WPS has added Bruce LaPree to the Germany-based company’s growing U.S.A. division. As Vice President of Business Development, U.S.A., he will serve on its Senior Management Team. A recognized leader in the parking industry for more than 27 years, LaPree has extensive experience in real estate development, management, access/revenue control technology and parking operations.
PolyBrite International has announced installation of its Borealis LED lamps at the Illinois Executive Mansion in Springfield, resulting in 95% of its interior light fixtures being LED-equipped.. They are projected to reduce interior lighting costs by about 80% and last up to 10 years. Borealis LED products do not produce heat or contain UV or IR, and can assist in the preservation of historic antiques, artwork and woodwork within the mansion.
Metric Parking has received two orders for its newly introduced Elite Multi-Space meter: the cities of Seaside Heights, NJ, which bought 34 Elites, and Port Jefferson, NY, which bought 22 Elites. Purchase decisions were based on overall performance specifications, capability to have dual printers, ability to use the back office software from their existing machines, and trade-in allowance for that equipment. Metric Group President Dave Wittssaid, “The meters in both sites are used in seaside parking areas, where they must endure harsh weather and high-volume use. Both [cities] elected to use pay-by-space mode, with solar power and pay-by-phone capability.”
Watson Bowman Acme Corp. has launched its brand-new website. Visitors to www.wbacorp.com will notice that it includes many enhancements, such as additional product information, new navigational features and greatly improved search functions, to make their online experience an all-around better one. Feel free to tour the site.
Digital Payment Technologies has deployed 61 Luke II multi-space parking pay stations in the city of Lake Geneva, WI. These high-tech, solar-powered units will replace 965 single-head meters and operate in a pay-by-space mode. They also will allow consumers to purchase beach passes and boat launch permits, and give them the option to extend their parking time via text message without having to create an account.
Carlisle Construction Materials (CCM), a division of Carlisle Cos., plans to establish a PVC roofing membrane manufacturing operation on its Greenville, IL, campus. President and CEO John Altmeyer said, “CCM’s entry into the PVC market is a natural move for the business. PVC is a significant and growing segment of the commercial roofing market, both in the US and in many international markets. Our expertise and experience in EPDM and TPO single-ply membranes will assist us greatly in PVC.”
Wilbrecht Ledco Inc., a subsidiary of MicroprecisionElectronics SA, has appointed Robin Lindorfer as Switches and Foil Resistors Product Manager in St. Paul, MN. She will help the company’s efforts to produce precision microswitches and foil resistors for the US market. Lindorfer has 18 years of management experience in the manufacturing industry, having worked at TSI Inc. and UMI Inc.
Carl Walker Inc. recently completed major projects in Kentucky and Michigan. In Louisville, the firm assisted the Parking Authority of River City with criteria development and reviewed design progress submittals for its 700-space parking structure at the $238 million KFC Yum! Center, the new home of the University of Louisville basketball programs and venue for a variety of other sporting events.
In Dearborn, in collaboration with Beckett & Raeder Inc.,the firm conducted an intensive campus parking and infrastructure improvement project at Henry Ford Community College, developing a renovation plan for the vehicular portion of the campus, its pedestrian spaces and connection to the campus interior. Also, Carl Walker is a key member of the Jacobs-led design team recently awarded the contract for a 7,793-space, $175 million parking structure at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. Part of a $1.9 billion terminal redevelopment plan, the five-story structure will feature more than 3 million square feet, a pedestrian bridge, and a parking guidance system. It will be built in three phases, with the entire project slated to be completed in 2014.
Dur-A-Flex Inc. has named AlessandroMachado Jesus as its International Strategic Marketing Manager. David Hughes, VP of Marketing, Research and Development, said, “Alessandro joins us with an excellent background in polymer adhesives and sealants, as well as multilingual skills. Additionally, his extensive global marketing and strategic planning roles will be crucial to Dur-A-Flex as we continue to grow, look at new markets and pursue our drive to expand.”
Walker Parking Consultants has announced the formal opening of its Abu Dhabi, UAE, office in the Ali & Sons Business Centre,15 minutes from City Centre. Hakam Dib will continue to manage operations there. The firm has been in Abu Dhabi since May 2011, but in a temporary office suite. Walker currently has projects underway in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, UAE, in Cairo and Istanbul, and in Doha, Qatar. For more information, contact Dib at hakam.dib@walkerparking.com.
Transportation Equipment Sales Corp. (TESCO), one of the largest bus distributors in the nation, notes that its recently completed acquisition of Great Lakes Coach allows the company to further expand its presence in the Michigan market. Bud Graham, TESCO President, said the second-generation, family-owned company is able to meet the transportation needs of nearly every market segment, with an inventory spanning small paratransit vans to full-size coaches.
The Eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware Chapter of the American Concrete Institute(ACI) has awarded High Concrete Group grand prize honors, Architectural Concrete/Precast Cladding, for its work on the Millennium Science Complex atPennsylvania State University. The four-story, 292,000-square-foot, $190 million academic building features cantilevered architectural precast cladding finished with brick veneer. A signature feature of the LEED-registered building, from RV Architects and Whiting-Turner Contracting Co., is a large cantilever and skylight opening over a plaza and garden at the main entrance. The biennial ACI competition recognizes excellence in conception, originality, and applicability of concrete in the built environment.
Hybrid Parking Garages has begun delivery of a multi-story employee parking garage at Saint Anne’s Hospital in Fall River, MA, in cooperation with First Bristol Corp., Suffolk Construction and Steffian Bradley Architects. Hybrid was selected to provide a variety of parking and construction services. The task assigned to the team was to provide the facility with an affordable, efficient, durable and fast-track design/build solution for a multi-storied employee garage on a tight urban site. Working with the owner’s agent, the general contractor and the campus architect, Hybrid was able to conceive, develop, design, permit and deliver the new garage seamlessly from conception to turnover.
Valet Parking Service in Los Angeles celebrated its 66th year in the parking business on May 1, having been founded by Herb Citrin on that date in 1946. Co-Managing Partner Tony Policella noted that he was proud to say “we still service our very first location seven days a week and have for the past 66 years.” He added, “I also want to take this opportunity to thank our customers for their continued confidence in us as we look forward to many more years together.”
Green Courte Partners, LLC announced today the acquisition from CRF Communities of Plantation Landings, a 4-star manufactured housing community in Haines City, Florida. The age-restricted, 394-site community is fully leased and located directly south of Royal Palm Village. Green Courte’s second fund, Green Courte Real Estate Partners II, LLC, acquired Royal Palm Village as a part of its purchase of American Land Lease, Inc. in 2009.
Commenting on the acquisition, Green Courte’s Chairman Randy Rowe stated, “We are pleased to add this high-quality property to our existing portfolio of ‘55+’ retirement communities in central Florida. CRF Communities is one of Florida’s leading developers of retirement communities, and we hope that we will have additional opportunities to work with the CRF organization in the future.”
The Michigan Parking Association Fall Conference is September 19-21, 2012. Mackinac Island, here we come! The accommodations will be at the Mission Pointe Resort. The MPA is excited to announce that one of our conference speakers will be Mr. Donald Shoup – author of the “High Cost of Parking”. He is a professor at the University of California, Los Angeles and a widely-regarded expert in the economics and availability of parking. Another upcoming event for MPA is the Annual Golf Outing & Fundraiser. The four-person scramble will take place on Thursday, July 19, 2012 at Timber Ridge Golf Club in E. Lansing, MI. For more information or to register, go towww.mpatoday.org/events.html.
BestParking is a “parking-decision engine” that steers motorists to the cheapest and most convenient parking garages and lots in 50 North American cities and 79 airports. Garmin, Magellan, Pioneer AppRadio (in-car navigation), QNX (automotive division of RIM), Google Maps, and Microsoft Bing Maps have partnered with BestParking to integrate BestParking’s North American parking data into their products. In other words, every major parking operator now has their facility information (including name, phone, hours, photo, rates, payment options, etc.) listed on those platforms/devices. Please check out the below links for the press releases/news/proof!
Jamie Groff has joined the Toledo Ticket Co. as its new Eastern Regional Sales Manager, based out of Lancaster, PA. He has more than 16 years of printing and sales experience. President and CEO Tom Carter said: “Our customers will be able to count on Jamie to cover this area of the country [the New England States through Georgia] more efficiently. Increasing our East Coast sales area will also include colleges, universities, municipalities and private operators.”
