EP 11: Bridging the Lone Star State of Confusion in Parking Operations with Walt Gray & Celeste Ching

Today we talk to Walt Gray, Director of Parking and Transportation for George Bush Intercontinental Airport and Houston Hobby Airport, and Celeste Ching, founder and CEO of C Three Partners.

We start by diving into Walt’s journey through the transportation industry from Arabian Horses, to cars to parking. 

Walt recounts his journey from the automotive industry to parking management, detailing the challenges and successes he faced, including the evolution of parking technology and the implementation of automated systems to enhance customer experience. 

Additionally, Celeste Ching shares her experiences in the parking industry, the rewards of investing in employee training, and the personal side of balancing work with homeschooling her four children. 

Everything’s bigger in Texas… including the parking. 

Walt Gray manages over 39,000 spaces between Houston Hobby and George Bush Intercontinental Airports and he has the stories to match.

Throughout this episode, he discusses the difficulties of balancing limited parking resources and the emotional aspects of relocating employees for space optimization. The episode also touches on the complexities of parking management and people's misconceptions about the industry. 

For part two Celeste Ching joins us to talk about two things that are both harder than they look, starting a company and homeschooling 4 kids. 

She shares some incredible lessons she learned from her career in market research that she applies to both of her companies today. 

Here are some key takeaways from our conversation:

• Using technology to innovate on customer experience
• The security shift post 9/11
• Work-life and personal life are less of a balance and more of a blend

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

Houston Airports Passenger Records (00:02:13)

Walt Gray's Journey into Parking (00:03:48)

Impact of 9/11 on Parking Operations (00:13:53)

Walt Gray's Experience in Arabian Horse Business (00:17:05)

Technology in Parking Operations (00:21:21)

Automating Transaction Processing (00:21:36)

Customer Feedback and Lessons Learned (00:23:02)

Incorporating Advanced Technology (00:24:13)

Transition to Fully Automated Parking (00:25:20)

Security Measures and Homeland Security Regulations (00:29:06)

Scope of Parking Operations (00:30:40)

Limited Resources and Prioritization (00:37:22)

Fresh Eye Approach and Inspection (00:40:25)

Personal and Professional Challenges (00:41:16)

Moving Employees and Parking Equipment (00:44:28)

Complexity of Parking (00:46:27)

The Hardest Thing in Parking (00:48:21)

Transition to Professional Life (01:00:18)

The Startup Challenge (01:03:29)

Success Stories (01:04:15)

Understanding the Parking Industry (01:07:27)

Juggling Two Businesses (01:09:06)

Homeschooling and Parenting (01:11:09)

Teaching and Learning (01:12:49)

Parenting and Recognizing Strengths (01:14:36)

Recruiting and Coaching (01:19:13)

Pride in Leadership and Parenting (01:22:29)

Building and Training Teams (01:23:23)

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