TPTA Conference Registration Rates
August 16, 2017
As we continue to grow the Texas Parking & Transportation Association our policies must be regularly reviewed and updated to meet the growing demands of our organization. As such, we would like to address some changes that are taking place.
Changes to Conference Registration Rates
In our continued review of costs associated to planning TPTA conferences (an average of 26 percent increase in food/beverage, and technical/audio-visual costs, etc.), it became clear that registration rates needed to be increased to match the current demand of attendance.
Although members will see an increase in rates, those rates will continue to be subsidized by TPTA to ensure the price is as affordable as possible. The most recent conference held in Ft. Worth, Texas cost TPTA $551 per attendee. The early bird member rate for 2018 will remain less than half this cost. Our objective is to keep the impact to a minimum for our members. In doing so, we have made some changes to our conference rate processes.
While surveying other regional parking associations and, also due to feedback from attendees, it is evident that non-membership conference rates are being offered and desired. As a result, we have also implemented this common practice, effective 2018. In addition, non-members will incur late fees depending on the registration date.
Register Early – Pay Later
Late registration greatly impacts food/beverage planning, event details, and giveaways. On average, 34 percent of attendees registered in the four weeks leading up to the conference. While last year, 28 percent of the attendees registered two weeks before the conference. Registering early provides critical data used by the host committee for planning purposes and ensures that you, as an attendee, will get everything you need out of the conference. Please make every effort to register early, if possible and take advantage of the option to register early and pay later, if needed.
New rates for 2018 are as follows:
1 day (member rate) $125
1 day (no membership required, early bird) $300
1 day (non-member, reg after Jan 1) $350
Member Early Bird Fee (By Jan. 1) $240
Member Regular Fee (After Jan. 1) $290
Non-Member Early Bird Fee (By Jan. 1) $450
Non-Member Regular Fee (Jan. 1 – Feb 28) $490
Non-Member Late Fee (After Feb 28) $525
Improvements to the Conference Experience
We strive to improve the overall TPTA experience for all of our conference attendees and we are committed to continue to enhance what is being offered during meetings. Some of the added enhancements members can enjoy include high-level educational opportunities and the implementation of a conference mobile app. Our goal is to continue to offer the best opportunities in training, education and industry exposure for all of the TPTA members and for all of the attendees at our conferences.
Member Benefits
Member satisfaction is always at the forefront of how we run the organization and the Board recognizes that providing additional services is critical to improving not only our meetings, but more importantly, the member experience. We are committed to providing our members with the best TPTA experience possible by offering member incentives and access to additional programs, such as enhanced roundtables and scholarships. We will continue to expand these options for all of our members.
Securing our Organization
Finally, alongside member satisfaction, we are dually responsible for ensuring we are fiscally responsible and that the organization is financially solvent for many years to come. We are confident these rate changes will ensure TPTA is heading in the best direction for our continued success as an organization.
It truly is our goal to provide the best parking and transportation regional conference in the nation and with the support of each one of our members we know we can achieve this goal together.
We appreciate your understanding,
TPTA Board of Directors
Jacob Gonzalez Joins Walker Parking Consultants
October 27, 2016
We are pleased to welcome Jacob H. Gonzalez, PE to the Houston office as Managing Principal of the Mid-South Region. Jacob comes to us from Walter P. Moore where he was the Director of the Parking Services Group.
Jacob has developed a very collaborative approach to parking design that he coined as “Parking Integration”.
“Parking Integration is a process designed to get multiple stakeholders working collaboratively toward a common goal and achieve alignment. This process is the essence of what parking planning and design is about at Walker: leveraging all the expertise under one roof to develop a holistic solution for our partners is what excites me.” – Jacob H. Gonzalez, Managing Principal
In 2015, Jacob was acknowledged as one of ENR Texas and Louisiana’s Top 20 Under 40 and a Rising Star in Civil + Structural Engineering as a Top 10 Structural Engineer. Jacob is an active National Parking Association Parking Consultants Council member. Jacob also serves on the Texas Parking and Transportation Association Board of Directors as the Treasurer. Joining the Walker team has given Jacob an opportunity to further expand his current footprint on the parking industry.
“We are excited to have Jacob leading our practice out of Texas. He brings tremendous experience with local knowledge and relationships in the design community and is nationally recognized as a thought leader for healthcare.”
– Casey Wagner, Senior Vice President
Nicole Chinea Joins The Parking Dream Team
August 24, 2106
Houston, Texas – Winpark announced today that they have hired Nicole Chinea as the company’s Regional Vice President of Operations.
“We are excited to bring Nicole aboard as the newest member of the Winpark family,” said Liliana Rambo, Winpark’s president. “As the latest addition to The Parking Dream Team, Nicole brings a diverse skillset to our company, which she will leverage to the optimal benefit of Winpark’s clients and guests.”
Prior to joining Winpark, Chinea served as a Senior Associate for Walter P. Moore Consulting Services. In this role, Nicole led the consulting and studies team and was instrumental in gaining new business for the Parking Services Group. Chinea was the Director for Texas Medical Center’s transportation and parking operations and prior to that, she served as a Project Manager for the City of Houston’s Parking Management Division.
“Nicole has a well-rounded history in the parking industry,” continued Rambo. “Her demonstrated track record of success is a testament to her work ethic and creative approach to maximizing revenue for the clients who entrust their assets to her care.”
Chinea is a Certified Administrator of Public Parking (CAPP) and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management. She is a member of the International Parking Institute’s Education Development Committee and also serves on the Membership Committee of the Texas Parking and Transportation Association.
About WinPark
Founded by Hines in 1997, Winpark is a premium parking services provider operating Class-A office tower parking facilities in Houston, Dallas, Phoenix and Austin. Winpark has also developed a proprietary parking management software integration platform designed specifically for large real estate assets. Winpark has successfully managed and consulted on some of the nation’s largest Class-A office, retail, mixed-use, and medical facilities, as well as complex design and administrative challenges.
Winpark’s services include the ability to work from the “ground-up,” from build-out and design, through the management and running of complex garages. Cutting-edge software solutions provide for seamless monitoring, and billing and operational oversight. Winpark trains owners and managers to identify solutions and understand exposures, bringing an unbroken chain of accountability to parking operations. WinPark also consults on technology and equipment upgrades, garage traffic flows, accounting controls, fraud detection and space-mix optimization.
Clay Haverland Appointed UTSA Assistant Vice President for Campus Services
August 1, 2016
The University of Texas at San Antonio announces the promotion of Clay Haverland to Assistant Vice President for Campus Services. Haverland’s UTSA career began in 1993 as a student worker in the Campus Police Department. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice in 1995, he progressed through the Police Department until transferring to the Business Auxiliary department, now known as Campus Services, in 2002. He now directs Campus Services, overseeing essential support services such as dining, parking, transportation, bookstore, vending, and campus ID cards for UTSA’s three campuses with 29,000 students, 4,000 employees, and more than 300,000 visitors each year.
“UTSA is more than a job, it’s a home,” said Haverland. “I'm extremely proud of the accomplishments made by Campus Services since joining the team. We look forward to continuing to expand our partnerships as we further enhance the campus experience.”
“Clay’s commitment to excellent service is evident every day in every way,” said Kathryn Funk-Baxter, Vice President for Business Affairs. “Clay is a true Roadrunner in every way. I imagine he sees nothing but orange and blue when he is dreaming and planning our next creative service.”
Haverland is a member of several professional organizations including the Texas Parking and Transportation Association, International Parking Association and the National Association of Campus Auxiliary Services where he received the designation of Certified Auxiliary Services Professional as part of the group to have pioneered that program.
Haverland lives the Campus Services’ mission: “…enhancing the campus experience by providing resources designed to support University goals and individual success outside the classroom.” He demonstrates this commitment through his role in the development of the department’s customer service initiatives. His dedication to customer service led to recognition on campus, and he is a sought-after presenter within various professional organizations on this topic.
Texas A&M University honored for promoting cycling on campus
August 17, 2016
The Association for Commuter Transportation recently honored the Texas A&M Transportation Services’ alternative transportation program with the 2016 Marketing and Community Outreach Award for its efforts in promoting cycling on campus.
Presented at the association’s international conference in Portland, Oregon, earlier this summer, the award recognized the program’s weekly “Wheeler Wednesday” events offering students free bicycle checkups and educational sessions.
“This is an outstanding accomplishment for our department and a testament to our goal of achieving a more bike friendly campus here at Texas A&M,” said Peter Lange, executive director of Transportation Services. “The Alternative Transportation unit is transforming the way we look at cycling and the successful implementation of Wheeler Wednesday is yet another way we can serve the needs of the biking community.”
In 2015, the campus achieved a “Bike Friendly University” designation.
SP+ Becomes First Commercial Parking Operator to Earn Accredited Parking Organization Designation from International Parking Institute
May 25, 2016
SP Plus Corporation (SP+) , a leader in parking management, ground transportation and ancillary services, has become first commercial parking operator to be certified by the International Parking Institute (IPI) as an Accredited Parking Organization (APO). SP+ was recognized at the 2016 IPI Conference & Expo in Nashville on May 18, 2016. Roamy Valera, Senior Vice President of Municipal and Institutional Services, and Casey Jones, Vice President of Institutional Services, accepted the official recognition on SP+'s behalf.
"We are delighted to welcome our first commercial parking operator as an Accredited Parking Organization," said IPI Chief Executive Officer Shawn Conrad, CAE. "They are setting a precedent by demonstrating their commitment to ongoing evaluation and continuous improvement. As an APO, they are leading the way, showing customers and stakeholders that they have achieved a quality benchmark throughout their operations."
The APO program was established in 2015 to set industry standards that develop, ensure and support a high level of professionalism and competency in parking management. To earn the APO designation, an organization must demonstrate its commitment to ongoing evaluation and improvement of program outcomes throughout its operations. An APO must meet at least 80 percent of the more than 150 criteria, 25 of which are mandatory, which reflect best practices in responsible parking management and operations, customer service, professional development, safety and security. In addition to an extensive evaluation of its corporate practices, standard operating procedures and policies, seven SP+ facilities across the country were inspected as part of the company's corporate application and earned APO Premier Facility designations and the right to brand themselves accordingly in their marketing initiatives.
"IPI's high APO standards will improve operational excellence and business models across the industry," added Thomas L. Hagerman, Executive Vice President and Chief Business Development Officer for SP+. "It's exciting to be the first commercial parking operator to receive this recognition. It was a great collaborative effort by many folks within our organization and reflects our commitment to providing the best service to our clients and parking patrons."
