EP 25: Tech Leadership with Mike Simmons & The Future of Parking AI with James Paden

In this episode, Brian interviews Mike Simmons, the Chairman and CEO of Tez Technology, discussing his remarkable journey from a farm kid in Indiana to leading significant technology transformations in the parking industry. Mike shares insights from his early career at IBM, PepsiCo, and GM, and provides a unique perspective on his successful ventures, including founding T2 Systems.In Segment 2, Brian switches gears to talk with Parker’s new Chief Product Officer, James Paden. James discusses the future of parking technology and how AI can enhance customer service. He highlights the evolution of the parking industry, the importance of integrating various systems, and the role of generative and agentic AI in providing proactive solutions.Here are some key takeaways from this episode:The value of hard workDiversity in experienceWorking with integrityParker Technology’s vision of AIBe sure to check out these great clips from Segment 1 with Mike Simmons:00:26 Mike Simmons' Career Journey04:30 Early Life and Engineering Passion07:57 Transition to IBM and Sales13:17 Entrepreneurial Ventures and T2 Systems40:17 Philanthropy and Community Involvement43:25 Passion for Cars and Silo Auto Club48:55 Professional Challenges and Triumphs51:36 Impact of the Pandemic on Parking53:14 The Future of Parking TechnologySegment 2 with James Paden:59:06 Introducing James Paden: New Chief Product Officer01:01:16 James Paden's Vision for Parker Technologies01:02:55 Innovations in Parking01:17:26 The Role of AI in Enhancing Customer Service01:26:14 The Importance of Industry Knowledge01:33:26 ConclusionConnect with Parker Technology.While delivering an excellent customer experience is indeed harder than it looks, we’re the experts. It’s all we do, every day, and we’re darn good at it. If you’d like to learn more about how we make managing the parking experience look easy, visit our website at www.parkertechnology.com, or shoot a note to [email protected]