“Last year, I toured folks from Apple, Google and other major leading firms in that genre, and of that caliber, who are seeing PIE as a show to attend to learn more about parking and mobility. For example, Apple spent time with me walking the exhibit hall learning about real-time space availability technologies. These are folks we all want to be close to!”
Todd Tucker, VP at Parkwhiz, didn’t hold back when I asked him to tell me about his PIE experience. Not only did he give me the quote above, he provided the reasons to attend the 2019 edition of the Parking Industry Expo you see on these pages.
Todd was not alone in his praise for PIE. Kathleen Laney, CEO of Laney Solutions send in these words: “The PIE Show is on my schedule every year. It is a well-planned conference that is a great opportunity to reconnect with old friends, establish new professional relationships, and gain new insights. You’re up to speed with the industry within one week!”
This March we have planned most of the parking experiences you might expect if you have attended PIE before. However, we have also rearranged many of the events to give more time for personal networking. Our attendees have told us that the number one reason they attend PIE is to meet their colleagues and share their parking problems and experiences. Seminars are great, but networking gives you real world solutions.
“PIE is a show that no parking professional should miss. It’s the place to catch up on the latest parking industry trends, and to hear in advance about what new technologies and trends are on the horizon. It’s also where you go to make deals because there are so many excellent networking opportunities,“ agrees Bill Smith of Smith Phillips Strategic Communications.
Technology is on everyone’s lips for 2019. Bill makes his living writing about new technology and its successes and failures in our industry. He will be on the floor, with pad and pen, to get the latest stories about how this technology or that will change our industry. Beat him to the punch and hear about it all first hand, March 11-14 at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare adjacent to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.
Spot Hero’s Mark Lawrence added more to the info: “PIE was very impactful for us as we were able to forge new relationships with great people and solidify existing ones. It’s an amazing opportunity to really get to know the parking industry. We bring many new hires to this right out of the gate so they can jump in and understand the industry.”
Many organizations bring new staff members to PIE to give them a grounding in our industry. Not only through networking, but through myriad seminars covering topics from revenue control, enforcement, technology, and on and off street management. It’s a great place to start, and a great place to expand your knowledge.
“You should rename PIE to Apple-PIE! It’s America at its best: Great Tradeshow, Great Presentations, Great Food and Great People! I’m signed up already and who doesn’t want to go to Chicago anytime that they can?” Who else but PT Columnist and CEO of Eco Parking Lights, Jeff Pinyot, could compare PIE to America? He sets the bar pretty high, but rest assured we are striving to meet it.
On pages 51 to 69 in this edition of PT is the program for this year’s event. Get full details there and go on line and register.
JVH and the Staff of Parking Today Media.
PT
