EP 10: Theater to Parking: Andrew Sachs' Unlikely Path to Industry Leadership

Andrew Sachs is not your typical parking industry professional. With a background that spans commercial real estate, venture capital investment, and digital media, Andrew brings a unique perspective to the table. 

As the owner of Harbor Park Garage and the founder of Gateway Parking Services, he has successfully connected the dots between providing excellent customer service and leveraging the power of search engine optimization (SEO) to enhance the parking experience.

Here are some key takeaways from our conversation:

• Business lessons learned from Andrew’s time in the regional theater. 
• Embracing change and innovation. Challenging the status quo. 
• Advice on painting a vision for your team. 

Be sure to check out these great clips from the show:

SEO and Connecting to the Community (00:09:35)

Andrew discusses the importance of search engine optimization (SEO) in connecting parking facilities to the community and the significance of positive reviews.

Community Connection (00:22:05)

The conversation shifts to the importance of connecting to the community and the significance of having a clear vision for success.

Attention to Details (00:23:11)

Andrew emphasizes the importance of paying attention to details in the parking business and other industries.

Communicating Vision (00:23:52)

The importance of communicating a clear and active vision for success in business is highlighted.

Creative Chaos (00:25:33)

The concept of creating creative chaos and incorporating fun and engagement in business interactions is discussed.

Problematic Partnerships (00:30:22)

We share experiences of dealing with difficult partners and the impact on business success.

Diverse Business Experiences (00:34:07)

The importance of diverse business experiences and the value of bringing different perspectives to the parking industry are explored.

Technology and Thought in Parking (00:37:41)

The discussion revolves around the evolving trends in parking technology, the shift towards AI, and the importance of integrating parking facilities with the surrounding community.

Adapting to Demographic Shifts (00:45:01)

Exploration of the impact of demographic changes on the parking industry and the need to consider future needs and relevance.

Challenges of Parking Operations (00:46:34)

The difficulties faced by parking operators in managing on-demand services and balancing current demands with future planning.

Evolving Roles in Parking (00:47:29)

The evolution of parking jobs, from basic tasks to complex responsibilities, and the need for support and training.

Customer Service in Parking (00:56:06)

The importance of customer service in the parking industry and the need for improvement.

Surviving and Adapting (00:58:25)

Andrew's pride in surviving, improvising, and adapting in life and business.

Challenges of Leadership (01:17:46)

Nate discusses the challenges of checking his ego and managing a team of coaches.

Painting a Vision (01:19:48)

We talk about the difficulty of inspiring a team to believe in a vision they have never seen before.

Leading by Example (01:24:35)

Highlights the coach's commitment to leading by example and building strong individuals in addition to great wrestlers.

The Value of Hard Work (01:27:36)

Discusses the importance of hard work, celebrating the process, and the reward of achieving difficult goals.

Balancing High Expectations and Fun (01:37:35)

Addresses the challenge of balancing high expectations with maintaining a fun and engaging environment for the wrestling team.

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.