By Erin Thomas, Dixon Resources Unlimited

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On June 14th through June 17th, I attended my first IPMI. For those who have never been to a parking conference, the whole experience felt slightly like Disneyland for the parking industry, with learning sessions, a massive exhibit hall, and networking around every corner. Before arriving, I had a real question: is it actually worth it? A booth alone costs thousands of dollars, and that's before you factor in the free swag, travel, and time. With DIXON, I got my answer. For most companies, the investment is absolutely worth it.

The information sessions delivered on enforcement strategies, HR best practices, and agency needs, with something useful at every turn. But the true value, at least for me, was the people. At the enforcement shoptalk, I heard firsthand how certain technologies and "best practices" have fallen short for frontline workers. At the expo hall, I spoke with vendors and industry veterans about how they're evolving to close those gaps. At the industry sessions, I listened to municipalities, companies, and agencies share how they're tackling the problems that never make headlines.

Parking is not necessarily a field most people dream about, and it often flies under the radar. However, my time in this industry has taught me that parking touches everyone, everywhere, and because of that, the solutions to our problems come from the community. These conferences are where that community is cultivated. Old friends from across the country, competitors, and vendors all end up in the same room, catching up on what's changed, what's improved, and what still needs work. Being part of that isn't just personally rewarding; it's strategic. The more you show up, help others, and let others help you, the more grounded your role in this industry becomes.

My attendance at IPMI was made especially meaningful by the opportunity to speak alongside Peter MacDonald (DIXON), Sierra Moreland (Passport, Inc.), and Graham Rossmore (City of Los Angeles) for our presentation, "Beyond the Textbook: Fostering Next Gen Graduates into the Parking Industry." Our presentation focused on offering early professionals advice about transitioning into the parking industry, while also coaching supervisors on how to best support newcomers. As someone with minimal public speaking experience, the prospect felt beyond daunting. However, Sierra, Graham, Peter, and I spent months preparing and practicing together, and by the time we took the stage, the hard work showed. While the nerves were still very much present, our preparation allowed each of us to perform excellently, and we left the room feeling incredibly proud of one another.  

Working alongside Graham and Sierra was the greatest gift to come out of attending IPMI. Over the months of preparation, I grew to look forward to our meetings, which were filled with laughter and genuine connections over our shared experiences. My friendships with Graham and Sierra stand as a testament to how these conferences bring people together across the industry, creating bonds that extend well beyond the conference. As shown in the image above, our presentation was filled with familiar faces from Passport, DIXON, the City of Los Angeles, and many more, a reflection of the strong network and community that brought us together across the industry.

As someone early in my career and new to the industry, getting to attend and speak at IPMI gave me a chance to start building the kind of relationships I've watched others maintain for a decade. Whether it was making new friends at the Harley Davidson museum or meeting change makers at Mobility Pathfinders P.R.O.M., those moments reminded me that the real value of a conference often has nothing to do with a booth or a breakout session. It's about having people to call when you hit a wall, and contacts who show up for you when you can't figure out how to move forward on your own.

Thank you to IPMI for teaching me one of the most important career lessons there is, one that spans every industry: build your network. I hope to be back.