National Parking Association Kicks Off 61st Annual Convention & Expo with "Smart Cities" Keynote, Top Industry Leaders

Parking Industry Leaders, Experts, and Vendors Gather in Hollywood, Fla.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Parking Association kicked off its 61^st Annual Convention & Expo, Tuesday, Oct. 16, with high-level parking industry and business experts discussing the latest technology, innovations and industry best practices.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121017/DC95147)

Rich Varos, Worldwide Director of Smarter Cities Solution Sales for IBM, delivered the keynote address. Varos focused on how IBM is helping cities exploit available data to deliver better services to citizens. By doing this, the company helps cities become "smarter" by leveraging information to make better decisions, anticipate problems to resolve them proactively, and coordinate resources to operate effectively.

Following Varos, research expert Dale Denda of the Parking Market Research Company, delivered a 2013 economic forecast covering trends, demographics, real estate and parking demand.

Denda explained how understanding population, consumer, commercial real estate and construction trends in both the public and private sectors provide valuable insight that can help steer strategic planning and anticipate demand trends.

On Wednesday, Oct. 17, at 10 a.m., parking industry veteran Alan Lazowski, founder and CEO of Hartford, Conn.,-based LAZ Parking, was interviewed during the Harwood CEO Leadership Forum. Lazowski was interviewed by Bruce Frankel, journalist and New York Times best-selling author.

LAZ, founded by three friends in 1981, is now the fastest growing parking company in the U.S. Lazowski will discuss fast expansion, focused strategy and getting ahead in a competitive marketplace.

Other educational sessions offered during the Convention include panels on Smart Cities, Smart Technology and Smart Vehicles.

NPA's 2012 Convention concludes Thursday, Oct. 18, with the 2012 National Valet Olympics, a team competition showcasing professional skill, teamwork and service with the country's best valets.

About NPA: About NPA: The National Parking Association is the nation's leading parking trade group advancing the interests of the private and public sector in parking technology, sustainable mobility, certification, advocacy, research and education. Founded in 1951, NPA has more than 800 member firms, 2,500 members and represents all facets of the parking industry. Online at www.npapark.org.

National Parking Association
1112 16th Street NW, Suite 840
Washington, DC 20036
www.npapark.org

Contact: Lawrence McFadden
202-296-4336
[email protected]

SOURCE National Parking Association

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