Best Approach to Acquiring Parking Tech + Drawbacks to the Traditional RFP

Testimonials on the best approach for acquiring parking technology and drawbacks using the traditional RFP process  

Finding the right technology for your parking operation can be a complicated business which includes securing funding and resources, writing the RFP, and vendor procurement. The Cities of Medford, MA, and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority share learnings on how to stay focused on what matters: finding a solution that is a true fit and ‘future-proofed’ as well as the importance of maintaining control and ownership over the technology while outsourcing the labor. Learn firsthand from our featured speakers how adopting a methodology to achieve long-term success can mean combining traditional approaches with alternatives such as cooperative purchasing.

Presenter: Faye Morrison, Parking Manager, City of Medford, MA

After 20 years working at the Secretary of States in public records, Faye took six months off and thought about the end of her working life as she approached retirement. Living in an area underserved transportation-wise, she knew something in the transportation space was for her. Faye served as an Ayer Selectman on the city’s behalf to numerous transportation and parking boards and took what she learned to her new job in Newton, MA. She was initially hired as a consultant for a traffic study they needed to perform; 30 days into the 90-day commitment, they offered her the position of parking manager, the first in the city of Newton’s history. After seven years in Newton, an opportunity came to Faye’s attention in the City of Medford; they were bringing their parking department in-house and leaving their third-party vendor. Faye knew that with her skills, she could be helpful. Faye applied for the job, and after a meeting with HR and the mayor in person, they made her an offer, and she accepted the position.

Presenter: James Olivieri, Enforcement Solutions Advisor, East Coast Operations, gtechna

James Olivieri joined gtechna in 2014 as the Sr. Enforcement Solutions Advisor. He retired from the Canadian Armed Forces after serving close to two decades. James retired as Sergeant in 2007, receiving the Canadian Service Medal for years served along with many qualifications from operations to leadership roles. He Spent 12 years as the Advisor for a tech company assisting and supporting police and government agencies deploying wireless encrypted data communications improving compliance and officer safety initiatives. He is involved in many strategic advisory roles during the implementation of parking and traffic enforcement technologies in cities such as Pittsburgh Parking Authority, Minneapolis, MN, Washington DC: Metropolitan Police, City of Sacramento, CA, and the City of Milwaukee, to name a few. He completed the Executive Development Course at McGill’s Desautels faculty of management in 2018. Finally, James celebrates 21 years of marriage, two children, ages 17 and 18, and a chocolate Labrador Lucy. James is an Avid outdoorsman and loves both fishing and hunting.

Presenter: Bruno Lopes, Director of Parking & Station Access, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA)

Bruno Lopes is the Director of Parking & Station Access at MBTA. In his role, Mr. Lopes designs, implements, operates and maintains infrastructure and services that encourage best-in-class multimodal connections to transit and operates 101 parking facilities across the region, generating significant annual revenues for the Authority. Mr. Lopes focuses on improving customer experience, ensuring accessibility to all riders, and deploying leading-edge technology solutions and partnerships to accomplish the agency’s mission. Mr. Lopes is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts Amherst and holds a degree in Political Science.

Presenter: Dan Seidl, Supplier Development Administrator, Sourcewell

Mr. Seidl has worked in the Cooperative Purchasing Division of Sourcewell for over 2 years. As a public employee working for one of the country’s premiere service cooperatives, he has specialized in managing several fleet and heavy equipment-related contracts in categories such as public utilities, public works, solid waste & recycling, and school buses. While managing contracts in these categories, he has enjoyed numerous opportunities to interact with Sourcewell members buying equipment from his contracts to hear from them about their successes and challenges. Today, Cooperative Purchasing is considered a “best practice” in public procurement. Sourcewell has been at the forefront of that business trend.