On June 16, DIXON's Peter MacDonald and Erin Thomas, PECP, along with Sierra Moreland (Passport Labs, Inc.) and Graham Rossmore (City of Los Angeles DOT), presented "Beyond the Textbook: Fostering Next-Gen Graduates into the Parking Industry" at IPMI 2026 in Milwaukee, WI. We have a fantastic time reviewing the panelist's navigation through the transition from academic theory to real-world practice exploring exploring lessons learned about customer engagement, bureaucracy, collaboration with stakeholders, and managing unexpected challenges. The audience discovered the value of patience and persistence, and how mentorship shapes professional growth.