International Parking Institute Launches New Online Training Courses to Help Staff Excel

Self-paced courses cover technological trends, customer service, conflict resolution, and other subjects key to industry professionalism and success

(FREDERICKSBURG, VA – September 17, 2013) Parking facility owners and managers have a new tool for educating new employees and keeping staffs abreast of changes in the fast-evolving parking industry: a growing series of online professional development courses that can be completed in as little as an hour each.

The International Parking Institute’s (IPI) online professional development courses are designed to help parking industry employees address the myriad situations, duties, and technology encountered on the job. The self-paced courses take only 60 to 90 minutes to complete and allow employees to start, stop, exit, and return at their own convenience. A certificate is awarded upon successful completion of a series of knowledge checks and a short quiz.

“IPI’s professional development seminars and certification programs have significantly increased the level of professionalism in the parking industry, but we knew there was a need for better basic training that did not involve the time, travel, or expense of in-person education for every staff member,” said IPI Executive Director Shawn Conrad, CAE. “With these short, affordable, online courses, we aim to reach a much bigger segment of the industry and equip them with invaluable skills and knowledge they can apply directly to the job.”

The courses are priced at $49 or $69 for IPI members and $69 to $89 for non-members. Each course remains available for six months after date of purchase. By special arrangement, organizations that wish to train their entire staffs can earn vouchers for free courses depending on volume.

The five courses currently available cover parking-industry basics, with additional courses available soon:
• Parking Enforcement (1.5 hours)
• Technology Trends in Parking (1 hour)
• Customer Service (1 hour)
• Conflict Resolution (1 hour)
• On-Street Parking Management (1.5 hours)

“The online courses are ideal for those who are new to parking, but are also invaluable for experienced employees who want to sharpen their skills in a certain area, such as conflict resolution,” added Kathleen Federici, IPI’s director of professional development. “We’ve pinpointed some of the toughest challenges facing our industry and outlined simple strategies for success. With minimal investment of money and employee time, organizations can revolutionize their approach and operations.”

According to Federici, courses that will be added soon include: Sustainability, Off-Street Parking Management, and an entry-level parking industry orientation.

To see detailed course descriptions, technical requirements and to register, visit www.parking.org/onlinecourses.

The International Parking Institute (IPI) is the world’s largest parking association representing parking professionals and the parking industry. www.parking.org.

Media contact
Helen Sullivan
sullivan@parking.org
703.847.9702