From fresh formats to renewed focus, PIE25 charted a path forward.
By Jay Landers
Parking Today Media’s Parking Industry Expo (PIE) returned to Schaumburg, Illinois, this spring for its 25th edition, bringing together professionals from across the industry for four days of programming, networking, and innovation. Held March 31 through April 3 at the Schaumburg Convention Center, PIE25 represented a notable moment in the event’s history — not only due to the anniversary, but also because it was the first PIE held since Parking Today Media was acquired by CEO and Publisher Kevin Uhlenhaker in early 2024.
Although PIE has long served as a key meeting point for the industry, this year’s event introduced several new elements aimed at refreshing the experience and responding to evolving attendee expectations. Uhlenhaker emphasized three themes — content, connections, and community — during his opening keynote, themes that were reflected throughout the conference’s agenda and format.
Exploring community beyond the basics
One of the more visible shifts at PIE25 was a heightened emphasis on professional community and peer support. Traditional technical sessions and panels were complemented by a new series of “Real Talk” sessions that focused on workplace mental health, leadership vulnerability, and the often-overlooked emotional dimensions of working in parking.
These sessions encouraged attendees to step away from presentations and instead engage in small-group discussions about the day-to-day realities of their work. For some, especially younger or newer professionals, the approach seemed to foster greater inclusion.
“What really stood out to me was PIE’s demonstration from leadership down of their new message that parking people are people first,” said Joe Suri, the director of business development and strategy for Square Parking. “There was not once I felt ‘left out’ or that I wasn’t part of the industry.”
Creating more opportunities for connection
In addition to its community focus, PIE25 sought to foster connection among attendees. A speed networking session enabled participants to engage in rapid, face-to-face introductions, while the Dinner Club initiative matched small groups of attendees with sponsoring vendors for informal evening meals.
“There were a lot of just really unique and fun ways that I think PIE helped bring people together,” said Heidi Barber, the vice of president of marketing for Parker Technology. “Dinner Club I thought was such a great idea and was an awesome opportunity for us to get in front of a multitude of different prospects, customers, and partners.”
More casual networking options were also available. A pickleball tournament and Casino Night were among the social offerings, designed to encourage interaction in less structured settings.
Attendees generally responded positively to the variety of connection points. “The mix of industry insights, structured programming, and spontaneous hallway conversations made it one of the most rewarding events I’ve attended,” said Carmelo Mannino, the CEO of Park Guard, Inc.
Exhibitors also noted the benefits of attending PIE. “Attending PIE2025 as an exhibitor was a very valuable experience,” said Michelle Jackson, the central region manager for Spot Hero. “The show offered a multitude of platforms and events for my team and me to connect with parking professionals from across the country, share our latest innovations, and engage in meaningful conversations about the future of parking technology and operations.”
Rachel Wheeler, the director of marketing for SpotGenius, noted the advantages of the event’s scale. “Access to a smaller, dedicated audience allows for greater face-to-face time with less competition for attendee attention. This fosters real connections, conversations, opportunities, and relationships,” she said.
Steve Gorski, the vice president of Portier USA, agreed. “The networking was fantastic,” he said.
Curated content with a practical focus
The educational sessions at PIE25 aimed to address timely industry concerns while avoiding overt commercial messaging. Sector-specific tracks were offered for municipalities, airports, universities, and private operators. Topic-based sessions explored themes such as artificial intelligence (AI), data interpretation, and emerging parking standards.
“The education sessions were excellent,” said Isaiah Mouw, the host of “The Parking Podcast.” “Parking Today Media clearly has its finger on the pulse of the industry. The session tracks reflected that with timely, relevant topics and knowledgeable, engaging speakers.”
Yu Kitamura, the senior business development manager for Sony Electronics, Inc., who presented a session on Vision AI, observed strong engagement from attendees. “Participants of the session were very active to ask questions and have discussion,” he said. “I’m very pleased to share my technical knowledge with them to develop the innovation together.”
Eric Nelson of Walker Consultants characterized PIE as a valuable setting for dialogue: “PIE continues to be a great forum for networking, discussion, and meeting like-minded professionals.”
Experimenting with new formats
PIE25 also featured several pilot initiatives that deviated from the standard conference playbook. Podcast Row, a live setup for Parking Today Media’s podcast network, enabled attendees to watch interviews and discussions as they were recorded. It proved to be a lively addition to the show floor.
“Podcast Row added a fresh, interactive element,” Gorski said.
Another new feature was ParkFlix, a short film showcase highlighting stories about parking professionals. The festival format offered a more creative and reflective take on the industry’s culture and gave space to voices not typically featured on stage or in print.
As with past PIE events, the expo hall remained a focal point for product demonstrations and solution showcases. A broad range of technologies — from smart parking platforms to license plate recognition systems and mobile payment solutions — were on display, with opportunities for attendees to explore new offerings and speak directly with vendors.
Mannino, who hosted a session on airport parking and also served as a first-time sponsor, noted the value of the format: “The sponsorship generated meaningful conversations and genuine curiosity about what we’re building,” he said. “It gave our brand early exposure that’s hard to replicate.”
Looking toward Dallas and PIE26
Overall, PIE25 struck a balance between maintaining familiar structures and introducing new approaches, Barber noted. “I really appreciate the approach to it and kind of freshening it up and having a new take on how to look at conferences and how to create the experience,” she said.
Next year’s Parking Industry Expo is scheduled for March 30 through April 2, 2026, at the Hilton Anatole Hotel and Conference Center in Dallas, Texas. Organizers plan to build on the momentum from Schaumburg, continuing to refine programming and engagement opportunities.
“We learned a lot from PIE25: what resonated with attendees, what can be improved, and where there’s room to grow,” Uhlenhaker said. “That feedback is helping shape PIE26, which we expect to be even stronger in terms of content, community, and experience.”
PIE26 will provide attendees with access to relevant industry discussions, peer-to-peer learning, and updates on emerging technologies and practices. For sponsors, the event offers a setting to engage with practitioners across sectors and understand the evolving needs of the parking and mobility field.
For those considering attendance or sponsorship, PIE26 offers a chance to be part of an evolving conversation about what a modern parking conference can — and should — be.
JAY LANDERS is the editor-in-chief of Parking Today. He can be reached at [email protected].
