In this episode of Harder Than It Looks, host Brian Wolff sits down with Kevin Uhlenhaker, CEO & Publisher of Parking Today Media.

Kevin shares insight from his first year as the CEO & Publisher of Parking Today Media, including the innovations made to PIE 2026. PIE 2026 is held in Dallas, Texas, from March 30th- April 2nd. Kevin and Brian discuss the challenges associated with taking over an established media publication, and how Kevin’s idea of honoring legends of the parking industry will create a legacy for years to come.

Kevin isn’t afraid to admit that his journey with Parking Today Media has been an uphill battle. However, his grit and determination have fueled the many successes Parking Today Media has enjoyed over the past two years. Tune in to learn more about the Kevin’s leadership mindset, and the can’t miss action that will take place at PIE 2026.

Additionally, listeners of Harder Than It Looks can use the code HTIL100 to get 100% off a standard registration for PIE 2026.

Key Takeaways

1. Success takes time
   Although Kevin is experienced in the industry, Parking Today Media still experienced challenges and growing pains.
2. A notable shift in a legendary tradeshow
   PIE 2026 will be held in Dallas, Texas, this year. It will feature many new characteristics while still honoring the legacy that PIE has.
3. Staying impartial as a media company
   Parking Today Media works hard to be purely informative in its copy and deliverables, focusing on giving parking professionals a reliable source of news.
4. Trusting team members
   Kevin acknowledges the hard and diligent work of his team and how bringing on key personnel has improved team dynamics and Parking Today Media output.

Episode Highlights

[00:00:00] Brian introduces Kevin Uhlenhaker and reflects on his first full year leading Parking Today during its 30th anniversary milestone.

[00:01:31] Kevin admits, “It really has been harder than it looks,” describing the steep learning curve of running a media company.

[00:04:00] The surprising reach and personal impact of Parking Today across industry careers.

[00:05:00] Reframing parking for outsiders: worst parking experience vs. best parking experience.

[00:09:00] The weight of visibility: why leading Parking Today carries higher stakes than past ventures.

[00:10:00] Responsibility of independence—tackling hard industry conversations.

[00:18:00] Leadership lessons: making hard decisions, evolving skill sets, and understanding industry nuance.

[00:21:00] Modernizing Parking Today while honoring its legacy—new editor, tech stack overhaul, and integration of ParkNews.

[00:27:00] Why Dallas? Accessibility, neutrality, affordability, and thoughtful event design.

[00:31:00] New PI content structure—segment-focused tracks and curated industry-wide topics.

[00:37:00] What success looks like for PI 2026: feeling welcome, connected, and among “parking family.”

[00:41:00] How Hall of Fame inductees are selected—rubric, independence, and impact.

[00:49:00] Startup mode: why there’s little spare time during this reinvention phase.

[00:52:00] What Kevin is most proud of—his family’s support and shared sacrifice behind Parking Today.

[00:54:00] Special offer: PI 2026 promo code (HTIL100) for Harder Than It Looks listeners.

Notable Quotes

“Some of the strengths that allow you to lead at one stage become the weaknesses at the next”– Kevin Uhlenhaker

“We’re not on anyone’s side. We’re on everyone’s side – Kevin Uhlenhaker

“We want PIE to be something you experience because you’re there – Kevin Uhlenhaker

About the Guest

Kevin Uhlenhaker is the CEO & Publisher of Parking Today Media. He brings 25+ years experience in the parking industry to the table. An accomplished entrepreneur, Kevin has co-founded and led multiple parking technology companies through inception to acquisition. He has been the CEO & Publisher of Parking Today Media for two years, taking the company, and the Parking Industry Expo (PIE) to new levels.

In this episode of Harder Than It Looks: Parking Uncovered, host Brian Wolff sits down with Maggie Vercoe, COO of TEZ Technology and a 30-year veteran of the parking industry.

From starting in a parking booth at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee to helping build T2 Systems during its high-growth years - and now leading professional services, support, account management, and marketing at TEZ - Maggie shares the leadership lessons that shaped her journey.

This conversation dives deep into adaptive leadership, managing complex implementations, staying calm in conflict, and why collaboration isn’t just a buzzword - it’s a survival skill in parking.

Key Takeaways from this Episode:

Adaptive Leadership Is Non-Negotiable:
There’s no such thing as one leadership style. The best leaders flex between servant, democratic, transformational, transactional, and even autocratic styles depending on the situation and the people involved.

Collaboration Drives Culture:
Maggie believes collaboration is the engine behind high-performing teams. Breaking down silos - especially between client-facing departments - is essential for delivering exceptional customer experiences.

Complex Projects Require Grit and Structure:
Successful implementations hinge on change management, clear expectations, strong project ownership, and customer buy-in. Without those, even the best technology can struggle.

Calm Is a Leadership Superpower:
From handling parking ticket appeals to managing executive-level conflict, Maggie shares why staying centered under pressure often determines the outcome.

Parking Is Bigger Than People Think:
Over three decades, Maggie has seen the industry evolve from hanging meters and coin payments to mobile apps and AI-driven systems - and she believes the next wave of innovation will further transform the customer experience.

Episode Highlights:

[00:00:00] Meet Maggie Vercoe – COO of TEZ Technology and 30-year parking veteran
[00:02:00] From parking booth to T2 Systems: the unexpected career path
[00:04:00] Building culture at T2 – what made it special
[00:06:30] Why “being present” is the secret ingredient of leadership
[00:11:00] Handling conflict at the counter – lessons in staying calm
[00:14:00] Adaptive leadership: the six styles every leader should know
[00:19:00] Managing client-facing departments without silos
[00:23:00] Why Maggie loves complex implementations
[00:24:45] The biggest mistakes organizations make during major rollouts
[00:28:30] Women in Parking, Allyship, and industry leadership
[00:33:00] Technology trends – AI, mobile, and the evolution of customer experience
[00:35:00] What’s new at TEZ – platform upgrades and a major valet innovation at DFW
[00:39:00] Lightning Round – collaboration, brisket, and eliminating parking meters

Notable Quotes:

“If you have one leadership style, you’re probably not a very good leader.”

“You almost want to be ignored in parking. If you’re being ignored, it means you’re doing a good job.”

“You have to be comfortable in the uncomfortable to get to what’s on the other side.”

About Maggie Vercoe:

Maggie Vercoe is the Chief Operating Officer at TEZ Technology, where she oversees professional services, support, account management, and marketing. With over 30 years in the parking and mobility industry, Maggie began her career at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee before joining T2 Systems in 1999, where she helped shape customer experience and organizational growth during a pivotal era in parking technology.

Maggie is actively involved in industry leadership initiatives, including IPMI’s Allyship Committee, Women in Parking, Women in Technology, and the National Parking Association Board of Directors.

Connect with Parker Technology:

Delivering exceptional customer experiences is what we do best. Learn more at www.parkertechnology.com or email us at getstarted@parkertechnology.com.

In this episode of Harder Than It Looks, host Brian Wolff sits down with Susan Cole, Founder & CEO of Cole Ticket Solutions (CTS) – a woman-owned business reshaping consumables, automation, and supply chain efficiency across the parking industry.

One night at 3 a.m., overwhelmed and searching for answers, Susan pressed play on an episode of this podcast featuring SBA lending expert Sue Malone. What she heard changed everything. That moment set her on a path to secure SBA funding, grow CTS, and redefine what’s possible in credentialing and consumables for airports, municipalities, universities, manufacturers, and operators nationwide.

Her story is one of grit, reinvention, technical ingenuity, and unwavering resilience. From her early career in Spain to building CTS during the pandemic to pioneering Cole Cube – an automated on-site supply solution – Susan takes us inside the innovations and mindset that fuel her success.

Key Takeaways

1. A single moment can change the trajectory of a business.
   Susan’s 3 a.m. discovery of Sue Malone sparked the SBA funding journey that kept CTS alive and growing.
2. Consumables aren’t commodities – they’re a service.
   Susan explains how CTS reframes tickets and credentials as an ongoing service model, not a one-off product.
3. Innovation is born from necessity.
   Cole Cube, her automated on-site ticket supply room, was created to solve supply chain chaos during the pandemic.
4. Relationships built over decades matter.
   Susan credits much of CTS’s early success to the trust she developed throughout her 20 years in parking.
5. Persistence and patience are powerful business tools.
   Her path through fear, self-doubt, and uncertainty shows what happens when you refuse to give up.

Episode Highlights

[00:00:21] Brian opens with the story of how Susan found the Sue Malone episode in the middle of the night.
[01:31] Susan begins her story – from Spain to software to an unexpected entry into parking.
[02:27] How a headhunter, a misspelled “Azusa,” and a manufacturer changed her career path.
[06:11] Building 20 years of relationships across airports, municipalities, and operators.
[07:42] The 2019 company sale and early pandemic layoffs.
[09:21] Becoming a full-time homeschool teacher while job hunting in a frozen market.
[10:01–12:16] The decision to take control and start CTS during the pandemic.
[12:16–17:40] The 3 a.m. night, the Harder Than It Looks episode, and connecting with Sue Malone.
[18:56] The emotional weight of the SBA approval and what it unlocked.
[21:50–23:03] Supplying the Embarcadero garages and SFMTA’s 21 San Francisco locations.
[25:34] Signs of life for CTS during the pandemic: airports, hospitals, and essential services.
[27:19] Why CTS is different – consumables as a managed service.
[29:53] Cole Cube: the automated, on-site ticket supply room.
[33:10–35:13] How Cole Cube was conceived by examining empty server rooms in garages.
[35:45] What’s next: an LA-based Cole Cube, robotics, and credentialing technology.
[37:40] Why small business partnerships matter in the industry.
[39:29] What experience has taught her about solving big problems.
[42:02–49:30] Lightning round: favorite phrases, hardest moments, proudest achievements.

Notable Quotes

“I wasn’t sleeping. I couldn’t get funding. But I wasn’t giving up. I’ve never given up.” – Susan Cole

“You can’t just deliver a product. There has to be a service behind it.” – Susan Cole

“There are many roads to Rome - you just have to stick to one and keep going.” – Susan Cole

About the Guest

Susan Cole is the Founder & CEO of Cole Ticket Solutions (CTS), a woman-owned, ACDBE-certified business providing tickets, credentials, and consumables for airports, municipalities, operators, manufacturers, and transportation systems across North America.

With 20+ years in the parking industry and deep experience in supply chain, credentialing, and automation, Susan is known for pushing boundaries - from launching CTS during the pandemic to creating the innovative Cole Cube supply model in San Francisco and Los Angeles.

In this episode, host Brian Wolff sits down with Jeff Siegler, author, urbanist, and founder of Revitalize or Die, for a candid conversation about civic pride, apathy, and how an overemphasis on parking might actually be holding our communities back.

Jeff brings a unique perspective - challenging the idea that “more parking” equals “more progress.” He shares lessons from two decades helping towns revitalize, the emotional roots of civic decline, and why action is the antidote to apathy.

The discussion touches on leadership, walkability, car culture, and how the health of a place directly impacts the health of its people. Whether you agree or disagree, this episode will make you rethink what really makes a city thrive.

Key Takeaways:

• Apathy, not infrastructure, is often the real cause of civic decline.
• Parking is a utility, not a destination. Cities thrive when they build for people first, not cars.
• “Raise your standards” - better places begin with higher expectations from leaders and residents alike.
• Action cures apathy. Real progress starts with simple, visible change - planting flowers, picking up trash, cleaning sidewalks.
• Good design is good health. Where we live shapes our physical and mental well-being more than we realize.

Main Topics & Timestamps:

[3:30] Jeff's background growing up in a struggling rust belt town

[8:45] Career path from Main Street director to revitalization consultant

[12:20] Signs of community health vs. decline

[16:15] Root causes: Apathy vs. technical problems

[22:30] Breaking through apathy with small actions

[28:45] The problem with obsessing over parking

[35:20] Why great places don't need abundant parking

[42:10] How cities should think about parking as a utility

[48:30] New urbanism and walkable communities

[52:15] Community transformation success stories

[58:40] Design principles for parking in cities

[64:20] What separates progressing vs. stuck communities

[68:30] Hope for the future of towns and cities

About Jeff Siegler:

Jeff Siegler is an urbanist author and founder of Revitalize or Die; a consulting firm focused on helping revitalize struggling towns and cities. Jeff has been working in revitalization for the past two decades, including time serving as a Main Street as well as a statewide Main Street coordinator. He is also an elected commissioner in Pennsylvania, serving Pittsburgh proper. Jeff published his first book, “Your City is Sick” in 2023.

In this episode of Harder Than It Looks, host Brian Wolff is joined by Dave Mueller, President of Parking Concepts Inc. (PCI), and Rafael Abanilla, Senior Vice President of Operations and Innovation at PCI.

These industry veterans share insights on leadership, technology integration, and maintaining company culture in the evolving parking industry.

Key Takeaways:

1. Technology should enhance, not replace human service

2. Consistency in leadership builds trust and predictability

3. An agnostic technology approach provides flexibility to adopt best solutions

4. Front-line experience shapes better leadership decisions

5. Preserving company culture during growth requires intentional effort

Episode Highlights:

[00:00:00] Introduction and guest backgrounds

[00:03:06] Dave's career journey from car rental to parking

[00:08:28] Rafael's parking career beginning at age 17

[00:12:00] Leadership lessons from customer service industries

[00:20:00] PCI's "AI plus human touch" philosophy explained

[00:27:00] Overview of PCI's Breeze technology platform

[00:36:00] Leadership principles and managing change

[00:41:00] Next generation leadership requirements in parking

[00:47:00] Lightning round of personal questions

[01:00:00] What Dave and Rafael are most proud of professionally

About our Guests:

Dave Mueller is President of Parking Concepts Inc. (PCI), bringing over 40 years of experience in the car rental and parking industries. He joined PCI in 2006 and has been instrumental in the company's growth and cultural preservation.

Rafael Abanilla is Senior Vice President of Operations and Innovation at PCI, with 25 years of experience in parking and mobility. He oversees high-profile portfolios and drives PCI's innovation strategy through their proprietary Breeze technology suite.

In this episode of Harder Than It Looks, host Brian Wolff is joined by Dean Ahmad, Vice President of Parking and Transportation at Dallas-Fort Worth Airport (DFW).

Dean shares his remarkable journey from entrepreneurial beginnings to leading a team of over 300 employees at one of the busiest airports in the world. Dean offers insights on building organizational culture, driving innovation, and developing employees. His people-first leadership approach has resulted in the highest engagement scores at DFW, despite overseeing some of the lowest-paid frontline workers.

Key Takeaways:

1. Hire for heart first, skills second

2. Build strong cross-functional relationships before you need them

3. Empower employees through voluntary engagement teams and peer recognition

4. Implement one-on-one development conversations at all levels

5. Align innovation with both customer experience and employee focus

Episode Highlights:

[00:00:00] Introduction and Dean Ahmad's background

[00:02:49] Dean's entrepreneurial beginnings in antiques and furniture

[00:08:00] Career transition to airport parking industry

[00:14:00] Leadership philosophy and importance of relationships

[00:19:00] Organizational alignment strategies and town halls

[00:25:00] Hiring philosophy and employee development approach

[00:28:00] Implementation of frontline development plans

[00:33:00] Employee engagement programs and Emmy Awards

[00:39:00] Innovation approach and cashless implementation

[00:43:00] Lightning round questions

[00:47:00] Dean's vision for improving public perception of parking

[00:52:00] What Dean is most proud of in his career

About Dean Ahmad:

Dean Ahmad is the Vice President of Parking and Transportation at Dallas-Fort Worth Airport (DFW). With over 27 years of experience in customer service and marketing, Dean leads a team of 300+ employees, overseeing strategic direction and customer service efforts within the airport. His accomplishments include implementing the first yield management system in a US airport and creating the world's largest valet parking operation.

In this episode of Harder Than It Looks, host Brian Wolff sits down with Gabe Mendez, PTMP - Director of Transportation Operations at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Gabe brings over two decades of experience in the parking and transportation industries. Gabe shares insights from his time in commercial parking operations to leading transportation services at one of America's largest universities. He offers a candid look at the challenges and opportunities facing parking professionals today, from event management to embracing new technologies.

Key Takeaways:

1. Leadership in parking requires taking responsibility for team failures while celebrating collective successes

2. Customer experience should drive operations, not the other way around

3. Effective event parking management requires equal focus on ingress and egress

4. The role of parking directors is evolving to include multimodal mobility, real estate management, and broader business operations

5. Hiring practices in the industry need modernization to attract and retain talent

Episode Highlights:

[00:00:00] Introduction and Gabe's background

[00:03:33] Gabe's career journey starting in 2001

[00:08:00] Transition from Arizona State to UW Madison

[00:15:30] Early leadership challenges and lessons learned

[00:20:00] Overview of UW Madison parking operations

[00:28:00] Event parking strategies and innovations

[00:34:00] Balancing operational efficiency with customer experience

[00:36:00] Universities' role in smart mobility technology adoption

[00:39:00] Industry challenges: succession planning and hiring

[00:43:00] The future of parking director roles

[00:47:00] Lightning round questions

About Gabe Mendez:

Gabe Mendez, PTMP, has served as the Director of Transportation Operations at the University of Wisconsin-Madison since August 2020. With a career spanning over two decades in the parking, transportation, and mobility industry, Gabe brings experience from commercial, municipal, and academic sectors. He is an active member of several professional organizations including the International Parking and Mobility Institute (IPMI) where he serves on the board of directors.

In this episode of Harder Than It Looks Parking Uncovered, host Brian Wolff sits down with Bob Murray, CTO at CampusParc, and James Paden, Chief Product Officer at Parker Technology. These tech veterans share their experiences transitioning into the parking industry and offer insights on how outside expertise is driving innovation in parking operations.

Bob and James discuss the challenges of integrating modern technology into legacy parking systems, the potential of AI in improving customer service, and why pairing tech innovators with parking industry veterans is crucial for success. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone interested in the future of parking technology and operations.

Key Takeaways:

1. Pairing outside tech talent with parking industry veterans is essential for successful innovation

2. The parking industry still relies on outdated technologies, creating challenges for modernization

3. AI implementation should be problem-focused, not just adopted for the sake of being trendy

4. Integration between parking vendors remains a significant challenge due to incompatible systems

5. Data quality and governance are critical for successful AI implementation in parking operations

Episode Highlights:

[00:00:00] Introduction and guest backgrounds

[00:03:41] The importance of pairing outside talent with parking expertise

[00:04:10] Technology gaps and legacy systems in parking

[00:06:22] Integration challenges between parking vendors

[00:13:00] Managing gaps between parking solutions

[00:18:05] AI implementation philosophy and strategies

[00:20:00] Ohio State's complex parking system as an AI use case

[00:24:00] James's AI experimentation and platform changes

[00:27:42] Business cases for AI in parking operations

[00:35:28] Optimism about parking technology's future

"If you're the parking person, get the non-parking person. If you're the non-parking person, think about getting a parking person. Really that combination can help us grow." - Bob Murray

For more information, visit www.parkertechnology.com