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SpotHero To Acquire Rover Parking To Expand Canadian Footprint

SPOTHERO announced the signing of an agreement to acquire Rover Parking, a leading consumer parking app in Canada. This acquisition accelerates SpotHero’s market leadership position in North America, helping the company gain access to thousands of parking locations across Canada. The deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2020.

“We’re excited to welcome Rover’s team, parking partners and customers,” says SpotHero founder and CEO Mark Lawrence. “This acquisition will expand our team and parking inventory in Canada at a time when more people are choosing a personal car as their preferred mode of transportation.”

Rover Parking was founded in Toronto by CEO Tim Wootton, Andrew Holbrook, and Grant Brigden in 2014 as a peer-to-peer

Dave Ryan Named President, COO, of Walker Consultants

WALKER CONSULTANTS’

Board of Directors has named

Dave Ryan, PE, as president and chief operating officer. In his new position, Ryan will be responsible for the implementation and execution of the strategies and activities required to achieve the company’s operations’ objectives. He will additionally continue his role as managing director of the central region. “Dave brings a strong background in the wide range of services that Walker offers and leadership qualities that will take the company to the next level” says John

Bushman, Chairman and CEO. Ryan has a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Illinois and over 22 years of experience in the industry working with clients in the public and private sectors.

parking marketplace. The company has since grown into servicing B2B and commercial facilities across several cities including Toronto, Calgary, and Montreal. “Rover Parking is thrilled to continue our journey as members of the SpotHero team,” says Wootton. “We look forward to increasing revenue for our existing parking partners and further expanding SpotHero’s presence in the commercial parking market in Canada.” After the closing of the acquisition, Wootton will become Head of Canada and the Toronto-based team will run SpotHero’s commercial supply business across the country. This announcement follows a new SpotHero partnership with one of Canada’s leading commercial parking operators Target Park, a partnership with Toronto Pearson Airport and a $50 mil

lion Series D fundraising round in August 2019.

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APDS Takes Leap Forward toward Formal Recognition by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO)

The Alliance for Parking Data Standards (APDS) recently requested that the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) consider adopting the APDS standard for parking data as a basis for a future ISO standard. ISO is an independent, non-governmental network of national standard bodies bringing together experts to share knowledge and develop voluntary, consensus-based, market-relevant international standards supporting innovation and providing solutions to global challenges.

The global ISO network includes a membership of 165 national standards bodies. ISO standards cover a wide range of topics including business, healthcare, transport, technology, and manufacturing. The ISO utilizes its 792 technical committees and subcommittees to evaluate and approve the development and adoption of new standards.

In April 2019, APDS approached the ISO to formally consider the APDS standard for adoption. This would include establishing a global standard for parking data terms and definitions, as well as a common global baseline for parking applications to be utilized by governments, municipalities, suppliers, operators, regulators, enforcement agencies, service providers, technology platforms, automotive interests, and ultimately users worldwide.

Following a formal review and consideration process, the ISO’s 30 contributing National Standard Bodies voted strongly in favor of developing and adopting the APDS standard as an ISO Technical Specification.

This work, based on APDS specifications, began recently, and will be followed by a period of expert contributions. The ISO development program will follow a 24-month standard track, but with the main technical solidification of the technical content during the next year. This process will conclude with the review and adoption vote by the relevant National Standards Bodies.

ISO standards are recognized globally. In Europe, ISO Standards have formal recognition within public procurement as can be seen within several European public procurement regulations.

Download the APDS standard here.

ParkMobile App Hits the 20 Million User Milestone

ParkMobile announced the company has reached the 20 million user milestone. ParkMobile launched in North America in 2008 and it took the company nearly five years to acquire its first million users. Today, ParkMobile adds 1 million new users every 60 to 70 days. In the past 12 years, the company has processed over 334 million transactions totaling 57 billion minutes of parking time and more than $1 billion of parking fees. ParkMobile is currently the No. 1-ranked parking app in the app store and ranks No. 3 in the navigation category, only behind Google Maps and Waze. Additionally, ParkMobile’s strong business growth has landed the company on the Inc. 5000 list, recognizing the fastest-growing private companies in the U.S, for the past three years.

This year has been challenging for ParkMobile, as COVID-19 has had a significant impact on the parking industry. Nevertheless, the company has continued to rapidly expand across the country, as demand for contactless payment solutions has dramatically increased. Since the beginning of the year, ParkMobile has launched in more than 50 new locations and introduced service at several large universities including the University of Alabama, the University of Georgia, Louisiana State University, Mississippi State University, and the University of Wisconsin.

“Twenty million is a big milestone for our company, and I want to congratulate all of our employees for helping us get here,” says Jon Ziglar, CEO of ParkMobile. “We have come a long way in the past twelve years, and I feel like we are just hitting our stride. The future is very bright for ParkMobile.”

McCain Welcomes New Business Unit Manager to Lead Growing Parking Business

MCCAIN INC., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the SWARCO Group, announced that they are adding a new member, Michael Driscoll, to head up the North American Parking Business Unit focusing on OPTIPARK® Parking Guidance and Wayfinding.

As Manager of McCain’s Parking Business Unit, Driscoll will focus on continuing the rapid growth of this unit, with a special focus on product management, project supervision, and expanding the channel partner network across North America.

Driscoll has been active in the parking technology market for more than two decades, working up the ranks through various positions. This large variety of experience and his excellent network within the industry make Driscoll the ideal fit for this position. Driscoll’s previous experience includes rapidly growing a start-up PARCS company into one of the top performers in the industry. This experience in managing high growth is directly transferable RESIDENTS AND VISITORS of Albuquerque, N.M., will soon have the opportunity to make smarter parking decisions when Zevaz LLC parking lots introduce PayByPhone. The app will be available at five surface lots with a total of 414 spaces that are located near the courthouse. Fruit and Granite lots will have the option to offer 30 day stays.

Once the PayByPhone app is launched, motorists are able to enter the parking location, and length of stay, and then pay for

into managing and expanding on the significant success McCain is enjoying with its parking solutions. Driscoll will replace Niko Stieldorf, who will transition to a broader roll within McCain parent company, SWARCO. Stieldorf will ensure that operations, relationships, and processes are properly handed over throughout the course of the next few months. He will then relocate to the SWARCO Solutions Center in Berlin, where he will spearhead the global rollout of MyCity, our innovative mobility platform. Stieldorf will remain in close contact with the team as OPTIPARK will soon also be delivered as one of the many solutions that the MyCity platform offers.

“Mike’s experience fits very well with McCain’s requirement to take our parking business to the next level. I am very happy with the fit and have the utmost confidence in Mike as he takes on the leadership and growth of McCain’s OPTI

PayByPhone Partners with Zevaz LLC to Bring a Better Parking Experience to Albuquerque

PARK business unit” says Stieldorf.

their session. When a parking session expires, the app sends the user a text message prompting them to extend their parking session remotely, saving the hassle of having to return to their car.

“Private lot operators in North America are increasingly adopting the PayByPhone app because it increases safety and simplicity to parking for residents and visitors,” says Roamy Valera, CAPP, PayByPhone CEO. “We look forward to helping Zevaz LLC upgrade and improve their parking experience.”

SHUTTERSTOCK / SEAN PAVONE