FPTA Member Profile – Raymond Mensah
Check out this month’s FPTA Member Profile of Raymond Mensah, Director of Parking & Transportation Services for the University of South Florida. Raymond is also a member of the FPTA Board of Directors. Read about his organization’s FPTA experience below!
How did you become involved with FPTA?
One of my first goals when I joined the University of South Florida in 2012 as director of Parking and Transportation, was to get to know my peers at the other universities within the state. I figured the best way to get to meet them and develop a relationship would be through a local parking association.
Fortunately, my predecessor was still on campus and pointed me in the direction of FPTA (FPA at the time). A few months later I learned of a seminar in Miami so I decided to join the organization and attended the seminar. It was a great event. I got to meet a few of my peers from the universities throughout the state and others in the parking industry. The interaction with the group blew me away because everyone was so welcoming and eager to help. The rest is history.
What value has your FPTA membership provided you for your career?
FPTA’s membership has been invaluable. I’ve learned a lot over the years through educational seminars, conferences, and interacting with my peers and other professionals in the industry. There is a wealth of knowledge and experience in this group. I’ve developed great relationships with individuals that I can call on if I’m ever facing a challenge, need some ideas or have questions. They are always there and willing to help.
What would be your advice to those organizations who are not yet a FPTA member?
What are you waiting for?! You will not regret becoming a member. This organization is filled with a lively and fun group of great leaders, professionals and just all-around genuine people. In addition, FPTA is highly engaged and provides learning opportunities as well as access to a large network of people in the parking and transportation arena.
How do you think the coronavirus could permanently impact parking, transportation, and mobility?
I think the change to remote work and learning will certainly drive new initiatives to adapt to the change in demand for parking and transportation. For example, organizations now have to consider initiatives on how to maintain or generate revenue while accommodating and attracting customers that no longer need access to a parking facility on a frequent basis. In the higher education arena, the level of demand for distance learning in the future is still yet unknown so we need to be ready to adjust and implement creative solutions if there is a significant change. I also think new technologies that were slowly being developed/implemented to create seamless parking and transportation experiences will be accelerated.
What is your organization’s return-to-the-workplace plan (if not already back)?
The return to the workplace plan is a multiphase approach to gradually resume in-person activities on our campus with measures in place to promote a safe environment. Each phase limits the number of individuals on campus and includes precautions to reduce community transmission of coronavirus and mitigate the possible exposure of returning students, faculty and staff. We are currently in Phase II which allows for up to 50% of staff returning to campus based on space configuration, and expanded resumption of critical services with extensive protective measures still in place. It also allows for courses to be delivered through a combination of face-to-face, hybrid and online instruction, and some points of service to be open. Travel restrictions remain in place, and all individuals who can work remotely are encouraged to do so. Meetings and events are held virtually.
What was your impression of work from home before this situation? What is it now?
Initially, I wasn’t a fan of working from home considering the type of operation I oversee. It was not my preferred option. For the first few months, I was in the office most of the time as I battled with adjusting to working from home. I also wanted to be in the office during a time when we were modifying our operations and working through a few challenges as a result of the pandemic.
I now work from home intermittently and I have come to appreciate it. I get a lot accomplished on the days I work from home since I don’t get the normal interruptions as I would if I was in the office. Typically, when I am in the office I may get called out to an area on campus for various reasons, or I have a continuous flow of team members/others stopping by my office with questions, concerns, or just wanting to chat. I still prefer to be in the office more often than not since the majority of my front-line employees are on campus every day. It allows me to stay in tune with what’s occurring on campus and be physically there with my team. It is important for me to be visible and present to continue providing support to my team especially during these challenging times.
What are you most hopeful about right now?
With COVID vaccines rolling out at a rapid pace, I am hopeful that we can return to some form of normalcy soon.
