LAZ Parking recently advanced its status to an Accredited Parking Organization (APO) with Distinction, joining an elite class of the top organizations in the parking and mobility industry. APO is a designation for parking organizations that recognizes best practices in responsible parking management and operations, customer service, professional development, sustainability and access management, safety, data security and risk management, and more.
“It’s quite an achievement, which follows a lengthy and arduous review process,” explained Shawn Conrad, CAE, CEO of the International Parking & Mobility Institute (IPMI), the organization that sets the standards for APO Accreditation and Accreditation with Distinction. The APO program recognizes organizations that meet industry standards that develop, ensure, and support a high level of professionalism and competency in parking, transportation, and mobility management.
To maintain the APO Accreditation, an organization must demonstrate its ongoing commitment to evaluation and improvement by implementing industry best practices. At the time of accreditation, applicant organizations work with third-party reviewers to present evidence of accomplishment of more than 100 criteria in 14 categories, in addition to 25 or required criteria. Accreditation also requires that at least one facility is evaluated and meets the criteria as established by the APO Board of Directors. Organizations apply for reaccreditation every three years, demonstrating their commitment to continue to meet the evolving APO standards.
“Parking at an accredited facility or operation assures the public that the parking organization adheres to a strict code of ethics and meets national and internationally endorsed standards for professionalism, accountability, responsibility, and performance,” Conrad said.
"LAZ is very proud to have received the even higher APO with Distinction rating this year,” said Alan Lazowski, Chairman, CEO, and founder of LAZ Parking. "This puts LAZ in the upper-most tier of parking organizations and ensures our clients and customers that they are dealing with the best in the business. This could not have happened without the continued dedication and commitment of our 15,000 plus employees. This next level of APO recognition is a testament to the work LAZ team members do each and every day to achieve these results. We are so proud to be recognized as one of the top people first, tech-enabled parking services transportation platform in the country.”