Matt Penney, CAPP
Baylor University
Director of Parking & Transportation Services
Its sometimes surreal to realize that I have been in the Parking and Transportation Industry for the past 20 years. Time has certainly flown by. I obtained my bachelor’s degree from Stephen F. Austin State University. Then a rare opportunity to be a graduate assistant opened up and allowed me to complete my master’s degree a year later. I was going to be a teacher and a coach, until life took me in a different direction.
My career in parking and transportation is well rounded, including everchanging challenges of regulations, logistics and people. I started a position at the public transportation provider for the City of Waco, Waco Transit, as an “Inventory Specialist”. I don’t like to brag but I was a pretty darn good ‘Parts Clerk’. Waco Transit was a growing organization and I benefitted from the dynamic environment. Eventually, I was promoted to the Director of Service Development and my career in Parking and Transportation was off to a good start.
I would later take a position at the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) as a Public Transportation Funding Specialist were I served a 6 county area for 2 years. I was recommended for an opportunity to manage a upstart transit operation in Longview Texas. It’s hard not to remember the town and the people fondly. Then came an opportunity to return to my hometown of Waco as the Director of Parking and Transportation for Baylor University.
Baylor has allowed me to pursue professional growth including the professional certifications of CPP from the National Parking Association and the CAPP from IPMI. As a Training Specialist for IPMI I had the opportunity to speak at numerous conferences and parking operations across the US. I currently serve on the Board for the Campus Parking and Transportation Association. Locally, I also was publicly elected to serve on the China Spring ISD School Board.
The Texas Parking and Transportation Association provided a necessary network of professionals that was extremely helpful to get on the right track at Baylor. I will never forget the welcoming atmosphere at my first TPTA conference. Those conversations turned into campus visits and now years of friendships. My goal for the organization would be to maintain activities that are inviting and informative, thus ensuring a statewide network that benefits everyone involved.
Thanks for your consideration,
Matt Penney