We are delighted to announce that Minuteman will start valet parking services at Torrance Memorial Medical Center on March 1, 2011. We are excited to partner with the hospital and we welcome everyone at Torrance Memorial to the Minuteman family.

Torrance Memorial Medical Center is a locally governed, 401-bed, non-profit medical center whose purpose is to provide quality healthcare services, predominantly to the residents of the South Bay, Peninsula and Harbor communities. Under the governance of a community-based board of trustees, Torrance Memorial serves the public interest by:

• Improving the community health within the scope and expertise of its resources
• Offering the most current and effective medical technologies rendered in a compassionate, caring manner
• Maintaining long-term stability in order to assure its strength and viability for the benefit of the community.

We are pleased to add this medical facility to our growing list of clients in the West.

Since 2004, Minuteman Parking has been working with a Veteran’s Administration program called New Directions, helping Veterans from three wars obtain and retain productive employment.

Los Angeles has the largest population of homeless military veterans in the nation. An estimated 15,000 veterans live on the streets of L.A. — eleven percent (11%) of all homeless veterans nationwide. Many of these men and women suffer from various disorders, including substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as well as chronic medical problems.

Since 1992, New Directions has provided comprehensive services to thousands of veterans in Los Angeles County. More than 600 men and women seek assistance from the agency each year, and 225 veterans receive round-the-clock care at five different residential centers. Also, currently in development is a 147-unit supportive housing facility for homeless and disabled veterans.

Minuteman Parking has used veterans from this program for our “on call” special events, most of which are held on the VA grounds itself at the two theater venues there. Over 225 people from the program have worked for us as temporary as Lot Attendants since 2005 at these events. A number of these vets have gone on to become permanent employees of MMP after completing the program.

New Directions offers a wide array of services, including substance abuse treatment, job training and placement, parenting and money management classes, legal and financial assistance, counseling, remedial education and resources for alumni. Clients leave New Directions with a job, housing, a savings account, computer skills, renewed self confidence and the support of mentors and peers. Such a transformation takes hard work, motivation and accountability, but the results are life-altering — and for many veterans, life-saving.

Several of the Minuteman HQ staff, including Dan Curtin, our HR Director, Treavor Bramwell, the MMP location Manager for VA special events and Candace Angeles from the MMP HR Department recently toured the New Directions facilities in West Los Angeles. Dominick Metoyer, Job Development Manager for New Directions showed them around the campus. They were very impressed by the quality of the facilities, the friendliness and professionalism of all the staff and the warm greetings from the many vets we encountered along the tour. The main need of the Centers at this time is to find jobs for the graduates of their programs in this recessionary economy which is not easy for those veterans with special needs. We are proud of our involvement with New Directions and feel we are doing our part to help them achieve successful outcomes. We look forward to many more years of working together with New Directions.

Spotlight 29 Casino, located in Coachella, CA, becomes the first property where we are “Revolutionizing Hospitality” in 2011.  Opening its doors in 1995, Spotlight 29 Casino is owned and operated by the Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians. From 2001 to 2006, the casino teamed up with Donald Trump and became Trump 29 Casino. Later in 2006, the casino returned back to Spotlight 29.

Spotlight 29 Casino is one of the valley’s leading destinations for dining and entertainment, offering 2,000 slot machines, premier entertainment, 5,000 sq. ft. of banquet space, and fine dining at Jem Steakhouse. The casino joins our growing list of clients in the Palm Springs area. Minuteman Parking is looking forward to implementing our unparalleled level of guest service at Spotlight 29!

Have you gotten your flu shot this year? If you haven’t, your excuse is most likely feeble. Influenza is a deadly infectious disease that returns every year, that can cause serious complications, particularly to young children and older adults. According to the federal Centers for Disease Control, the virus kills on average 36,000 Americans annually, a terrible toll—almost as many as die from auto accidents. Flu shots are considered by experts as the most effective way to prevent influenza and its complications. Here are the answers to common questions about flu shots.

This year’s annual flu shot will offer protection against the pandemic H1N1 (swine flu) virus, in addition to two other influenza viruses that are expected to be in circulation this winter. Last year people had to receive a separate flu shot to obtain protection against pandemic H1N1 influenza.

What sort of flu season is expected this year?

Flu seasons are unpredictable in a number of ways. Although epidemics of flu happen every year, the timing, severity, and length of the epidemic depends on many factors, including what influenza viruses are spreading and whether they match the viruses in the vaccine. Last flu season (2009-2010) saw the emergence of the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus (previously called “novel H1N1″ or “swine flu”). This virus caused the first influenza pandemic (global outbreak of disease caused by a new flu virus) in more than 40 years. While not certain, it is likely that 2009 H1N1 viruses will continue to spread along with seasonal viruses in the U.S.during the 2010-2011 flu season. The timing of flu is very unpredictable and can vary from season to season. Flu activity most commonly peaks in the U.S. in January or February. However, seasonal flu activity can occur as late as May.

Will new strains of flu circulate this season?

Flu viruses are constantly changing so it’s not unusual for new flu virus strains to appear each year. For more information about how flu viruses change, visit “How the Flu Virus Can Change.” While not certain, it is likely that 2009 H1N1 viruses and seasonal viruses will cause illness in the U.S. during the 2010-2011 flu season.

“I’m young and healthy,” you might say, “why do I need the shot?”

True, 90 percent of those who die from the flu are 65 and older, and many—but by no means all —have underlying medical conditions that weaken the lungs or heart. It’s not as though any deaths are acceptable, but these people are not the only ones at risk. In one year, five children aged 6 months to 15 years died suddenly from influenza in Colorado and Oklahoma; two children in England and four in Scotland had already died from the same strain that year. No one knows why some healthy children suddenly succumb to influenza. But as the virus spreads further through this country, there will almost certainly be more deaths.

One of those who died in Colorado was 8-year-old Joseph Williams. He had been perfectly healthy before the sudden onset of a stomach ache and fever. His parents took him to the emergency room, figuring he would get treatment and recover quickly, but a brain inflammation brought on by the influenza killed him in hours. The day after Joseph’s death, they held a tearful news conference and begged everyone in the community to get flu shots. If more people had been vaccinated, their child might have never contracted the infection in this first place.

Of the 92.6 million doses of vaccine, 29 people have died.  The math (which has taken me a half dozen tries to get right) comes out to one’s chances of dying from the vaccine as .00000000313 % — meaning — less than 1 in 3 million.

As of November 14, 2009, the CDC estimate 9,260 people have died from getting the H1N1 flu.  These are people who did not get the vaccine.  They also estimate 47 million people have had the H1N1 swine flu.  That figures to a .000197 % chance of dying from the flu — meaning — 1 in 5,075.

Put another way - my chances of dying from the flu are 591% GREATER than dying from the vaccine.

Even if spending a week violently sick and bedridden doesn’t worry you, by immunizing yourself, you vastly lessen the chances you will spread the virus to some child or older person (family member, friend, or stranger) who might die from it.

Most chain and many local drug stores are offering flu shots several times a week or daily at very reasonable cost. That cost is very nothing when compared to the wages lost and suffering you or your family or friends may have in dealing with the flu this season. So even if you do not care that you might save yourself a lot of misery by getting the shot, please understand that you could save someone else’s life.

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!

One morning a valet was pulling a vehicle from the valet lot. As he was driving out of the garage he did not stop at the stop sign for pedestrian traffic. As he drove out of the valet lot the vehicle struck a fellow team member who was walking on the sidewalk into the garage to clock in for his shift. The valet who was walking to clock in for work was seriously injured and had to be transported to the emergency room. The valet that was pulling the vehicle knew the purpose for the stop sign being at the exit of the garage was because the sidewalk could not be seen from inside the valet lot. The stop sign was a safety measure to prevent a pedestrian from getting hit by a vehicle leaving the valet lot. This accident could have been prevented if the valet would have stopped at the sign and looked for any pedestrian traffic at this blind corner of this location.

Blind spots are everywhere! It doesn’t matter what job duties you perform, you need to be aware of all blind spots. In the story above, the blind spot was caused by the parking garage. There is a sidewalk that runs along the side of the garage and the valets all know to obey traffic signals, stop before exiting the garage, and look both ways for pedestrians. In other parking garages we have blind spots as you drive in the parking areas. Whether blind spots are due to sharp turns in the garage or the ramps that lead to another level of the parking garage, valets need to remember to use their mirrors because once you are in a vehicle safety should be your number one concern.

Minuteman Parking Company has put in safety measures at your locations to help prevent accidents from happening in areas that have blind spots. We have put stop signs in areas where you may or may not be able to see a guest or patient. We have installed mirrors so that you can see an oncoming vehicle as you are parking or pulling a vehicle. We have also put mirrors on some of our self parking booths so that you can see if a vehicle is approaching the booth so you do not walk out of the booth and get hit.

While the company does want it can with our clients to put safeguards in place to expose the blind spots, we cannot control the HUMAN part, which comes down to YOU.  YOU must obey the stop signs and look so that someone is not hit.  When we have mirrors installed, YOU must take the time to look in the mirror for someone in the way of your vehicle.  Safety and avoiding injuring others still mostly comes down to YOU being alert at all times when in a vehicle doing your jobs.

For over 15 years Minuteman Parking Company has been rated top-tier in parking management. As the parking industry continues to grow, MINUTEMAN will remain true to its name and do exactly what it was born to do: start a revolution. Minuteman Parking Company is “Revolutionizing Hospitality.”

Minuteman Parking Company takes its name from the American troops who were able to mobilize and fight “at a minute’s notice” during the Revolutionary War. Christopher Fox, Minuteman’s President, is a native Bostonian and grew up not far from where Minutemen played a key role in the birth of our nation. The teams of Minutemen were tough and well-trained masters of their environment.

After proving itself as the premier provider of parking services on the West Coast, Minuteman looks to further its operations and expand back east. Minuteman continues to replicate its superior model of service from fine hotels to hospitals and medical facilities. “We believe that you can experience the same level of service when you pull up to a medical facility that you would at a 5-star hotel,” says Fox. Minuteman Parking Company has added five hospitals to its growing portfolio in the past year alone.

Let the revolution begin!

A Near Tragic Incident Involving a Valet and a Parked Vehicle

A Valet was retrieving a vehicle during the busiest part of the day and in the mist of all the parking, pulling and stack parking of vehicles surrounding him, one of his fellow teammates parked a vehicle on an end cap. It is normal at this particular location to park on end caps to maximize the space in the valet lot. While the Valet was rushing to retrieve the vehicle, he did not notice that the end cap was parked on and hit the vehicle head on as he was turning to drive out of the valet lot. The Valet walked away with minor injuries and the vehicle had minor scratches, but had his teammate still been parking the vehicle he struck, the damages could have been far worse. This entire accident could have been prevented if the Valet retrieving the vehicle was paying close attention to his work environment.

Minuteman Parking Company would like to take a moment to ask everyone a simple question, Are you aware of your ever changing work environment? 

We want you to think about and be aware of your work environment while you perform your daily tasks and we want to stress the importance of driving smart. Here are some questions to ask yourself while you are working:

·        Are there vehicles parked where they are not supposed to be?

·        If I am stack parking, am I stacking cars in a smart manner?

·        Do I need to make a wider turn to get in or out of the garage?

As we go into the winter months, Minuteman Parking Company also wants to make sure that all of our employees are aware of what effects a seasonal change can have on work environments. Everyday our environment can change. Whether it is due the sun getting in your eyes, rain hailing from the sky, or snow layering the once smooth surface of the ground, all of these factors can lead to a work related accident if no precautions are taken.  We want you to be aware of the factors the change in weather can play in work related injuries and vehicle claims. Here are some things to think about while at work:

·        Is there sun in your eyes when you enter or exit a valet lot?

·        Is the ground slippery due to rain, snow or ice?

·        Do the tires of vehicles seem to be gliding?

·        Do you have enough grip on your shoes?

·        Are the brake pedals wet?

As you go through your day to day operations, we want you to pay attention to the things that may go unnoticed during environment changes and remind you to use extreme caution to better protect yourself, your teammates, visitors, and guests form potential hazards.

At some locations we are dealing with construction. Being aware of construction zones is pertinent for everyone’s safety and a necessity in order to minimize hazards.  While construction is taking place, your work environment can change in a matter of minutes. Taking extra precautions and making sure you slow down in all construction zones whether you are walking, running, or driving is essential.

If you have any questions on what factors can change your work environment, please see your Manager. We want to ensure that every day you are at work you are safe. If you are off for a couple of days and come back to work and something looks different, ask your Manager or Driveway Ambassador if there have been any changes in your safe path of travels, driving routes, or in other areas surrounding your work space.