By Katherine Beaty

Every now and then, when I need a little inspiration, I tune into Bono’s radio station on Sirius. He does this thing I adore — fan letters. Simple, heartfelt notes to the people who’ve inspired him, from artists to activists to everyday heroes. They’re not slick or scripted; they’re honest and brimming with gratitude.

I remember the first time I heard one. I thought what a beautiful tradition, pausing to say thank you, to recognize the quiet work of others, to celebrate goodness. I knew that someday I wanted to do the same.

In honor of Bono’s tradition, here is my fan letter to you, the people in the parking industry who inspire me every day by the way you give back. 

Here’s the truth I’ve learned from watching all of you: In the giving, we gather.

Dear Parking People:

I’m a fan. Truly. Not just of the work you do day in and day out to keep cities moving, but of the way you show up when it matters most, outside of the meters, valet stands, shuttles, garages, pay stations, and enforcement routes.

I’ve seen you!

I see the ones who turn their free time into life-saving missions. I see you Sam and David, rehabbing wild creatures, giving a second chance to raptors and possums alike. These aren’t easy callings; they require long nights, patience, and compassion. Yet you do it, quietly, without fanfare, because you know it matters.

I see the leaders who roll up their sleeves at food banks, building boxes of hope for families who might not otherwise eat tonight. Some of you show up week after week, others during retreats or special events, but the effect is the same: neighbors nourished, dignity restored, and a message sent that our industry cares.

I see the companies who decide that an annual retreat isn’t just about team bonding, it’s about service. Instead of spending the day only on strategy or leisure, you give back by stocking shelves, cooking meals, building houses, and standing side by side with people who need support.

I’ve seen cities reimagine their role, too. Parking citations transformed into canned goods for hungry neighbors, turning a negative into a chance to give. Asphalt landscapes reborn as vegetable gardens, cultivated with the help of the unhoused, who then share in the harvest. Even better, those gardens also become the heart of community celebrations, block parties where everyone belongs.  

I’ve seen you collect coats in the cold months and toys in the holiday season, turning parking offices and garages into drop-off points where warmth and joy are passed from one neighbor to another.

I’ve seen you run. Literally run. Teams lacing up their sneakers for 5Ks in the name of heart health, breast cancer awareness, and other causes that save lives. I’ve seen fundraising drives for friends, family, children, and colleagues fighting illness, even terminal battles, proving that community isn’t just a word we put in brochures. It’s flesh and blood, sweat and tears, hope and healing.

I’ve seen you give back within our own community, too. At trade shows, local and national, there are always volunteers, those who show up early to stuff bags, run registration tables, guide people through crowded halls, indicate where to hail the event shuttle, and pick up the small jobs no one notices but everyone depends on. You give your time so that our gatherings run smoothly, and you do it with a smile. It’s a quiet generosity, but one that keeps the heart of our industry beating strong.

This is the stuff that makes me a fan.

Parking is often viewed through a negative lens. People think we’re only out to write tickets, or that we don’t take safety seriously, or that we care more about enforcement than about people. Too often, the work we do is seen as a burden, a penalty, a necessary evil. But I know better. 

These acts don’t make headlines. They don’t always show up on balance sheets. But they ripple through communities in ways that matter deeply. They build trust, inspire generosity, and remind the world that we are more than operators of lots and enforcers of rules. We are neighbors, partners, friends.

Thank you, to every operator, every CEO, every frontline worker, every municipality that makes compassion part of the business model. You are redefining what this industry means. You are showing that parking is about more than cars and spaces; it’s about people, and it has always been about people.

This November, in the season of gratitude, I write to say: I’m your fan and I am grateful for all of you. Always.

KATHERINE BEATY is the CEO and president of Beaty Solutions. She can be reached at [email protected].