NPA Convention Highlighted & Corrected Some of My Misconceptions

 

​When Misunderstandings Have Consequences 

During the Crimean War, at the Battle of Balaclava in 1854, a single misunderstanding led to one of the most infamous military blunders in history. When an order was misinterpreted, the British Light Brigade — a fast but lightly armed cavalry force — charged headlong into a valley bristling with Russian cannons. The soldiers rode with courage, but they were racing toward the wrong target entirely, and the result was devastating. Hundreds of brave men were cut down in minutes, and the charge achieved almost nothing. What should have been a coordinated strike became a lasting symbol of how dangerous a simple misconception can be when the stakes are life and death. 

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Alfred Lord Tennyson captured the tragic heroism of the Charge of the Light Brigade in his 1854 poem of the same name. Rather than focusing on military strategy or the failures of command, Tennyson celebrated the bravery, discipline, and unwavering obedience of the soldiers who rode into almost certain death. Through vivid, rhythmic language, he conveys the relentless momentum of the charge: "Half a league, half a league, / Half a league onward…" evokes the steady gallop of the cavalry across the valley. Tennyson’s poem emphasizes the honor and courage of the men over the folly of the miscommunication that led them there, immortalizing their sacrifice while capturing the grim inevitability of the misunderstanding. Fast forward one hundred years to another author, Mark Twain, who said, “The trouble with the world is not that people know too little; it's that they know so many things that just aren't so.” 

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Lessons from NPA 

Fast forward another hundred years and find me entering the convention center to attend the 2025 NPA Expo & Convention. In September, we headed to Indianapolis for the NPA Convention and Expo, where we gathered with hundreds of parking professionals who were all buzzing with energy. I greeted many familiar faces, and over the next three days, I met many more people who are a part of this vibrant parking community. The convention was a whirlwind of insightful presentations, colorful booths, lively networking events, and more club sandwiches than I want to count. The TPN team soaked up all the opportunities to network, learn, and collaborate. Often, over those club sandwiches, we began discussing convention insights that challenged our views.  

 

One of my first encounters at the NPA was with a newcomer who seemed a little nervous and out of place. I struck up a conversation to help her feel at ease, and we chatted about travel, hotels, and our goals for the convention. She shared that she hoped to better understand LPR cameras (their capabilities and limitations) and assess the information that had crossed her desk. In the previous months, she had been told that LPR technology was not dependable enough to provide consistent and reliable data in parking facilities. However, this information did not align with the data she gathered from the industry, and she intended to consult with LPR vendors to either confirm or correct her conception. Later, I spotted her engaging with some of our favorite vendors, clearly gathering the insights she came for. That’s the spirit! This individual recognized the gap in her understanding and sought expert guidance to gain clarity and correction, ultimately improving her business acumen. Sound decisions require the awareness to question assumptions, the determination to evaluate information carefully, and a reliance on data rather than opinions. 

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I saw this principle in action during a presentation that highlighted how parking shapes experiences. Whether at Disneyland or a community hospital, parking is often the first and last impression, profoundly influencing memories. It’s easy to assume we’re just moving cars and collecting revenue. Still, customer service data tells a different story: safe, transparent, and well-managed parking adds real value to people’s lives. A common misconception in the industry, outside the industry, and in my own subconscious private narrative is that parking doesn’t really matter or add anything of value. This presentation challenged and corrected my thinking: parking matters… big time. We are in a customer service business, and while it is often taken for granted, it is invaluable to our culture. 

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Two presentations on EVs and AI challenged me to reconsider the knowledge I had previously gained. Those with megaphones have projected that AI and EVs have taken a sudden and enormous piece of the industry, are solving all kinds of big problems, and should demand my whole-hearted and undivided attention. However, as I listened to the presentations on how the industry is growing and changing, I had to ask myself: Am I seeing data that confirms what these sectors are saying? When I simply accept information, even from well-meaning sources, I risk being misled.  

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At the AI presentation, I learned about how AI has begun to add significant enhancements to the aviation industry that it previously lacked. It was fascinating to hear how airports have utilized AI to enhance specific and targeted aspects of procedures. AI has not taken over the airport or everyone’s job, but it is adding value to the procedures and people already hard at work. Later, at the presentation on EVs, I heard that we are not, in fact, going to be all electric tomorrow, with chargers needed on every corner. However, the EV market is slowly growing, innovations deserve acknowledgement and support, and today, at-home chargers are sufficient. To counter deception, hold information to the light of reality and adjust understanding accordingly. I want my decisions, both at work and at home, to be grounded in evidence, not just belief or habit. I encourage everyone to approach information the same way: question assumptions, seek out data, and be willing to revise your understanding — let evidence, not opinion, guide your decisions. 

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Closing Reflection 

What is it that you think you know? When was the last time you verified it? Has the landscape changed? Whether in history, in technology, or in everyday operations, misconceptions are everywhere, but so are opportunities to correct them. By staying curious, examining the facts, and trusting evidence over assumptions, we make more informed, fairer, and more impactful decisions. (Thankfully, a club sandwich is always a smart decision!)