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Our Podcast

Harder Than It Looks

Harder Than It Looks podcast

We as parking professionals know that parking is hard. However, we make it look easy to those from the outside looking in. The myriad technologies, processes and people that a parking operator has to wrangle on any given day is mind-numbing, and every parking facility is unique. While certain verticals share similar pain points, we know better than many how nuanced every operation can be.

We created this podcast to facilitate connections and illuminate solutions to common problems within the parking and mobility industry. We aim to do so by highlighting the voices of experts in the space, discussing trends and forward-looking technological innovations, and providing professional food for thought. All in an effort to help one another get better at what we know is harder than it looks…parking a car.

We’re thrilled you’ve listened to our podcast! Find past show details below, with links for where to listen. Additionally, if you’d like to get plugged in, subscribe to our monthly newsletter in the form below.

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Listen to Past Episodes

Maria Irshad - Harder Than It Looks podcast

[Oct 25, 2023] Parking and Politics: How Maria Irshad Gets All the Stakeholders at the Table

We interviewed Maria Irshad, Deputy Director for Park Houston and discussed various topics related to curbside management, public stakeholder engagement, time management, and Maria’s journey in the parking industry. Maria shares her story of how she unexpectedly got into the parking industry and became passionate about it.

Also featuring Tim Maginn who discusses the hardest aspects of hiking to Mt. Everest Base Camp.

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[Sep 28, 2023] Empowering Employees: Leadership Lessons in Parking with Don Charley

In this episode, we sat down with Don Charley, the Assistant Vice President of Parking Service Line for the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s Hospital Division. We discuss various topics including thriving in an ever-changing environment, managing diverse parking customers in a healthcare setting, and the importance of personalizing parking.

Also features two Parker CSRs who discuss the hardest aspects of their jobs.

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[Aug 23, 2023] The Parking Puzzle: How Texas A&M University Cracks the Code with Peter Lange

In this episode, we sit down with Peter Lange, Associate Vice President of Transportation Services at Texas A&M University College Station. We discuss topics such as hiring employees based on their previous work, managing manpower, motivating millennial student workers, and implementing parking solutions.

Featuring Lynda Black who shares her strategies for managing frontline workers at Parker Technology’s Indy-based call center.

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[Aug 23, 2023] Unleashing the Power of Customer Service in the Parking Industry with Julie Dixon

We’re thrilled to share with you the latest episode of Harder Than it Looks where we had the pleasure of hosting Julie Dixon, the founder and owner of Dixon Resources Unlimited. Julie’s journey is a testament to the power of perseverance, dedication, and an unwavering commitment to customer service.

Features Kent King, who shares the mental challenges that triathletes face.

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[Aug 23, 2023] Parking Pioneers: Unveiling the Secrets of Success with Brett Harwood

In this episode, we had the pleasure of hosting Brett Harwood, a renowned figure in the parking industry. Brett’s journey from lawyer to business executive, and his experiences in growing his family business, are nothing short of inspiring.

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If you’re interested in how we can help your parking operation, visit our solution page or shoot us a quick note. We look forward to connecting!

Our Solution Contact Us

“We are so glad we have Parker Technology as our partner! The live communication has made such a difference with our clients and visitors. The staff is so understanding of our needs and responds quickly to any last minute requests. We are completely satisfied with their service!”

— City of Las Vegas

Las Vegas, NV

“Parking is the first and last experience that creates an impression for our university. Parker Technology fits right in with that vision.”

— Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)


Indianapolis, IN

“When automating, there's always this fear of losing a level of customer service, but the Parker 24/7 Call Center has eliminated this concern.”

— Riverside Parking

Louisville, KY

“Introducing Parker Technology into our parking facilities allows our patients to see those smiling faces whenever they need assistance.”

— Eskenazi Health

Indianapolis, IN

“I'd recommend to any of my peers to focus on parking operations and leave the calls to the Parker 24/7 Call Center.”

— Park-Rite

Detroit, MI

“We were excited to identify Parker Technology as a solution provider within the PARCS world. Due to the breadth of clients Parker Technology partners with, we are leaning on them as experts in this space to collaborate with us to provide the best solutions for our parking guests. They listen to us as a partner as we tackle the opportunities together; they are truly an extension of our own customer service team.”

— Greenleaf Hospitality Group

Kalamazoo, MI

“Ever since we started using Parker's service several years ago, our customer service levels have increased drastically. Having Parker in our active access lanes has allowed us to increase our facility access with automation technology. This allows us to redirect our staff to other duties instead of sitting in a booth and being more active and present throughout the facilities. Customers have positively commented about this interaction. The Parker team is always quickly accessible and there when we need them. We look forward to expanding the service in more facilities going forward.”

— AllPro Parking

Buffalo, NY

“Everyone at FlexePark is very excited about our new partnership with Parker Technology. It’s great to be able to work with another local company, and we’re looking forward to the improved support they can provide for our customers. This will help FlexePark continue to scale without losing track of customer support.”

— FlexePark

Indianapolis, IN

“Parker Technology enables us to deliver the personal, friendly experience that the City of Asheville wants every parking patron to remember.”

— City of Asheville

Asheville, NC

“Parker Technology has been a great addition to our parking facility here in Denver, definitely value add! The Parker team worked quickly in getting the installation performed and ensuring that all equipment was functioning properly.”

— Denison Parking

Denver, CO

“The customer service we receive from the Parker 24/7 Call Center is above any call center I have ever dealt with, or any on-site company we have used.”

— City of South Lake Tahoe

South Lake Tahoe, CA

“Parker Technology provides a quality call service to several of our garages. Answering all the calls myself previously, I was worried about quality control and how the CSR’s would handle the incoming traffic. I continue to be pleasantly surprised by their professionalism to my parkers and attention to individual unique details at each of my locations. Using their back-end software is very user friendly and I can listen and track all the calls from each location, spending very little time a day.”

— Douglas Parking

Denver, CO

“Partnering with Parker Technology has been invaluable to the early success of our new gate arm systems. Their ability to provide our customers with excellent assistance 24/7 has been crucial to our operation.”

— City of Columbia

Columbia, MO

“Parker Technology's call center helps us provide the standard of excellent service that people expect when they park in a Brandywine garage.”

— Brandywine Realty Trust

Philadelphia, PA

“Combining Parker with remote management by your PARCS system allows you to reach peak ROI and maximize efficiency across one or multiple garages. In the ‘new normal’ of contactless service and automation, Parker is the piece that brings it all together for owners and operators alike to provide a world-class experience for customers.”

— Signature Control Systems

Columbus, OH

“Parker Technology has been a pleasure to work with. They not only provide exceptional service in a professional and courteous fashion, but work as a partner in our operation.”

— UT Health Science Center

San Antonio, TX

“Parker Technology allows our automated parking system to remain user-friendly. Parker's customer service representatives are our advocates with customers.”

— Allen Bell Property Services

Tyler, TX

“We are thrilled to partner with Parker Technology. The addition of their two-way video communication will truly enhance the customer experience for our end users. Parker’s customer service and response times are second to none in the industry and we are excited to offer our customers this state of the art solution.”

— Associated Time Instruments

Dallas, TX

“Parker has helped One Parking reduce staffing costs for our clients and has enabled us to continue to provide top notch in the lane service at the same time. We have been using Parker for several years and are pleased to continue expanding our partnership with them across the country.”

— One Parking

West Palm Beach, FL

“Parker has been a key piece of our continued success across all of our commercial parking garages. They are proactive, attentive, and professional. Their team consistently goes above and beyond to understand not only the equipment difficulties but also the operations and tenants at every location so they can better assist our customers, tenants and our team. They have become an extension of our team and we couldn't be happier to have found them as a partner!”

— Peak Parking

Austin, TX

“Mixing Parker Technology's dependable platform, authentic concern and stellar customer service, has provided Penn State a recipe for on-campus success through all our operational changes over the last couple years. ”

— Penn State University

State College, PA

“We love the system, the metrics, the real time updates. The staff is excellent and always does a great job. It’s actually quite incredible. It’s like having a real person on-site. We love Parker!”

— Stiles Property Management

Fort Lauderdale, FL

“Parker manages the City of Plainfield garage when I am not there. With their service, we have peace of mind about operating the facility almost completely remotely.”

— City of Plainfield

Plainfield, IN

“Parker Technology’s platform for tracking intercom calls and customer issues is intuitive, convenient, and searchable. Having a reliable and responsive intercom service 24 hours a day is great for both our customers and our operations team.”

— Diamond Parking

Seattle, WA