The Keys to Innovation
Dr. Greg Hladik, Ph.D.
May 1, 2024
Innovation in parking and transportation
doesn’t always involve groundbreaking
Leadership Moment
The Impact of an Internship in the Parking Industry
stock.adobe.com / Trueffelpix
During my senior year in high school, I was told I needed to declare a major heading into college. I was 18 and had given the future little to no thought—I still wonder if it is fair to ask an 18-year-old what they want to do for their career! My guidance counselor and I worked through what I liked and what I was good at in school and of course math and science came to the top of the list. I was told I should be an engineer and that electrical engineers would be in high demand about the time I would be graduating. Knowing nothing about the field I was sold, and I started my college career as an electrical engineering major.
The next two years were a struggle, to say the least. Having taken my first circuit theory course at the end of my sophomore year, I realized electrical engineering was not for me. The summer between my sophomore and junior year was truly life-changing. Toward the end of the academic year, I found there was an opening for an internship at a local engineering firm, Walker Consultants. The company was located a short five-minute drive from my house, and it seemed better than delivering mail which was my job the previous two summers; at least it was an opportunity with an engineering firm. I applied and was offered the position. I had no understanding of the parking industry, what Walker Consultants really did, or the impact that opportunity would have on the rest of my life.
During my first summer, I was introduced to the parking industry with a focus on Walker’s structural engineering services. Eventually, I was introduced to other work performed by the firm including parking planning and restoration which expanded my interest even more. Working with professionals in the parking industry that summer was an incredibly rewarding experience and introduced me to a field I knew I truly enjoyed. Upon my return to school that fall, I changed my major to structural engineering. I continued as an intern with Walker the following two summers before returning for my final semester of school hoping that I had done enough to be offered a full-time position with the firm when I graduated. Thankfully, leadership in the firm gave me that opportunity.
Internships provide an amazing opportunity to shape the future of the individual, and the future of the parking industry.
As I reflect on the last 25 years, I’m humbled by the circumstances that led me to a career in the parking industry. When I talk to people about what I do, to this day many of them still say they never realized parking was “a thing”, let alone a thriving industry. When I think about why I chose this field and this career, my thoughts always come back to the leaders I met within the industry during that first summer. The people that would become career-long mentors were really the difference. Those leaders made every moment of my internship meaningful and allowed me to see every aspect of the business and the parking industry.
An internship can be truly impactful, and from personal experience, I am very much aware that as leaders in the parking industry, we must work towards making that happen—through our passion for the work and creating value for our clients and users. You cannot understand the industry or all the wonderful opportunities available unless you experience it and experience it with meaning. I’m proud of how the internship program at Walker has evolved over the years. What started as a program to groom future structural engineers has become a much broader outreach identifying opportunities for students interested in any aspect of what we do in the industry. The company has made it a goal that each one of our offices hosts at least one intern every summer, and many of our offices extend this opportunity to students throughout the academic year.
Walker’s approach to internships is very intentional, and students are paired with several mentors along the way. They are provided meaningful work and, regardless of their interest, are introduced to our full complement of services. When I think of the parking industry today, it amazes me how much it has evolved compared to what I was introduced to that first summer. I was taught that we needed parking and that we needed to design functional spaces for people to park. It’s now so much more. Now we introduce interns to sustainability, the impact of autonomous and electric vehicles, parking technology, mobility solutions, and the idea that simply providing more parking is often not the right or only solution.
Our leaders understand the impact they can have, and our main goal is to provide the teaching and guidance that allows individuals to make informed decisions about their future. If a future in the parking industry is not for them that’s ok, but at least they have had a meaningful experience and can make that decision knowing full well what the industry is about and its impact on our society.
Internships provide an amazing opportunity to shape the future of the individual and the future of the parking industry. I have no idea what I would be doing today if it were not for that first experience and finding something that truly suited me. It’s become an aspect of my personal mission and responsibility to support and educate our younger generations about the industry actively, provide guidance on the career opportunities available, and make sure there is sustainable talent to carry forward the great work we have all put in to make this industry so meaningful and rewarding. Most importantly, we should always remain mindful that a well-designed internship in the parking industry can be truly life-changing—it certainly was for me. ◆
David W. Ryan, PE, is President & CEO of Walker Consultants and a member of the IPMI Planning, Design, and Construction Committee.
