Our Parking Industry®

Episode Overview In this episode, Krista Olien and Leigh Thomas sit down with Trent Prior, Manager of Business Services for the Town of Victoria Park in Western Australia, to discuss innovation, customer choice, and the future of municipal parking. Trent shares how Vic Park transitioned away from cash payments, introduced dual pay by phone platforms, and reduced reliance on parking meters while im...

Episode Overview In this Inside The Lane episode, Leigh Thomas sits down with Evan Shelley, Founder and CEO of Truck Parking Club, to discuss one of transportation’s biggest challenges: the shortage of truck parking in the United States. Evan explains how Truck Parking Club connects drivers, fleet managers, and carriers with property owners who have available parking space. Through its marketplace...

Episode Overview In this follow-up episode, Krista Olien is joined by Clyde Wilson and Leigh Thomas to reflect on their conversation with Brandon Markey, Director of Healthcare Operations at The Car Park. The team revisits Brandon’s insights on luxury customer service, healthcare valet, security awareness, data-driven presentations, and frontline training. From knowing your audience to delivering...

Episode Overview Customer service is often discussed in parking but rarely defined in a way that changes behavior. In this episode, the TPN team is joined by Brandon Markey, Director of Healthcare Operations at The Car Park, to explore what exceptional service looks like in practice, especially in healthcare environments. Drawing from a background in luxury customer service and security, Brandon e...

Episode Overview In this special Inside The Lane episode, Krista Olien sits down with Robert Pohrer, insurance broker at Daniel & Henry Insurance & Risk Management, to discuss his journey from parking operator to insurance specialist serving the parking industry. Robert shares how he grew up in parking, scaled a valet operation from 50 to 250 employees, and transitioned into insurance foll...

Episode Overview In this follow-up episode, Krista Olien is joined by Clyde Wilson and Leigh Thomas to reflect on the team’s conversation with Nick Nicholas, a police captain whose role includes municipal parking oversight. The discussion expands on frontline safety, enforcement, situational awareness, and the difficult role parking professionals play in their communities. The team also explores b...

Episode Overview In this episode, Leigh Thomas and Trina Tutor sit down with Nick Nicholas, a police captain in Orange County, California, to discuss parking enforcement, frontline safety, public service, and the role parking plays in community life. Nick shares how parking unexpectedly became part of his responsibilities as a police captain and why he has developed a deep respect for the industry...

Episode Overview In the final installment of this three-part series, Krista Olien, Clyde Wilson, and Leigh Thomas focus on solutions to one of the industry’s most persistent challenges: hidden and “camouflaged” fees in parking operations. After exploring how hidden fees developed and how they show up today, this episode shifts to what can be done about it. The conversation highlights key root caus...

Episode Overview In part two of this three-part series, the TPN team moves from history into the current reality of hidden fees in the parking industry. Building on episode one, this conversation focuses on where hidden fees are showing up today and how they impact both asset owners and operators. Using real-world audit examples and firsthand observations, the team explains how traditional expense...

Episode Overview Hidden fees are one of the most debated and least understood topics in the parking industry. In this opening episode of a three-part series, the TPN team takes a candid look at how these practices developed and why they continue today. Drawing on decades of industry experience and real-world observations from financial and operational reviews, the conversation traces the evolution...

Episode Overview In this special Inside The Lane episode, Krista Olien sits down with Jonny Velarde, CEO and co-founder of Valet Parking Pros, to discuss entrepreneurship, private event valet, and the realities of growing a service-based business in the parking industry. Jonny shares how his company, operating in Southern California and Northeast Florida, grew from a family legacy in valet parking...

Summary In this roundtable discussion, Krista Olien is joined by Clyde Wilson and Leigh Thomas to reflect on their recent conversation with Patrick Dolan of Task Force Services. The group dives deeper into the realities of modern parking system installations, emphasizing how precision, planning, and coordination between civil work, technology, and operations are more critical than ever. As parking...

Installing the Future of Parking: Patrick Dolan on Power, Data, and Doing It Right Summary In this episode of the Our Parking Industry podcast, Krista Olien and Leigh Thomas interview Patrick Dolan from Task Force Services. Patrick shares his unique journey into the parking industry, starting from his military background to becoming a key player in parking installations. He discusses the evolution...

Summary In this episode of Inside the Lane, Leigh Thomas interviews Henry Broback from Plix AI, a body camera platform designed for parking enforcement and similar fields. They discuss the purpose of Plix AI, its functionality, and the impact it has on safety and documentation in the field. Henry shares insights on how the technology works, its target audience, and the future potential of Plix AI...

Summary In this episode of the Our Parking Industry Podcast, Krista Olien, Clyde Wilson, and Leigh Thomas discuss the key themes from their interview with Rafael Abanilla from Parking Concepts Incorporated. They explore the importance of a people-centric philosophy in parking management, emphasizing customer service and the evolution of the industry from lease management to technology-driven opera...

Summary In this episode of the Our Parking Industry podcast, host Leigh Thomas and Clyde Wilson engages with industry veteran Rafael Abanilla to explore the evolution of the parking industry. Raf shares his journey from a valet to a senior VP, emphasizing the importance of frontline experience in management. The conversation delves into the balance between technology and customer service, the sign...

Inside The Lane: Featuring Delaware Valley Paving Summary In this episode of Inside the Lane, Leigh interviews Adam Fisher from Delaware Valley Paving, a national company specializing in asphalt and concrete maintenance and construction. Adam discusses the company's history, services, and customer base, emphasizing their commitment to quality and innovation. He explains the onboarding process for...

Summary In this episode of the Our Parking Industry podcast, Krista Olien, Clyde Wilson, and Leigh Thomas discuss the insights gained from their interview with Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrimetti. They explore the transformational changes in the parking industry, the emotional experiences of customers, the role of technology in customer service, and the challenges posed by gateless parki...

Consumer Protection Meets Parking: A Conversation with Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti Summary In this episode, Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti discusses the intersection of consumer protection and the parking industry, highlighting a significant settlement against Metropolis for deceptive practices. The conversation explores the importance of transparency in pricing, the...

Summary In this episode, Krista Olien, Clyde Wilson, and Leigh Thomas recap the key themes and highlights from Season Two of the Our Parking Industry podcast. They discuss the importance of collaboration, communication, and standardization in the parking industry, reflecting on how these themes have emerged throughout their interviews. The hosts share their favorite moments from the season, includ...

Summary In this episode, Krista Olien, Clyde Wilson, and Leigh Thomas discuss their conversation with Julie, the founder of Dixon Resources Unlimited. They explore her journey in the parking industry, focusing on on-street parking, policy impacts, and the importance of compliance and predictability in parking operations. The discussion highlights Julie's entrepreneurial spirit, the challenges face...

Summary In this episode of the Our Parking Industry Podcast, host Leigh Thomas engages with Clyde Wilson and Julie Dixon, exploring the evolution of parking enforcement, the impact of technology, and the challenges facing the parking industry today. Julie shares her journey into parking, the importance of compliance, and the need for balanced policies that address both parking and transportation n...

Summary In this episode of the Our Parking Industry podcast, Krista Olien, Clyde Wilson, and Leigh Thomas discuss their insights from an interview with Fed Revolte, the director of parking and curb management in Tampa. They explore themes of innovation, risk-taking, communication, hurricane preparedness, curb management, and the importance of quantifying the value of parking spaces. The conversati...

Summary In this episode of the Our Parking Industry podcast, Krista Olien interviews Fed Revolte, the Director of Parking and Curb Management for the City of Tampa. They discuss Fed's journey in the parking industry, innovative approaches to parking management, the importance of communication with the public, and the transition to frictionless parking. Fed shares insights on customer service, stak...

Insights from NPA 2025: Networking and Presentations Summary In this episode, Krista Olien, Clyde Wilson, and Leigh Thomas recap their experiences at NPA 2025, discussing the importance of networking, the value of presentations, and the significance of customer service in the parking industry. They share insights from their own presentation on auditing, the vibrant culture of Indianapolis, and the...