At Minuteman, we love everything green- especially living green and being environmentally friendly! We care greatly about our environment and do our best to practice sustainability and awareness. Our greatest contribution to the planet is our natural gas shuttles and electric company cars.

Minuteman Parking has multiple shuttles and a collection of corporate vehicles that run purely on compressed natural gas (CNG). This is a fossil fuel substitute for gasoline, diesel, and propane and is a more environmentally clean alternative. CNG is much safer than gas in the event of a spill because natural gas is lighter than air so it disperses quickly when it’s released. CNG does not increase the concentration of carbon in the atmosphere, and can be used in traditional gasoline engines that have been converted to bi-fuel.

We also have several carts at our properties that are global electric motorcars (GEM). Our little GEMs are low speed vehicles that are battery electric. They are plugged into outlets for recharging and are completely petrol free.

Although these are minor steps in the big picture, every little bit counts! It is our New Year’s Resolution this year to do more on our part to help save the environment. Here’s to going green in 2012!

Minuteman Parking Company has been a proud participant of the Bridges from School to work program since 2005. The Bridges program assists disadvantaged youth by developing their skills and assisting them in finding gainful employment. At Minuteman, employees referred to us by Bridges have worked in various HR and Operations related capacities in our corporate headquarters.

Our initial connection with the Bridges program came through one of our clients, the Marriott Corporation, with whom we partner with at a few of their premiere properties. The Marriott Foundation was established in 1989 by the family of J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott. The Foundation’s resources are solely directed to the operation and expansion of Bridges, with the goal of literally bridging the gap for teens from school to adulthood and work. Since 1990, The Marriott Foundation has worked with more than 16,500 young people; preparing them for vocational success and helping them find and maintain employment.

Bridges serves two key purposes in our community. First, to provide candidates with career guidance coupled with competitive work to enhance their employment potential; and secondly, to help local employers gain access to a valuable sources of pre-screened and qualified employees. Clearly this is a win-win proposition for the youth and the employer. The Bridges program works with participating candidates for 18-24 months, giving young people the opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed through a project that involves employers, schools, and other community resources and their families. Minuteman has employed four Bridges students over the last six years. Two of our Bridges success stories are Adam Burg and Chris Walker.

Adam Burg

Adam Burg worked for Minuteman for almost two years from 2006 into 2008. He had a learning disability that did not get in the way of him being an excellent employee, nor stand in the way of a successful career. Adam was the Student of the Year award winner at the 2008 Bridges Employer Recognition event and has been featured in Bridges promotional videos for potential employers. Adam left our employment to start an academic program at UCLA.

Chris Walker

Chris Walker was placed with Minuteman Parking in September 2010 as the Office Administrative Clerk in the HR department and he remains a valued employee. His duties have expanded to include maintaining the appearance of company vehicles and managing the warehouse, where uniforms and supplies are stored and disbursed to our field locations. Chris is a very busy young man. Aside from working for Minuteman, he attends West LA College, continuing his education, and is also very active in sports. He has trained with the school’s Cross Country team this semester and hopes to join the track team and/or the football team in the upcoming year.

We are understandably proud of our participation in the Bridges program, and our young proteges, Adam and Chris. Minuteman is committed to offering more opportunities to Bridges students in the future. We obviously receive a great return on our investment by offering employment to Bridges students. We are thankful for the opportunity to participate in such a valuable and worthwhile program.

More information on the Bridges program can be found at:

http://www.marriottfoundationbridges.org/bridges/default.mi

By Dan Curtin

This year, we have explored various ways to help our people stretch their hard earned dollars. To that end we are offering three programs that help associates to conveniently do just that.

1. We are currently offering Minuteman associates the “Citi at Work” program from one of the largest banks in the nation, Citibank NA.  “Citi at Work” is an exclusive website banking program for Minuteman associates that provides account access, direct deposit, discounts on fees, preferred interest rates, information and financial solutions online to help associates save time and money in their financial life. The goal of the Citi at Work program is to provide:

• Financial Education - to help associates gain a firm grasp on his or her financial situation
• Savings and Discounts for associates’ banking needs - a checking account with no monthly service fees and free checks and ATM card; free online bill pay, a worldwide ATM network and 24/7 customer support:

• Preferred interest rates on selected products, including checking accounts.
• Preferred mortgage pricing that gives associates $500 towards closing costs.
• Preferred pricing for home equity lines of credit and Checking Plus^® (variable rate) overdraft protection and Priority processing on first mortgage and home equity applications.
• Discounts on online outgoing wire transfers, foreign currency transactions and safe deposit box.
• An exclusive 24/7 toll-free customer service number.

• • • Free assistance from Citi^® Identity Theft Solutions if associates are ever a victim of ID theft.
    • Low cost transfers of money internationally.

Citibank also will reimburse the fees other banks may charge our associates for using their ATMs—the first six per statement period—by crediting their Citigold checking account up to $5.00 per transaction on the employee’s next monthly statement.

2. In January, Minuteman introduced the “Working Advantage” program.  All associates have exclusive access to the Working Advantage discount network which allows associates to save up to 60% on ticketed events and online shopping. Through Working Advantage, associates can save on:

Movie Tickets, Theme Parks, Sporting Events, Hotels and Travel, Health and Fitness, Museums and City Passes, Live Theatre (Broadway type shows), Merchant Gift Certificates, an Online Shopping Mall at name brand online stores like Best Buy, Old navy, Petco, Kohl’s and Nike…and more!

To subscribe, associates may access the Working Advantage website by going to www.workingadvantage.com on the web.  When opening an individual account associates will need the Minuteman Parking ID which associates can get by calling HR. The HR department can also send any associate a flyer by email. It is free to join and there is no obligation to buy anything.

3. The third program we have introduced recently is the “2011 Employee Referral Bonus” program which will earn current associates $50 to $100 in gift cards for successful employee referrals who stay employed up to 180 days with the company. We want to encourage our great associates to refer great applicants we can put to work, providing exceptional service to our clients. The conditions and rules for this program are available from any member of management or the HR department.

We hope that these programs will in some small way help to ease the financial burdens we are all facing in these difficult times. Every little bit helps!

The WOW program was set up to demonstrate to all of our employees what superior customer service can be.  Here is a great example set by one of our managers.  Wes Lutes, an Account Manager at one of our hospital locations, often fills in for various positions during peak hours of operation in order for employees to take their meal break.  Little did Wes know that filling in for one of his cashiers for thirty minutes would give him a new perspective on his job, the service he provides, and the value of going the extra mile.

While helping a customer on the exit side of the booth, a middle aged lady on the entrance side of the booth yelled at Wes to help her. He opened the door and offered her assistance. It was clear that she was very upset and on the edge of having an emotional breakdown. With a stern voice she said: “I need to get to the Hospital’s Main Entrance!” Knowing she was in a hurry, he quickly explained to her detailed instructions about where she was going. She stared back with a confused look and said, “This is ridiculous!” Wes decided to physically point her to the street she needed to travel to get to the front of the hospital. When they met in the street, he identified the street she needed to turn on and she drove off towards the street, but missed the correct turn.

About fifteen minutes went by and the lady pulled back up to the booth, now enraged, told Wes she couldn’t find where she needs to go and that he had given her wrong directions. He apologized and tried to explain that she missed the street she needed to turn on, but all she wanted to do was argue. She ended up speeding off and parking in a nearby handicapped parking stall.  The lady climbed out of her vehicle and loaded up her arms with bags full of her belongings as if she was staying somewhere for a while. By the time she walked to the next parking stall she came to a stop, dropped all of her bags, sat on the ground and leaned her back on the vehicle next to where she was parked.

Wes quickly ran over and squatted next to her offering her assistance or a wheelchair. She quietly said she did not want any help and that this has happened before. By that time, she made quite a commotion and some nurses passing by came over to offer help. Before they could offer any help, she interrupted them and shooed them away to avoid further embarrassment.

Again, Wes tried to talk to her to see what was going on and if there was anything he could do. She stated that she has a pace maker and when it goes off it hurts. By sitting and calming herself down, she was able to lower her heart rate and prevent the device from going into defibrillator mode and shocking her heart. Wes was worried for her health, but she reassured him that she would get through it.  He loaded all of her bags back into her vehicle and opened the passenger door for her. She sat down and he shut the door, ran around to the driver side and got in.

He began to drive her vehicle to the main lobby of CHOC and she started explaining to him that it was very important for her to get to the main entrance because her granddaughter was going into emergency surgery and that she might never see her again. He reassured her that he would get her there as quick as possible. She then went on about her faulty pacemaker being recalled and her husband’s five back surgeries that had failed the previous year.

Finally, they arrived at the main lobby valet circle and Wes opened her door and she got out slowly, gathering her bags.  As he tore the ticket in half she grabbed the ticket, placed it in her purse and began to dig for something. Assuming she was looking for the payment or a tip, he told her not to worry about the payment and that the most important thing is that she gets in to see her granddaughter. She looked up and stared at him for a second, setting all her bags on the ground and asked, “Can I at least give you a hug?” In shock and amazement, he said “Sure!” Beginning to cry, she leaned in and gave him a tight hug and said, “Thank you so much!”

This goes to show that you never know whose life you are going to effect on any given day.  What seems like the smallest gesture can brighten someone’s day, put a smile on someone’s face, or even create a lasting friendship.  Let us remember this story each day we work and create an inspiring moment that guests and even you, will remember forever.

Thank you Wes Lutes for WOWing us!

In our line of business back aches and pains can make it very difficult to concentrate while at work. Our jobs can put significant demands on our backs throughout the day.  Can you avoid back pain and injuries at work? The answer is “YES” if you understand what causes these injuries and how to prevent them.

If you ask a doctor what causes back pain they are never 100% sure. They will ask what you do throughout your day and family history and generally will tell you that a combination of the things you do throughout your day and your history may be a cause of your back aches and pains. Not all of these factors are preventable. 

What factors are preventable?

The factors that we can control are the weight of objects we are lifting. We are in control of our own fitness routines and flexibility. If we change our lifestyle and incorporate some stretching and exercise we will strengthen our back and help reduce work related injuries.

While at work you will need to look at what you do and you will need to see if you need to modify your work performance to help reduce these risks.

 There are 4 factors that can increase your risk of back aches and injuries.

            Force- Are you over-exerting yourself?

            Repetition- How many times during your day do you do the same thing over and over? Repetition can lead to fatigue in your muscles which can lead to injuries.

            Posture- This refers to how are standing, sitting or performing a task.

            Stress- Your stress level at work or home can lead to muscle tension and tightness which can result in back aches and pains.

A combination of one or more these four risks can result in serious back injuries.

To help reduce Back Aches and Pains you should first be fit. You can do specific strengthening and stretching exercises that target you back muscles. By doing this you will strengthen your cores muscles and make your back stronger. Strong and flexible muscles will help keep your back in shape. 

Secondly, you want to pay attention to your posture. If you have poor posture you will put stress on your back. So pay attention to how you are standing and sitting while at work and at home.

Finally, you want to make sure that you are lifting properly. You want to make sure that you are following the lifting procedures that are outlined in our Job Safety Agreement.  Always remember to let your legs do the work and keep all items close to your body.

By adjusting what you do at work and adopting healthy habits you can reduce back aches and pains and you will feel better over all.

Before you lift an object remember to plan your moves and listen to your body.  If your body tells you that an object is too heavy, do not lift it, ask for help.

Be Safe and Be Healthy!!!!

New ICQ1000 Biometric Time Clock from Timeforce

Minuteman Parking is going biometric!

As announced at the annual Managers Meeting last week, Minuteman Parking will be rolling out new time clocks to all locations over the next month or so.  Gone are the old days of using actual punch cards and the more recent innovation of using electronic swipe cards.  The new time clocks from Timeforce have built-in state-of-the-art biometrics which will actually read fingerprints to positively identify an employee.

There are several great reasons for Minuteman Parking to make the switch to the new clocks:

• Improved accuracy
• Real time punches
• Better management of lunch punch compliance rules
• Real time reporting for the management team
• Excellent software which will scale with our growth

This is yet another investment in technology which will help us to continue a high level of service to all of our customers.

Marina Del Rey Marriott

The Challenge - The Marina del Rey Marriott arrival score ranked 43rd out of 46 hotels at the end of 2008.  Local management was not pleased with this mediocre result and they approached us with a challenge to help them improve their ranking.

Our Solution - After a series of meetings with the “front” of the property staff including doormen, valets and bellmen, we devised and implemented new guest hand-off procedures to ensure comprehensive and consistent coverage at the “front” of the property.

The Results - As a result of our program, the Marina del Rey Marriott is currently ranked 8th out of 46 hotels on the arrival score metric.  Plus, the staff is doing a better job of working together and they feel more empowered based on increased feedback from guests and management.

Here is what Doug Smith, Assistant General Manager at the Marina del Rey Marriott, has to say about the drastic improvement:

“The Minuteman Parking team has done a fantastic job focusing on the customer, and dramatically improving our customer satisfaction scores. They have created an arrival experience that exceeds our customer’s expectations.”

Specifically, the Minuteman solution included:

• Upfront meetings - The upfront meetings were moderated by the local Minuteman Parking onsite team and were essential to identifying the root causes of the low arrival score.
• Daily training huddles - The training huddles were used to get the team together to discuss the service initiative for the day.  While these meetings did not take very much time, they serve to set the tone for each day and get the team focused on delivering superior service.
• Toys for kids - During the Summer months when many people are traveling with children, we started handing out small toys to customers with children.   The toys included “Bob the Bear” for children which is a Marina del Rey teddy bear and an arrival gift bag for families which included a Marina del Rey Marriott beach bag with a bucket, shovel and sun screen.  These simple gestures went a long way towards making customers feel good about choosing Marriott as their hotel option, and eased the challenges of families traveling with children.
• Shortened valet shifts - The shortened valet shifts provide Marriott with more available attendants during peak times which serves to minimize wait times for customers arriving and departing the property.  We are providing the same amount of labor, but with more resources for certain peak time periods.
• Tracking - To measure the effectiveness of our training, we started tracking how many different attendants in the front used each customer’s name.
• Vision - Now the entire staff has the same vision how superior customer service should be delivered for the Marina del Rey Marriott, and they are working together to achieve that goal.

“I Don’t Think We’re Liable For That” is the last thing you want to hear from your valet parking company.  

And for the record, Minuteman Parking has never had a Transformer eat any of the cars under our responsibility.

—————————————————————

Customer Would you pull my car up please?

Valet attendent - Silver SUV?  Coming right up.

Valet atendent - Wow, look at your car…I don’t think we’re liable for that.

—————————————————————

In the August 31, 2009 addition of “Another Day” which is the daily news for St. Joseph Hospital Employees, Robert Fairrington the Minuteman Parking Company Manager at The Center for Cancer Prevention and Pavilion was interviewed.  Robert joined Minuteman Parking Company 2007 as a valet and quickly moved up the ranks due to his great patient care service and leadership of other team members.  Robert has inspired his team not to just help the patients they encounter but CARE about them and make every encounter a Sacred Encounter.

Robert is truly living the Minuteman Parking Company Commitments to Excellence; he makes a difference every day.

Sacred Staff Encounter

Robert Fairrington

Minute Man Parking Management Team

Robert, what is your background?

I’m a native of Orange, born at St. Joseph Hospital. Every time I was hurt growing up, this is where I came. Three years ago while going to Fullerton College for my B.S. in Business Administration and working at a machine shop, I was looking for a second job. I started working outside of the Emergency Department as a valet. Two years ago I began working here full time and joined the management team. I’m contracted with Minute Man Parking to provide services at the Pavilion and The Center for Cancer Prevention and Treatment.

What do Sacred Encounters mean to you?

It’s an incident that makes you feel the compassion and caring that’s here. It goes beyond your expectations. Our team has a “Wow” journal to record and encourage Sacred Encounters. It has entries such as patients bringing us cookies and brownies, and notes indicating the make and model of a patient’s car, so that when they return we can greet them by name, or realize that Mr. Smith needs a wheelchair. Parking can be a source of frustration for many people so anytime I can make a patients experience any easier I feel I have helped with the healing process.

Can you relay a specific Sacred Encounter you’ve experienced here?

I know some of our patients since my days as a valet. There’s a man who has been coming here with his wife for cancer treatment for over two years. I sometimes see her getting coffee while I’m getting breakfast at the Pavilion. She knows my history and always asks about my family. They’ve had a rough battle but she maintains good spirits and is always real and personable. It’s always neat to see her. It has gone beyond a working relationship to a personal friend, who I can share concerns and feelings with.

What do you like doing outside of work?

Snowboarding, skateboarding, working on my jeep, going to the desert, off-roading, mountain biking and everything outdoors.

What’s your favorite restaurant?

Sushi Yosuke in Anaheim Hills. I especially like the albacore and blue fin tuna.

This is one of my grandmother’s favorite poems and it is a timeless…she gave me a copy of the poem when I was twelve and I’ve kept it ever since.

Be the Best of Whatever You Are

If you can’t be the pine on the top of the hill,

Be a scrub in the valley - - but be

The best little scrub by the side of the hill;

Be a bush if you can’t be a tree.

If you can’t be a bush be a bit of the grass,

And some highway happier make;

If you can’t be a Muskie then just be a bass- -

But the liveliest bass in the lake!

We can’t all be captains; we’ve got to be a crew,

There is something for all of us here,

There’s big work to do, and there’s lesser to do,

And the task you must do is the near.

If you can’t be a highway then just be a trail,

If you can’t be the sun be a star;

It isn’t by size that you win or you fail- -

Be the best of whatever you are.

Douglas Malloch