/ ENTRANCE
Staying In Motion PUBLISHER
Shawn Conrad, CAE
conrad@parking-mobility.org EDITOR
Melissa Rysak, CPSM
rysak@parking-mobility.org TECHNICAL EDITOR
Rachel Yoka, CAPP, LEED AP BD+C yoka@parking-mobility.org
W
By Mark Lyons, CAPP
E ARE NOW IN THE THROES OF WINTER. It was only a few
short months ago that we gathered in Tampa for the 2021 IPMI Parking & Mobility Conference & Expo. It’s exciting to think now we are only a few months from meeting again in New Orleans!
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
Bill Smith, APR
bsmith@smith-phillips.com ADVERTISING SALES AND SUBSCRIPTIONS
Tina Altman
taltman@parking-mobility.org PUBLICATION DESIGN
BonoTom Studio
info@bonotom.com For subscription changes, contact Tina Altman, taltman@parking-mobility.org or 888.IPMI.NOW. Parking & Mobility (ISSN 0896-2324 & USPS 001436) is published monthly by the International Parking & Mobility Institute. P.O. Box 3787 Fredericksburg, VA 22402 Phone: 888.IPMI.NOW Fax: 703.566.2267 Email: info@parking-mobility.org Website: parking-mobility.org Send address changes promptly to: Parking & Mobility or submit online at parking-mobility.org. P.O. Box 3787 Fredericksburg, VA 22402 Interactive electronic version of Parking & Mobility for members and subscribers only at parking-mobility. org/magazine. Copyright © International Parking & Mobility Institute, 2022. Statements of fact and opinion expressed in articles contained if Parking & Mobility are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent an official expression of policy or opinion on the part of officers or the members of IPMI. Manuscripts, correspondence, articles, product releases, and all contributed materials are welcomed by Parking & Mobility; however, publication is subject to editing, if deemed necessary to conform to standards of publication. The subscription rate is included in IPMI annual dues. Subscription rate for non-members of IPMI is $120 per year (U.S. currency) in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. All other countries, $150. Back issues, $10.
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If you missed the Tampa Conference, you missed seeing exciting new technology and the factors causing an acceleration of its use within our industry. According to Newton’s Second Law of Motion, a force upon an object causes it to accelerate. According to the formula, net force = mass x acceleration. So, the acceleration of the object is directly proportional to the force and inversely proportional to the mass. Okay, admittedly I am not a physicist, but, based on the last IPMI Expo, it appears that the mass of our industry is advancing a proliferation of technology that will never cease. Or will it? No matter where you live across this diverse plain, if you are operating a parking or mobility service, then you’re probably focusing on how to effectively run “special” operations. You might be planning upcoming events over the summer, actively working the snow and ice teams, or where temperatures are mild, managing events in garages and street parties. Either way, our
PARKING & MOBILITY / FEBRUARY 2022 / PARKING-MOBILITY.ORG
industry is still heavily dependent on our people. Sure, technology is finding ways to reduce jobs and expenses, but where would we be if there was no coordination between man and machine? Ultimately, all of us still rely heavily on people to execute professional services and communicate with customers. We need people with soft skills and technical know-how. No doubt we need plenty of capital to invest in our new infrastructures and systems. But I submit to you, the first line of capital needs to be invested in our people. We need to help them gain experiences that test their knowledge, commitment, and fortitude. Once that is done, the use of technology becomes more impactful. ◆ MARK LYONS, CAPP, is general manager, parking management division, for the City of Sarasota, Fla., and a member of IPMI’s Board of Directors. He can be reached at mark.lyons@sarasotafl.gov.
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