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For advertising information, contact Bonnie Watts at watts@parking-mobility.org or 888.IPMI.NOW. For subscription changes, contact Tina Altman, taltman@parking-mobility.org. Parking & Mobility (ISSN 0896-2324 & USPS 001436) is published monthly by the International Parking & Mobility Institute. P.O. Box 25047 Alexandria, VA 22313 Phone: 888.IPMI.NOW Fax: 703.566.2267 Email: info@parking-mobility.org Website: parking-mobility.org Postmaster note: Send address label changes promptly to: Parking & Mobility P.O. Box 25047 Alexandria, VA 22313 Interactive electronic version of Parking & Mobility for members and subscribers only at parking-mobility. org/magazine. Periodical postage paid at Alexandria, Va., and additional mailing offices. Copyright © International Parking & Mobility Institute, 2020. 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. Parking & Mobility is printed on 10 percent recycled paper and on paper from trees grown specifically for that purpose.

A Time to be Thankful

By Alejandra “Alex” Argudin, CAPP

AS WE PREPARE TO CELEBRATE this year’s Thanksgiving holiday, whether we host it in person or remotely, it will be a different experience due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, I paused at the enormity of the events that have consumed our lives since March, and the first word that comes to mind is “gratitude.” I am thankful and grateful for a healthy and loving family; for the privilege to lead a forward-looking organization; for the experience of living in Miami, a vibrant, international city with endless talent and opportunities; and, equally importantly, for all of you, my IPMI peers.

The exhilaration of being appointed chief executive officer of the Miami Parking Authority 10 days prior to the pandemic announcement gave way to the somber events that followed. At that precise moment, I realized that the privilege of shepherding a leading-edge organization comes with the weight of an enormous responsibility. That revelation became very apparent when the thought of preserving the safety of our staff and customers became the top priority.

As it always turns out in life, challenges become opportunities. In the daily monitoring of parking revenues, we realized that our customers were bearing the hardships of an unprecedented pandemic. What followed was the immediate implementation of a few social responsibility programs that have resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars in in-kind parking for our customers.

Simultaneously, I listened to and sought the advice of many of my colleagues at IPMI. They rallied around me and became an excellent sounding board that validated some of the decisions I was about to make.

Looking at life as I always do—full of optimism and hope—I relish the time when we will get together to reaffirm our commitment to continue to make IPMI the premier parking organization in the world.

While I miss the face-to-face contact with my peers and the camaraderie that ensues when we meet and exchange, I take stock in the thought that we will see each other soon to celebrate better times ahead and to roll up our sleeves to collectively move forward IPMI’s goals for the next year.

In sum, I am thankful for all of you and wish you grace, hope, and resiliency over the holidays. Let us set our minds in making 2021 the best year ever for the parking business. ◆

ALEJANDRA “ALEX”

ARGUDIN, CAPP, is chief executive officer of the Miami Parking Authority and treasurer of IPMI’s Board of Directors. She can be reached at aargudin@ miamiparking.com.