Texas Parking Association: 2010 Distinguished Service Award

Name of nominee: Mary Mabry, University of Texas Arlington

It is with great honor that I submit the name of Ms. Mary Mabry for the 2009-2010 Texas Parking Association Distinguished Service Award. Mary has been a critical participant in improving the professionalism of the parking industry in Texas.

While Mary has been in parking for longer than she cares to admit, she has recently achieved the Certified Administrator of Public Parking (CAPP) designation and was appointed to the TPA Board of Directors. She began by getting to know the people within the board and the roles they played then focused on obstacles they faced and determined what needed to be done to remove the hurdles. Mary “volunteered” to take over the web page and those things associated with it on the communication side. This includes writing the monthly “State of the States” for the IPI, sending e-mail ‘blasts’ and correcting e-mail addresses to name just a part of this position. This is all in addition to her ‘real job’ managing parking for UT-Arlington.

In December 2009 the TPA Board approved a total re-vamping of the TPA web site. While on the surface it was an easy transition, this meant that Mary had to learn the capabilities of the new system, get it set up for the annual conference - which included registration for the annual conference and renewing memberships, and handling requests for information and problem solving when people were not able to register all at the same time. A full-time job for the first 3 months the way it looked & sounded, Mary made it look pretty seamless. She took it all in stride and made it work, learning all the way. Mary is committed to providing the best resources and service possible and doing an excellent job of it.

It is well known that Mary cares for her staff - they are not simply employees, but rather true friends. She keeps tabs on their goals and works with them to help them meet their growing needs. She also shows great compassion and appreciation for their service. Mary Mabry is a true action-oriented leader, listener, champion, and friend. The effects of her efforts impact not only faculty, staff, students and visitors, but also the Texas Parking Association & its Board members.

It is very hard to sum up Mary's contribution to the Texas parking world in a few words, but suffice to say that she is a dedicated professional who will help anyone solve any problem. You can always trust Mary Mabry. Please show your support for Mary’s significant efforts by naming her as TPA’s Distinguished Service Award recipient for the 2009-2010 year.

Texas Parking Association: 2009 Distinguised Service Award

Peter Lange

I am writing to nominate Peter Lange for TPA€s Distinguished Service Award. Peter moved to Texas and Texas A&M in July of 2003 and started his tenure with Transportation Services. He began by getting to know the people within his units and the roles they played then focused on obstacles they faced and determined what needed to be done to remove the hurdles.

The units Peter inherited had processes that were cumbersome or archaic. He identified areas where new technology could be implemented and in his short tenure, has already acquired and installed four new business management software systems for various units within our department. He restructured our Information Technology team so that each unit within the department has a software specialist to support their activities. Peter has also grown our communications technology; we now get the word out by using list serves, RSS feeds, Face Book, streaming video, bus banners, and radio, television and jumbotron advertisements.

Peter was instrumental in developing online services for our external and internal customers. New options include purchasing permits, appealing citations, completing annual parking registration, and visiting an intranet site. He is committed to providing the best resources and service possible; under his leadership, Transportation Services has redeveloped its web site twice to ensure it continues to best meet our customers€ needs and stays current with technology and communication trends. He searches out educational conferences and training seminars to ensure continuous improvement and development of his team.€

It is well known that Peter cares for his staff € they are not simply employees, but rather true friends. He keeps tabs on their goals and works with them to establish new positions and organizational charts to meet their growing needs. He served as a key advisor to our director when the university required a reduction in force for our department. They worked together to develop a new organizational structure and to tell each of the individuals being released the devastating news. He showed great compassion and appreciation for their service. He also aided them in finding new jobs and was committed to giving them first consideration when a position opened within Transportation Services.

Not only does Peter have great insight and leadership, he also exhibits common sense and the ability to bring people to common ground. Peter was primarily responsible for developing the priority process for assigning parking for faculty, staff and students. He met with multiple groups from Faculty Senate, Student Government, Residence Hall Association, International Student Council, Graduate Student Council, and held meetings with employees from departments who wanted input. He participated in numerous town hall sessions where all students, staff and faculty were invited to attend and voice their opinions about the process. Peter considered all the input and developed rules and procedures € ones that are so sound, they€ve stood the test of time and are still used today.€

Peter€s successes resulted in more opportunities! He began leading the special events unit a couple of years ago. In true €Peter-style€ he broke down barriers and added efficiencies by changing the staffing process for large events, such as home football game days, to a combination of dedicated event staff plus student workers from other units within our department. He implemented an online process for students to sign up to work events and an electronic method for supervisors to manage the process. The result is the most efficient, consistent, customer-friendly game day operation we€ve had.€

Peter Lange is a true action-oriented leader, listener, champion, and friend. The effects of his efforts impact not only faculty, staff, students and visitors, but also Transportation Service€s and Texas A&M€s reputations. Please show your support for Peter€s significant efforts by naming him as TPA€s Distinguished Service Award recipient.

Texas Parking Association: 2008 Distinguised Service Award

Liliana Rambo

Ms. Rambo has been instrumental in the parking industry, since 1987.€ Ms Rambo began as an accounting clerk and soon advanced to become the Manager of the City of Hollywood Florida€s on-street and off-street municipal parking system.€ This system includes over 4800 parking meters, 25 off-street parking lots and 2 parking garages.€ In 2005, she was selected to be the City of Houston Texas€ Chief Parking Official.€ In this capacity she oversees the on-street parking operation to include over 5800 parking spaces, and a series of parking lots located on the outskirts of the commercial business district.€ She is responsible for a parking revenue budget of over 13 million dollars and leading over 60 employees to provide and maintain the maximum number of public parking spaces; prepare plans and specifications necessary to develop and improve parking facilities within the City of Houston business districts. Liliana developed the public educational campaign directed at residents, visitors and business owners of the City of Houston.€€€ She is also responsible for the collections of all parking revenues from parking meters, permits and citations to include a vehicle immobilization and booting program and evaluation of efforts being made by contracted collection agency.€ Additionally, Liliana developed changes and improvements to programs and ordinances in order to increase the effective use of public curb space to aid neighborhood€s economic development efforts. €As a Board member for the Texas Parking Association she developed and implemented a series of luncheons focused on improving aspects of parking operations.€ Liliana also chairs the membership committee as a Board member of the International Parking Institute.

Liana€s Accomplishments include:€

Recipient of the International Parking Institute€s 2007 Parking Organization of the Year Award
Increased level of meter repair to ensure 97% of on-street parking meters are operational
Increased parking meter revenues for fiscal year 2007 over $650,000 over budgeted amount
Developed new procedures for meter bagging program; the new procedures yielded a net increase in revenues of over $200,000 during fiscal year 2007
Creation of first stakeholder based parking commission in the State of€ Texas
Design and implemented parking enforcement officer€s ambassador program
Created marketing plan for Parking Management Division to include new logo, website, collateral materials, presentation to residential and business communities and a new mission and vision statement for the division
Established sound financial controls and audit procedures for meter collections, enforcement division and customer service unit
Successfully negotiated multi-space parking meter contract for 1500 multi-space parking meters to include a 1.9 miles wi-fi network, curb striping and signage project for the CBD area
Board Member of the International Parking Institute since 2005
Board of Directors of the Texas Parking Association 2007
Past-President of the Florida Parking Association- President, Vice-President and Board Member since 1997
Leadership Hollywood Program Graduate, Class XXVII
Past Member-City of Hollywood Economic Development Roundtable Negotiating Team and Steering Committee
Member- City of Hollywood Education Committee and Diamond Service Award Committee
Leadership Miami Program Graduate and member of Executive Committee (1994-2001)

Liliana is highly competent, professionally qualified, goal oriented, and helpfully to subordinates, peers and superiors.€ Ms Rambo is well organized, has demonstrated excellent qualities of establishing, administering, implementing, and evaluating multifaceted programs and projects.€ She has natural leadership qualities and a participatory management style.€ She is truly deserving of the honor of being named the 2008 recepient or the Texas Parking Association€s Distinguished Service Award.

Texas Parking Association: 2007 Distinguised Service Award

Patsi Davis

It is with great honor that I submit the name of Ms Patsi Davis for the 2007 Texas Parking Association Distinguished Service Award. Ms. Patsi Davis has been a critical participant in improving the professionalism of the parking industry in Texas. In her job, Patsi has been instrumental in transforming parking and commuter issues for Texas Children's Hospital (TCH) from a source of stress into flexible commuting benefits used to attract and retain quality staff. Her accomplishments include enhancing customer satisfaction for employees, patients and physicians with regards to parking, mobility and space allocation assessments and management. Through her professional collaborations with Houston Galveston Area Council, Houston Metropolitan Transit Authority and U.S. EPA, TCH attained national recognition as Best Workplaces for Commuters, and received national publication in U.S. Department of Transportation and Federal Highways Administration case study manual Mitigating Traffic Congestion.

Ms Davis has served with distinction on the Texas Parking Association as a Board Member and as the Association Secretary. In the four years that she has served on the TPA Association Board and throughout the State, Ms. Davis has been instrumental in promoting parking and alternative transportation matters. Patsi was the organizer and coordinator of the 2006, Texas Parking Association Annual Conference and Trade Show. Her skills and abilities were critical to the success of the conference. Again, in 2007, Patsi has been critical to the organization and success of the annual conference. She has volunteered hundreds of hours to the success of the Texas Parking Association.

Patsi is a central figure in the parking industry in Houston and throughout Texas Ms. Davis professional expertise is constantly sought by her contemporaries for advice and assistance. She has the well earned reputation from her peers as the person who will always help to solve any problem. Patsi is a true professional who is dedicated to service and helping all succeed. It is very hard to sum up Patsi's contribution to the Texas parking world in a few words, but sufice to say that she is a dedicated professional who will help anyone solve any problem. You can always trust Patsi Davis. She is truly deserving of the honor of being named the 2007 recepient or the Texas Parking Association's Distinguished Service Award.

Texas Parking Association: 2006 Distinguised Service Award

James Moran

Jim Moran has been a central figure in the parking industry throughout the United States for the past 20 years. Jim was a founding member and past President of the Florida Parking Association. Jim has been very active in the Texas Parking Association where he has served as Vice President, and is now the President of our association. Jim is constantly sought by his contemporaries for advice and assistance. He has the well earned reputation from his peers as the guy who will always help to solve any problem. To quote a collegue:

“Jim gets things done. You can always count on him for sound professional advice and an infectious attide of professionalism.

Jim Moran is employed as Vice President and Managing Principal in Walker Parking Consultant's Houston office. Previously, he was a Senior Parking Consultant and Project Manager in the Walker Parking Consultants INC. Tampa office. Jim oversees the overall project planning; scheduling and budgeting; quality assurance; and the maintenance of client relations. As the senior officer, he attends client meetings and evaluates data for suitable alternatives with the client's representatives. As the Managing Principal, he oversees the production of all projects involving new design, restoration, new construction, and study services. The Managing Principal has the primary responsibility of managing the overall delivery process meeting Walker's goals and the client needs. Recent projects that he has had the responsibility for include:

Austin International Airport (ABIA) Austin, TX (2002)
City of Bogota, Santa Fe De Bogota, Columbia
Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL
Miami Dade College, Miami, FL
Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK
Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR
University of Texas, Austin, TX
University of Texas, El Paso, TX

Jim has extensive parking experience on Parking Management, Financial Feasibility Studies, Parking Supply and Demand Studies and related parking analysis efforts.

From 1982 until joining Walker Parking Consultants INC., Jim served at the University of South Florida (USF) in Tampa. During his tenure at USF he had many duties which ranged from security to parking. His last position with the University was as the Associate Director of Auxiliary Services which included the Parking and Transportation Services Department, Business and Financial Services Department, Bookstore, and Contract Management Department.

Jim is 62 years young and has been married to Lucy for over 37 years. Jim was accepted to MIT, but chose to join the Air Force. He served over 20 years as an analyst in the Air Force. He was a goalie in the Boston Bruins farm system. Jim can speak 17 different languages and dialects. He has lived in at least five different countries. Jim has both a Master of Public Administration in Administrative Organization & Management and a Bachelor of Arts in Management Information Systems and Criminal Justice. Jim has been published in several professional publications and is a frequent presenter at conferences such as the Texas Parking Association Annual Conference and Trade Show. Professionally, Jim maintains affiliation with:

Texas Parking Association (TPA)
Florida Parking Association (FPA)
International Parking Institute (IPI)
Real Estate Council - Austin (RECA)
National Parking Association (NPA)
Texas Municipal League (TML)
Midwest Campus Parking Association (MCPA)
Urban Land Institute (ULI)
National Association of College & University Business Officers (NACUBO)
Southern Association of College & University Business Officers (SACUBO)

It is very hard to sum up Jim’s contribution to the Texas parking world in a few words, but sufice to say that he is a dedicated professional who will help anyone solve any problem. You can always trust Jim Moran. He is truly deserving of the honor of being named the 2006 recepient or the Texas Parking Association’s Distinguished Service Award.