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PIE — An “Unbiased” View — My thoughts as a guest PIE show blogger…


I’ve been in the parking biz for many years, but I have to admit it’s been a while since I’ve attended a Parking Industry Exhibition show. Not that I was opposed, but I just don’t attend many trade shows every year. But I had a major lighting/energy efficiency


project underway that gained some interest. Word got to John Van Horn, and JVH got to me to request that I write an article for Parking Today. Then it became an idea and presentation at PIE 2012 in mid-March. I’d have to say that I’ve been somewhat cynical over the years whether our industry really needs all the major trade shows, along with the regionals and states. After several days at PIE 2012, I say yes. Each trade show serves a different, if not overlapping market. As long as parking professionals are provided opportunities for great training and a well-represented trade show, then why not – the more the merrier.


It also doesn’t hurt that PIE this year raised the


bar by offering gifts – a Nook e-reader loaded with presentations. They were in high demand. Per one vendor I spoke with: “I had to promise to give my Nook to a customer who didn’t even attend.” Can’t get a better testimonial than that. Kudos for the idea and to the major sponsors who stepped up to the plate on this one.


The trade show itself was wall-to-wall with attendees for three days straight. Most vendors always had someone at their


booths. One consultant told me that PIE is known as an “equipment vendor show.” Not sure if that is true, but consultants were hard to find on display. Complaints heard? Not many because the vendors


are usually the complainers and almost all seemed to be very happy. They liked the intimacy that the show provided them. Only some grumblings about the need for – free – coffee at early-morning seminars and their not having enough time to make the trip to downtown Chicago to see the sights in a record- setting high-temperature week. Not bad problems to have – that attendees couldn’t get away from the topnotch PIE presentations. Highlights? Well, for me, it was refereeing “verbal bars” at my presentation, and being a very lucky one to win a flat-screen TV! (I’m just hoping the presentations are not loaded to play on a continuous loop like the Nook!) Great job to JVH, Andy Van Horn and the rest of the friendly CA and AZ PIE/Parking Today staff.


Larry J. Cohen, CAPP Executive Director, Lancaster Parking Authority More pictures on Page 24, 26 and 27 PIE: The attendees and exhibitors networked over cocktails. PIE: Booths are more intimate. PIE: The seminars opened with a team presenting parking basics at “bootcamp.”


PIE: The exhibits tend to inspire one-on-one in-depth conversations.


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