The financial struggles of our nation have affected people of all industries and walks of life.  Although we remain constant here at Minuteman Parking Company, you as managers can work to maintain a team that is cohesive by recognizing some of the challenges our employees are having outside of work.

Although your employees arrive at work each day, clock in and begin their shift, there may be issues in their personal lives that are distracting them from their work.  They may be concerned about personal debt, financial hardships, family trials, and the nature of their own futures.

What can you do to help your employees be strong members of the Minuteman team?

1. Talk with your employees.  If you feel an employee is struggling, take the time to talk to them.  Reassure them of things that you can, and offer a listening ear to things that are of concern.
2. Offer encouragement to employees to help them stay focused and productive.  As a manager your bottom line is service, but the employees are the ones representing that bottom line.  Make sure you are their champion and their support system.   
   
3. Realize that you can build a positive and productive team during challenging economic times.   Employees need to know that their work matters.  Tell your employees thank you for their work.  Praise them for going above and beyond.

Your team has been a success up to this point, and can certainly continue following these principles as well as the Commitments to Excellence.  Together we can continue to prosper during these challenging times if we focus on our foundation; service, and those who provide it.

Minuteman Parking at Northern Trust Open

This is Minuteman Parking Company’s fifth year parking vehicles for the Northern Trust Open on the VA Greater Los Angeles grounds in West Los Angeles. Minuteman Parking Company along side with Westside Services parks over 3,000 cars a day for this event. This year we were able to staff directly from the VA Greater Los Angeles itself.

We would like to thank the New Directions Program for partnering with Minuteman Parking Company and letting us hire their residents for this event. They were a huge help. We have been partnering with New Directions for the past three years to staff this event and other events that we are contracted to do on the VA Greater Los Angeles grounds. Michael Johnson who has been an asset to our team for the past three years celebrated his third Northern Trust Open with Minuteman Parking Company.

Over the past couple of years the visitor flow has improved due to the creative thinking of Craig Owens. The landscape changes each year but Craig always has a plan to get the job done. Craig has been coordinating the parking for this event with Richard Scott for the past 5 years. Minuteman Parking Company would like to thank all of our team members who have come out to help us over the years. We would also like to let the staff from New Directions know that they are a valuable part of our team and this year they really made the Northern Trust Open a big success.

Drinking and Driving is a serious problem that plaques the United States. 23,000 deaths a year are caused by drunk drivers. When we drink, alcohol goes into our stomach where it is absorbed by the blood stream. The alcohol is then carried to the brain. When it reaches the brain, alcohol can affect our driving in three ways.

1. Alcohol impairs our judgment and decision making ability

2. Alcohol affects our coordination and our ability to handle a vehicle

3. Alcohol affects our vision—we can not always see things clearly

Minuteman Parking Company would like to remind everyone of our Drug and Alcohol Policy.

Substance Abuse

Illegal drugs in the workplace are a danger to everyone. Minuteman Parking Company is considered a Drug-Free Workplace. That means any employee who works for the Company is prohibited from engaging in the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensing, possession, or use or being under the influence of a controlled substance.  Controlled substances are generally considered to be, but not limited to, heroin, morphine, marijuana, hashish, cocaine, amphetamines, tranquilizers, PCP, LSD, “designer drugs,” etc., or any divertive thereof.  For the purposes of this policy being under the influence meant having any detectable level of alcohol or controlled substances in one’s system.

The consumption use or possession of any alcoholic beverage or controlled substance, or the illegal use of drug(s), by anyone while acting in any employment capacity for the Company or on Company property, is strictly prohibited. Anyone found in violation of this standard will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including immediate termination of employment without prior notice or warning.

Unusual Behavior: If, in the opinion of management, your behavior is considered to be unusual and is or could be injurious to the Company or its employees, you may be subject to a drug/alcohol test as a condition of continued employment.

On-the-Job Injury: If you are involved in any on-the-job injury, the medical facility where you are sent will be asked to conduct a test to determine if drugs, alcohol, or any illegal substance was present that could have contributed to the cause of the injury. This test is mandatory and considered to be a condition of continued employment. Failure to comply with the directions from the medical facility or to take this test will result in immediate termination of employment without further notice or warning.

Test Results: A test result that reveals illegal substance use or substance abuse or alcohol influence will normally result in immediate termination of employment of the employee.

Prescribed and Over-the-Counter Drugs: The use of prescribed or over-the-counter drugs, or possession incident to such use, is not prohibited if:

·         The drug has been legally obtained and is being used for the purpose for which it was prescribed or manufactured; and

·         The drug is being used at the dosage prescribed or authorized; and

·         The use of the drug is not inconsistent with the safe and efficient performance of the employee’s duties.

If you have any questions on the above policy please contact your locations Direct Manager or the Training and Safety Manager.

Pete Munoz - Manager of the Year

I wanted to share with everyone that Pete Munoz, our account manager at the Ventura Beach Marriott was selected as Minuteman Parking Company’s manager of the year for 2008 at our annual managers meeting this January.

Pete started as a valet in 1999 and worked his way up thru the ranks at different locations before becoming an account manager in Sherman Oaks and now Ventura. Pete has been at Ventura for the past two years in the manager’s role overseeing the self parking and valet operations.

Some factors contributing to Pete’s selection were his excellent scores with internal audits, annual performance review, claims ($0 paid claims in 2008), lunch compliance policy and revenue vs. payroll targets for his location.

Pete has done a great job this past year and has become an integral part of the Ventura Beach Marriott’s Management team with his willingness to help out the hotel in any way. Pete lives the spirit of “WOW” and delivers on our mission every day.

For Pete’s efforts he was presented with a 42” Sony Bravia HD TV by Chris Fox, President of Minuteman Parking Company at the conclusion of our Managers meeting this year at the Ventura Beach Marriott.

Congratulations on an outstanding job this past year Pete! Let’s keep the “WOW” going at Ventura Beach!

To all Minuteman Team Members,

I am writing to you as we enter the last month of 2008 to share my thoughts on what is going on in the world and with Minuteman Parking. This year has been an extraordinary year with the United States electing the first African American to be President and our economy sinking to depths that have not been seen since the Great Depression.

In terms of the economy, we are in the midst of one of the worst recessions since the Great Depression. The US Government is bailing out the financial services industry, the stock market is down 35 to 40%, housing prices have plummeted while foreclosures are rising, and the unemployment figures for California have recently risen above 8%. Because of the economy, personal and business travel is also down for the second half of 2008 which directly impacts our Hotels segment. In our Hospitals segment they have frozen equipment and other expenditures and have begun to limit or cut labor hours from their budgets. Some economists point out to a recovery during the second half of 2009 and others are saying that it may take even longer.

Fortunately, Minuteman Parking has been able to more than hang in there. Our revenue for the year is down, but we’ve been able to remain profitable by implementing aggressive cost controls. We have had to scale our labor hours back as some of our accounts have slowed and we appreciate your understanding that this is hopefully just a temporary setback. Our goal is to keep everyone employed and prospering in 2009. By continuing to work by our ˜Commitments To Excellence™” we will make Minuteman Parking Company an indispensable partner to our hotel and medical facility accounts. We need to come to work every day in these turbulent times asking ourselves, “How can I make myself indispensable today?” We all need to want to make a difference every day.

Thank you to all of you who have worked so hard in 2008 to help us continue to deliver on our commitments by providing excellent service to our partners and their customers. Our business is people-based and caring for others, teamwork and the little personal touches we add every day are what make Minuteman Parking different from other companies. You make it possible to keep our commitments and I thank you for that.

We have recently made some very positive changes that will impact our business when the economy starts to pick up later in 2009. In November, we re-launched our new website which now includes a blog and easier ways for people to contact us. Plus, the site establishes Minuteman Parking as one of the premier providers in the Western US. Check it out at www.minutemanparking.com/ and make sure to share the URL with your family, friends and colleagues. We have beefed up our sales efforts by bringing in Greg Best to drive new business and we have promoted Treavor Bramwell to training and safety manager as we continue to make training and safety a key differentiator in our marketplace. We want you to have all the tools necessary to be the best ambassador for your location that you can possibly be.

Finally, let’s be thankful as we enter this Holiday season - thankful for our families and friends, thankful for our jobs and for working at a stable company, thankful that we can still share our blessings with others.

I would like to leave you with a short quote about faith by Barbara J. Winter that I find appropriate these days:

“When you come to the edge of all the light you know and are about to step off into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing one of two things will happen: There will be something solid to stand on, or you will be taught how to fly.”

I have faith that the economy and country will recover and we will all be stronger for having gone through this turbulent time.

I would like to wish you and your families a happy and healthy Holiday Season. I am looking forward to a great year for Minuteman Parking in 2009 and beyond.

God Bless,

Chris Fox

When I promote someone to manager at Minuteman Parking, one of the first things I do is hand them a copy of Ken Blanchard’s Simple Truths of Services: Inspired by Johnny the Bagger. This book helps to reinforce the Minuteman Parking Commitments to Excellence.

I like this book because it helps people see that everyone can make a contribution and a difference. And that what may seem to be a small gesture can pay huge dividends. The story is about Johnny who has Down Syndrome and is a bagger at a grocery store. Johnny’s contribution was to come up with a new special saying each night. He would type up the saying and would then put them in customers’ bags the next day. This small gesture ultimately transformed the whole store and inspired other employees to ‘delight’ their customers too.

My challenge to all Minuteman employees is to:

Think about something you can do for your customer to make them feel special - a memory that will make them come back.

If you don’t have time to read the book, at least take the time to watch this 3-minute movie about the story. I am confident that you will be as inspired by the story as I was and continue to be:

At Minuteman Parking, we are passionate about our service and professionalism. Wherever I go, I am always on the lookout to see how other valet parking companies operate – and it always amazes me what I find.

Here are just a few telltale signs illustrated by some pictures we took recently while conducting some competitor research:

Are your valets inattentive and do they look uninterested in customer services? You only get one chance at making a great first impression for your property. To provide a jumpstart on this first impression, Minuteman Parking requires all attendants to remain posted and standing at all times to create a positive and friendly atmosphere. We also create a personalized script to greet guests and visitors so that everyone is greeted courteously and consistently. All of our associates are always in a proper and professional uniform and they do not wear sunglasses unless medically necessary.

Inattentive Valets Provide Poor Customer Service

Minuteman Associates Are Always Attentive and Professional

Are your valets using cell phones while on duty? If your valet attendants are using cell phones while on duty, they are not providing their full attention to making a favorable impression for your property. At Minuteman Parking, our associates are instructed to never use cellphones while on duty.

Minuteman Associates Never Use Phones On Duty

Are your valets eating on duty? How can associates provide exceptional customer service when their mouths are full or their fingers are greasy? Minuteman Parking has a strict “no food on duty, period� policy. We enforce a policy of eating only while on assigned breaks and only in designated areas.

Minuteman Associates Never Eat On Duty

Do your valets follow valet parking best practices? Minuteman Parking sets strict parking procedures that include parking only in designated valet parking areas and backing cars into spaces to make them easily identifiable and to reduce the risk of accidents. On on-site manager or shift leader periodically patrols our parking areas to ensure compliance and reinforce procedures on a daily basis.

Minuteman Follows Valet Parking Best Practices

Minuteman Parking takes pride in providing exceptional customer service. In fact, we have established our 10 Commitments to Excellence that is ingrained in everything we do:

1. Enthusiasm is the fuel of great service.
2. Honesty & Integrity: Each individual is responsible for his/her own actions.
3. Greet every guest with a warm welcome and bid them a fond farewell.
4. Teamwork builds trust, support and forms us into a cohesive unit.
5. Workplace knowledge of your job and area enhances the guest experience.
6. A positive attitude reflects well on you, your department and your location.
7. Common courtesy is expected everywhere; in the hospitality business it is essential.
8. Respect of our guests, yourself and your teammates reflects in your job performance.
9. Professional behavior ensures our guests that they are in good hands.
10. EXCEEDING PATIENTS AND VISITORS EXPECTATIONS IS OUR MAIN GOAL