With the IPMI 2022 Parking & Mobility Conference & Expo upcoming July 24-27 in New Orleans (register now!), I was thinking about our recent conference in Tampa, and all the years before, plus all the state and regional conferences I have had the privilege of attending. Three things that I have always enjoyed and take away from the conferences and workshops are: 

1. learning from educational sessions.
2. networking time with my peers.
3. spending time on the tradeshow floor. 

The dozens of educational sessions include presentations on almost any topic in parking and transportation that you can imagine, from curb management to maintenance to micro-mobility, with a whole lot of technology sessions as well. Examination of case studies allows you to learn from those who have gone through a process that you may be considering taking on; get real-life advice and tips on what works best and what to avoid. Panel discussions with industry experts offer a chance to hear multiple viewpoints on subjects that are having significant impacts on our industry. 

While the learning is great, arguably my favorite part of conferences is the networking time and opportunities to talk to my peers and colleagues. Besides catching up with friends who I have got to know well over many years, I learn by having those informal discussions with people I respect and that have accomplished so much. I use these opportunities to ask questions I didn’t have time to in a session or to follow up on an email exchange I may have already had. One of the hallmarks of our industry is how generous people are with sharing their time and helping each other, the true friendships that evolve over time, and the swapping of stories that only someone in parking, transportation, and mobility could understand or even laugh at. My advice—take time to meet people, as you never know where a casual conversation one day in the hallway between sessions could lead to a lifetime of friendship and partnership.

Lastly, take time to peruse the tradeshow floor. I love visiting the booths of vendors I do business with or am considering, but I also love getting to meet new vendors, seeing new products and solutions. As I learn from vendors, I have also realized that vendors learn from us as the users, which leads to better products. Plus, there’s always a lot of swag to get. My house and office are littered with pens, cups, sunglasses, shirts, and all the other things from parking shows! 

Knowing that I have access to educational sessions, networking, and the tradeshow has kept me coming back to the IPMI Conference & Expo year after year. Whether this year is your first Conference or your 20^th, take full advantage of what the conference and IPMI has to offer. I look forward to seeing everyone in ‘Nawlins!

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