/ STATE AND REGIONAL SPOTLIGHT/NEW YORK STATE PARKING & TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION
A Long-Awaited Reunion
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By Patrick Phillips
HE NEW YORK STATE Parking and Transportation Association (NYSPTA) proudly serves members of the
parking industry spanning the entire State of New York and beyond. From the easternmost reaches of Long Island to the Niagara Frontier, from the Adirondacks to the Catskills, NYSPTA provides an opportunity for education and networking throughout our great state. 2021: A Long-Awaited Reunion In October 2019, The New York Parking and Transportation association (NYSPTA) held its 27th Annual Conference at Saratoga, N.Y. As we participated in fantastic educational forums, interacted on the exhibit floor, and enjoyed each other’s company, none of the 100-plus participants would have imagined that our next gathering would be 24 months later. Well, friends, we made it! In October 2021, NYSPTA’s Annual Fall Conference took place at the beautiful Harbor Hotel in Watkins Glen, N.Y. Due to the association’s strong university and municipal membership base, many the regular conference participants were unable to attend as a result of state-imposed budget constraints associated with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. While these individuals were missed, we look forward to reuniting with them at several exciting association events planned for 2022. Despite the challenges of 2021, the number of conference attendees exceed-
ed all prior expectations. The Harbor Hotel proved to be the perfect venue for the long-awaited, intimate setting that the association’s members had hoped for. The beauty of fall foliage in the heart of the Finger Lake’s Region is a sight to behold! Day One began with an afternoon wine tasting followed by an amazing networking event. Day Two was packed with fabulous industry specific educational speaker presentations. For the first time, NYSPTA live streamed its speaker sessions as a means to share information with our loyal members who were unable to attend. This value-added initiative was led by Board Member Kevin Wood (Village of Port Jefferson) with the assistance of Board Member Doug Grotke (University of Rochester). The ses-
