Athens, Ga. – University of Georgia Parking Services was recently recognized for excellence by the International Parking Institute. Parking Services received an honorable mention for IPI Organization of the Year and LeAnne Fouche, a parking monitor in the North Campus Parking Deck, was recognized as IPI Staff Member of the Year.
The institute, comprised of thousands of parking organizations from universities, hospitals, municipalities and private enterprises, recognized award winners at its 2010 conference and expo held in Las Vegas in mid-May.
This is the second consecutive year UGA Parking Services has been runner-up in the best organization category. This year’s winner was the University of Kentucky.
Manager of Parking Services Don Walter said the award is for his organization’s “rapid improvement in customer service.
“We’re so proud to get this international honor,” said Walter, “We are committed to improving the parking experience at UGA, and this award is a nice tribute to all the hard work UGA Parking Services staffers have put in over the last year helping to launch our new initiatives.”
The nomination letter for the award cites a number of innovative projects on campus including the reengineering of the North Campus Parking Deck to reduce customer wait times and the installation of Automated Vehicle Identification technology in certain parking lots that allows for hands-free entry to gated lots and parking decks. Parking Services also increased its emphasis on customer feedback with a redesigned website; the implementation of Remedy, a feedback tracking system; and Any-mouse, a site for anonymous feedback about parking services.
Fouche previously received a gold medal for Customer Service Excellence Individual of the Year as part of the 2009 University System of Georgia Chancellor’s Awards. She was selected first among 275 nominations from more than 30,000 employees of the University System.
“[She] does a common job uncommonly well,” the nomination letter for the IPI parking award stated. “She knows hundreds of customers by name. Hundreds of customers know LeAnne. She makes parking enjoyable and fun for customers. She dresses in costume on holidays and any special occasion. For example, on St. Patrick’s Day she dressed as a leprechaun and gave out green mints to patrons.”
