localized, decades-old research should still guide today's decisions. They explore how license plate recognition, mobile payments, reservations, rideshare, delivery services, navigation apps, and changing travel behavior have transformed parking since the book's publication.

Rather than rejecting Shoup's work, they encourage listeners to use it as a framework for asking better questions and validating ideas with current local data.

Why This Matters

Parking influences transportation, development, revenue, and customer experience. Applying outdated or localized statistics too broadly can lead to policies that no longer reflect how people travel or park today.

This episode encourages parking professionals to question assumptions, study their own markets, and make decisions using current operational data.

What You'll Learn

• Why Shoup's ideas remain influential in parking and urban planning
• Which commonly quoted statistics deserve closer examination
• How technology and customer behavior have changed since 2005
• Why local research should drive parking decisions

Key Takeaways

• Use Shoup's work as a framework, not unquestioned fact
• Local parking policy requires local data
• Technology has transformed how customers find, reserve, enter, and pay for parking
• Every operation should understand its own demand and customer behavior

Episode Breakdown

00:00 Why this conversation matters

02:40 Respecting Shoup's ideas while questioning the data

04:00 How parking has changed since 2005

07:45 Rideshare, delivery, and changing curb demand

10:50 The limits of localized research

14:00 The "circling" statistics

16:30 Parking, housing, and urban planning

22:00 Why European models don't fit every U.S. city

26:25 Curb pricing and municipal challenges

29:55 Revisiting the 30 percent circling claim

33:30 Navigation apps, reservations, and today's parker

36:45 Research, bias, and local decision-making

40:00 Final thoughts

About Donald Shoup

Donald Shoup was a UCLA professor of urban planning whose 2005 book, The High Cost of Free Parking, reshaped conversations about parking policy. His work inspired generations of planners, public officials, and transportation professionals. Many advocates of his parking philosophies became known as "Shoupistas," a term commonly used for supporters of his approach to parking reform.

About the Hosts

Krista Olien – President of TPN Consulting.

Leigh Thomas – Project Manager specializing in data analysis and operational performance.

Clyde Wilson – Founder of TPN Consulting with more than four decades of parking industry experience.

Listen & Follow

Catch the full episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.

Connect with TPN Consulting

Visit: https://www.parkingnetwork.com

Follow TPN on LinkedIn and Instagram for podcast updates and industry insights.

Episode Overview

In this Inside the Lane episode, Krista Olien sits down with Bart Christenson, President of The Tire Tag, to discuss a modern approach to parking enforcement that improves compliance while minimizing frustration for both operators and parkers.

Bart explains how Tire Tag’s lightweight, self-release immobilization device helps private parking operators achieve significantly higher citation payment rates than traditional paper tickets. The conversation explores how simplicity, customer experience, and operator efficiency have shaped the product’s growth across more than 40 states.

From self-release technology to nationwide partnerships and future municipal integrations, this episode provides a practical look at how enforcement technology is evolving.

Why This Matters

Parking enforcement should encourage compliance without creating unnecessary conflict.

Tire Tag demonstrates how simple technology, clear communication, and streamlined payment processes can improve collections, reduce operational burden, and help parkers resolve violations quickly.

What You’ll Learn

• How Tire Tag’s self-release immobilization system works

• Why physical immobilization increases citation payment rates

• How Tire Tag supports operators, property managers, and asset owners

• Where the technology works best and how it’s expanding

Key Takeaways

• Simple enforcement creates a better experience for operators and parkers

• Compliance, not punishment, is the goal of effective enforcement

• Analog hardware paired with digital payments keeps operations reliable

• Partnerships and integrations are expanding Tire Tag’s capabilities

Episode Breakdown

00:00 Introduction to Tire Tag

00:20 What Tire Tag does and who it serves

01:05 Improving citation compliance through immobilization

02:20 The self-release customer experience

04:00 Where Tire Tag is used today

05:50 Future growth and municipal integration

06:45 Connectivity, analog technology, and customer support

08:45 Applications beyond passenger vehicles

09:40 Deployment recommendations for operators

11:00 Enforcement partnerships and nationwide coverage

12:00 How to connect with Tire Tag

About the Host & Guest

Krista Olien President of TPN Consulting and host of the podcast, leading conversations about innovation, operations, and the future of parking.

Bart Christensen President of Tire Tag, a citation management and vehicle immobilization platform helping parking operators improve compliance through self-release enforcement technology.

Listen & Follow

Catch the full episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.

Connect with TPN Consulting

Visit: https://www.parkingnetwork.com

Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram for industry insights, podcast updates, and more.

Episode Overview

In this roundtable episode, Krista Olien, Leigh Thomas, and Clyde Wilson reflect on their conversation with Trent Prior, Manager of Business Services for the Town of Victoria Park in Western Australia.

The team discusses how customer choice, vendor integration, communication, and strategic planning helped Vic Park modernize its parking program. They also explore why parking leaders should define their operational needs before beginning the RFP process rather than relying on vendors to shape the solution.

From building a clear blueprint to setting high expectations, this episode offers practical guidance for municipalities, universities, property owners, and parking managers selecting new technology.

Why This Matters

Parking technology should solve operational challenges, improve customer experience, and support long-term goals. Too often, organizations select from available products instead of defining what they truly need.

This conversation highlights the value of planning, communication, collaboration, and holding vendors accountable.

What You’ll Learn

• Why every parking project should begin with a blueprint
• How customer choice and vendor integration improve operations
• What questions to ask technology providers during an RFP
• Why communication is essential to successful parking leadership

Key Takeaways

• Build the operational plan before selecting technology
• Technology should adapt to the facility, not the other way around
• Strong vendor collaboration produces better outcomes
• Clear communication earns stakeholder support

Episode Breakdown

00:00 Introduction and recap

00:40 Customer choice and integration

02:00 Communicating operational needs

07:30 Building a better RFP

11:00 Creating a parking blueprint

15:00 Vendor collaboration and customization

18:00 Communication and leadership

21:00 Lessons from Vic Park

27:00 Presenting to stakeholders

30:00 Closing thoughts

About the Hosts

Krista Olien President of TPN Consulting and host of the podcast, leading conversations around strategy, transparency, and the future of parking operations.

Leigh Thomas Project Manager with a background in mathematics and data analysis, focused on improving operational clarity and performance through data-driven insights.

Clyde Wilson Founder of TPN Consulting, bringing over four decades of industry experience and insight into parking operations, contracts, technology, and financial performance.

Listen & Follow

Catch the full episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.

Connect with TPN Consulting

Visit: https://www.parkingnetwork.com

Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram for industry insights, podcast updates, and more.