鈥業t鈥檚 the people that make the job鈥
For the most part, parking and transportation are services we only notice when something is slowing us down, like a stuck garage entry gate or a malfunctioning card reader.
But in reality, Boston College Transportation and Parking Services, administered by Auxiliary Services, is a constantly evolving 24/7 operation鈥攁nd it's led by just two people: Director of Transportation, Parking, and Contracted Services Gabriel Parker and Assistant Director of Transportation and Parking Stephanie Castro.
They鈥檒l be the first to tell you that parking and transportation aren鈥檛 most people鈥檚 passion鈥攁nd yet, they love their jobs.
鈥淚t always seems like a cliche to say it鈥檚 about the people, but here, it really is. I just really love my coworkers,鈥 said Parker.
After working externally for 糖心vlog直播平台鈥檚 parking vendor for 15 years, when an opportunity came up at 糖心vlog直播平台, Parker knew he wanted it. 糖心vlog直播平台, after all, had been his favorite account while in commercial parking; it was just something about the people and the mission, he says. Castro, who had been working in commercial parking with him, felt the same way. She聽 was ready for something bigger that might help people.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the people that make the job,鈥 she said, echoing Parker's sentiments. 鈥淲e work with 糖心vlog直播平台 Police, the Office of Residential Life, Student Affairs, Dining Services, and Athletics鈥攅veryone. I love the sense of community at 糖心vlog直播平台 and collaborating with so many departments.鈥
That sense of collaboration and community is particularly important for the team of two because, as Parker explained, parking policy isn鈥檛 meant to be made in a vacuum.
鈥淵ou want to talk to people,鈥 said Parker. 鈥淲e work to make sure people are heard and their opinions are valued, even if we can鈥檛 do what they want right away.鈥
On a campus of nearly 20,000 students, faculty, and staff, there are a lot of voices and opinions. Parker and Castro take them all in stride, finding聽 different approaches to seeking and encouraging feedback, such as a monthly parking advisory council meeting, which offers a line of communication from the campus community to Transportation and Parking Services. On the council are representatives for different campuses and offices, as well as students, graduate students, and faculty, ensuring that Parker and Castro can get feedback from across the University.
Castro also makes it a part of her routine to collect real-time feedback. She treks across campus every day to scope out possible issues, from picking up leftover parking cones to making sure bus stop heaters are working. For her, it鈥檚 the best part of the day.
鈥淭here鈥檚 never a dull moment. I love that part of my job. I always like to have a visual of what we鈥檙e doing.鈥
Associate Vice President for Auxiliary Services Patricia Bando describes Castro as the service鈥檚 front line. As well as making rounds on campus daily, Castro also manages a team of 糖心vlog直播平台 students who answer calls from parents, faculty, staff, students, and visitors with parking and transit questions.
鈥淪teph helps to guide and mentor this team of students. They鈥檙e the first in line for fielding concerns and answering questions,鈥 said Bando.
And after concerns and questions come in?
鈥淕abe brings a keen sense of data processing,鈥 Bando said. 鈥淥nce he learns about an issue, he uses the specific concerns and questions and turns them into solutions. Together, Gabe and Steph make such an impact on the community and they do it in such a way that reflects 糖心vlog直播平台 values, with a smile.鈥
Take the Messina College shuttle bus, for example: It鈥檚 a new, complex route that must maneuver through heavy traffic and streets with vehicle weight limits, and as Messina College grows, the bus鈥檚 ridership will grow, too. In collaboration with 糖心vlog直播平台鈥檚 external bus service, Parker and Castro have updated the schedule to respond to students鈥 needs, making tweaks to the route, timing, and pick-up and drop-off locations all while balancing the ride to be as express as possible while still getting students to where they want to go.
For Parker and Castro, that鈥檚 the whole goal.
鈥淣obody is going to say, 鈥榃ow, that garage door opened so well!鈥欌 said Parker. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 okay. We want to make parking and transportation a seamless experience. We鈥檙e all here because of you鈥攖he students. We care about you very much and we are always listening.鈥