Lance Rampy included in the National Parking Association 40 under 40.
Since Lance Rampy was hired in 2014 by Texas Tech University Transportation & Parking Services (TPS) as the unit manager of event parking and guest relations, the positive visitor parking experience at the university has grown exponentially.
Rampy's work led to vast improvements that have elevated the department to new heights. The National Parking Association took notice and has named Rampy to the NPA 40 Under 40 Class of 2018.
The organization's website states it is “proud to recognize the positive impact of the parking industry's best and brightest young professionals.”
A 2007 Texas Tech graduate in communications studies with a 2010 master's degree in sports management, Rampy stepped into his current role and restructured a staff that now includes four supervisors, seven attendants and 12 student assistants.
“The honor is a unique way for those in the parking industry to express their gratitude for accomplishments achieved,” Rampy said. “Since parking is, in many ways a thankless profession, it is incredibly humbling for our team to be recognized for the product and services we provide.”
A key component to Rampy's job is guest relations at visitor parking and campus entry stations at the six major traffic arteries into the 1,839-acre campus. Entry station employees are often the first interaction visitors have on the Texas Tech campus. One of Rampy's primary goals was to ensure that those interactions create positive impressions.
Rampy also oversees online event parking management. All visitor and event parking management is completely digital with no need for physical visitor or event passes. After training users, campus employees hosting events know to submit events electronically on the TPS website. Event parking arrangements are handled electronically by employees. The electronic system also has created the ability to monetize event parking for the first time in department history. In fiscal year 2017, Rampy and his team managed parking for 2,776 campus events.
The online events system also completely integrates with the license plate recognition and computer systems in each entry station. Attendants can identify lost and wayward visitors and direct them to parking for their event. They also can greet VIP guests by name at the request of the hosting department.
In the near future, entry stations will receive electronic signage to welcome campus and event guests and also provide emergency messaging. Electronic signage improves customer service efforts through adaptability, ease of reading and elimination of unwelcoming static signage.
Game-day parking and bus transportation for Texas Tech athletics, including football games with 65,000 attendees and basketball games with 18,000 attendees, fall under Rampy's purview. He has overseen the expansion of paid lots for both sports and expanded busing, which has helped generate increased revenue.
