Key takeaways
What property managers can take from Jacob’s view of parking
- Parking is a revenue line, not just infrastructure. Jacob says it is often the second biggest revenue generator for a property, after occupancy.
- Parking is the first and last impression. More drivers now find and pay for parking before they leave home, so the experience starts well before the gate.
- Match the equipment to the building. Impark is equipment agnostic and builds each solution around the site and the owner’s budget, rather than earning from proprietary systems.
- Plan for how parking will change. Jacob expects more downtown residents, office-to-residential conversions, fewer surface lots, and new uses like overnight fleet storage and EV charging.
- Hold a high bar and back it up. He tells his team there is no room for B players, and commits that everyone will leave better than when they came.
About the guest
JO
Jacob Ohe
Senior Vice President, Central Canada, Impark
Jacob leads Impark’s operations in Central Canada from Edmonton, with five direct reports and a team of about 140. Before Impark he worked in construction and facility services, including HVAC business development. He holds an executive MBA from the University of Alberta and sits on the boards of the YMCA of Northern Alberta and the Jessica Martell Memorial Foundation.
Episode summary
In this episode
Jared Sarbit talks with Jacob Ohe, Senior Vice President of Central Canada at Impark, a Canadian parking company founded in 1962 and part of the Reimagined Parking network. Jacob came to parking from construction and facility services, and leads a team of about 140 people from Edmonton.
Jacob explains why parking is so often overlooked as a source of revenue, how Impark partners with property and asset managers, and why its people on the ground still matter in an automated industry. He shares the technology and sustainability changes he is watching, how Impark balances local relationships with a North American footprint, and what he learned about leadership as a varsity volleyball captain.
He also looks at how EVs, urban planning, and office conversions could reshape parking, and shares his advice for building a career in real estate services.
Chapters
- 0:00Episode preview
- 1:28Introducing Jacob Ohe
- 1:57Who Impark is
- 2:43From construction and HVAC to parking
- 4:39A kinder workplace after the pandemic
- 6:42Connecting people and staying curious
- 8:09Breadth vs depth in leadership
- 9:50How Impark has stayed relevant since 1962
- 11:40Leading intentionally
- 13:38Lessons from volleyball
- 16:29Parking technology and sustainability
- 17:55Local relationships at a national scale
- 18:30Parking as a revenue driver
- 19:28Community board work
- 21:31The future of parking
- 23:58Advice for property managers
- 24:32Career advice for real estate services
- 25:14Reimagining a parking experience
- 27:28Book recommendations
Jump to a chapter (19)
- 0:00Episode preview
- 1:28Introducing Jacob Ohe
- 1:57Who Impark is
- 2:43From construction and HVAC to parking
- 4:39A kinder workplace after the pandemic
- 6:42Connecting people and staying curious
- 8:09Breadth vs depth in leadership
- 9:50How Impark has stayed relevant since 1962
- 11:40Leading intentionally
- 13:38Lessons from volleyball
- 16:29Parking technology and sustainability
- 17:55Local relationships at a national scale
- 18:30Parking as a revenue driver
- 19:28Community board work
- 21:31The future of parking
- 23:58Advice for property managers
- 24:32Career advice for real estate services
- 25:14Reimagining a parking experience
- 27:28Book recommendations
From the conversation
Transcript excerpts
Parking is the first and last impression of a building or experience if you’re going to a show or um flying somewhere.
Jacob OhePlay from 19:03
If you’re not there, then we’re going to get you there… working with me, you will be better than when you came.
Jacob OhePlay from 14:34
The operations team at Impark are second to none, and no technology can replace the need for boots on the ground.
Jacob OhePlay from 10:18
Want your parkade to make a better first impression?
We’ll walk your property with you and send a written cleaning scope and price. Free, no obligation.
Read the conversation
Full episode transcript
Show transcript
Paste the edited transcript here.
FAQ
Parking management questions
What is Impark?
Impark is a Canadian parking company founded in 1962. It is one of five brands under the Reimagined Parking network, which operates across Canada, the United States, and the U.K., and it is the only one of those brands in Canada.
How does parking add value for property owners?
Jacob Ohe says parking is often a property’s second biggest revenue generator after occupancy. A good operator unlocks that revenue, improves the parker experience, and chooses equipment that fits the building and budget.
How will parking change in the future?
Jacob expects more people living downtown, office-to-residential conversions, and fewer surface lots. Parkades may also be used for overnight fleet storage and EV charging, and some already offer services like car detailing and grocery pickup.
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