Harder Than It Looks: Parking Uncovered

In this episode of 'Harder Than it Looks: Parking Uncovered', our host, Brian Wolff, CEO of Parker Technology, dives into the transformative journeys of two servant leaders. 

Alejandra 'Alex' Argudin, MBA, CAPP, discusses her rise from a young city worker to leading Miami Parking Authority as the CEO, as well as becoming Chair of IPMI, tackling challenges like the pandemic, advancing parking technology, and being a woman in a male-dominated industry.

We then speak with Barby Valdes McDaniel, Associate Director of the WOW Center, who brings her 30-year career to light, advocating for adults with special needs.

In segment one, Alex Argudin emphasized her leadership philosophy of empowering her team and promoting collaboration between the parking industry and urban planning sectors. As the new chair of the International Parking and Mobility Institute (IPMI), Alex aims to drive legislative changes and technology advancements in parking, all while remaining committed to community service.

In segment two, we sit down with Barby Valdes McDaniel, who shares her lifelong dedication to serving adults with special needs, inspired by her early experiences. She detailed her impactful work at the WOW Center, providing life skills, community education, and employment opportunities for individuals with special needs, as well as the importance of family support.

To learn more about and/or contribute to Barby and Alex’s work with the WOW center, visit their website https://wowcentermiami.org/

Here are some key takeaways from this episode:
  • Empathy and Leadership in the Parking Industry
  • Smart Cities & Legislation
  • The Power of Personal Connection and Community Support
  • Serving the Special Needs Community

Be sure to check out these great clips from Segment 1 with Alex Argudin:

00:21 Meet Alejandra “Alex” Argudin
02:02 Alex's Early Career Journey
04:28 Transition to the Parking Industry
07:31 Challenges and Growth in the MPA
11:43 Leadership and Modern Management
12:43 Innovations and Future Plans
20:11 Expanding Services and Partnerships
32:00 Smart Cities and Technological Advancements
34:43 The Curb and EV Challenges
35:40 Micro Freight Solutions
39:10 Legislation and Policy Hurdles
40:41 Smart City Initiatives
44:30 WOW Center: Supporting Adults with Disabilities
49:54 Balancing Work and Family
52:10 Lightning Round: Personal Insights

Segment 2 with Barby Valdes McDaniel:
01:05:06 The Beginning of a Powerful Partnership
01:09:19 A Life-Changing Experience
01:13:45 Daily Operations at the WOW Center
01:19:49 The Impact of Special Needs Individuals
01:21:51 Personal Stories and Inspirations
01:25:30 The Hospice Detour
01:29:32 Supporting Special Needs Families
01:33:50 How to Get Involved with the WOW Center
01:37:24 Final Thoughts and Farewell

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Connect with Parker Technology.
While delivering an excellent customer experience is indeed harder than it looks, we’re the experts. It’s all we do, every day, and we’re darn good at it. If you’d like to learn more about how we make managing the parking experience look easy, visit our website at www.parkertechnology.com, or shoot a note to getstarted@parkertechnology.com

What is Harder Than It Looks: Parking Uncovered?

We as parking professionals know that parking is hard. However, we make it look easy to those from the outside looking in. The myriad technologies, processes and people that a parking operator has to wrangle on any given day is mind-numbing, and every parking facility is unique. While certain verticals share similar pain points, we know better than many how nuanced every operation can be.


We created this podcast to facilitate connections and illuminate solutions to common problems within the parking and mobility industry. We aim to do so by highlighting the voices of experts in the space, discussing trends and forward-looking technological innovations, and providing professional food for thought. All in an effort to help one another get better at what we know is harder than it looks…parking a car.