Naomi Redman, Implementation Manager
Naomi has been with WPS for many years, so she knows WPS like no one else. Time to ask her some questions about her job, the parking world and her own parking experiences.
What is your role within our company and what exactly does it entail?
N: I’m the Implementation Manager at WPS UK, which means I wear a lot of hats! I work with just about everyone, from our sales team to our suppliers, making sure projects go off without a hitch. I’m the person who makes sure that once a sale is made, the project runs smoothly from start to finish. I also look after our biggest UK client, managing proposals and have done so for many years.
What do you like most about your role?
N: I like that it’s very varied and challenging, no two days are the same. I’m constantly learning from others around me as the products, functionalities and integrations change through the years.
What do you think are the most important qualities that someone in your position should have?
N: One must have a high attention to detail and be able to confidently work together with all personnel, clients and suppliers. It’s crucial to be time focussed and be able to efficiently prioritise tasks as my role is constantly juggling multiple tasks for different clients and colleagues at the same time. Communication, approachability and teamwork is essential.
If you could swap jobs with a colleague for a day, who would you choose and why?
N: We have so many talented folks at WPS, it’s tough to pick just one! But if I had to choose, I’d swap with one of our tech whizzes like Darren Smith, Stijn Wilms, or Dave Souren. I’m not exactly tech-savvy, so I’d love to see what it’s like to have their brainpower for a day and dive into the nitty-gritty of ParkID and IT
What is your biggest 'parking blunder'? Have you ever made a hilarious parking mistake?
N: Oh, the irony of working in the parking industry when I actually hate parking a car! My funniest mistake? Definitely the time I thought I was in reverse but was actually in drive... and ended up crashing into the car in front of me. I was absolutely mortified, but at least the owner of the other car said I was honest as I left a note and paid for his repairs!
If you were a car, what type of car would you be and why?
N: It would have to be the ‘DeLorean time machine’ from the film Back to the Future. After all, who wouldn’t want to travel to different eras to experience it!
Aside from a parking problem, what can people wake you up for in the middle of the night?
N: My daughter and granddaughter know they can call me anytime, day or night. I’m always here for my loved ones, no matter what.
What gives you the most energy during your work?
N: Teamwork really does make the dream work! Collaborating with different people across the business and within our group keeps things dynamic and helps us all learn from each other. It’s what makes the job exciting and fulfilling.
How would your colleagues describe you in three words?
N: I’m sure there are many ways people would describe me, but some may not be appropriate for this ‘Meet the Team’. I guess some colleagues may say I’m reliable, adaptable and knowledgeable.
What do you want to achieve professionally?
N: I’ve only worked for two companies over the last 30 years. I guess you can call me a loyal employee! I’ve been given the opportunity to work in different departments learning multiple skills. I don’t really have a specific career path to aim for, I always want to just do my best at whatever I do.
How do you see the future of parking?
N: I see everything moving to ticketless ANPR solutions; however, I think the parking industry needs to bear in mind and respect our elders to ensure they have the parking facilities and technology which they are able to use in parallel. The new National Parking Platform in the UK which WPS are ready for will assist parkers with using just one app rather than multiple different parking apps which will make it less frustrating for parkers throughout the UK.
Which parking problem would you like to fix?
N: Can we please get bigger parking spaces! Cars keep getting larger, but the parking spaces seem to be shrinking. It’s a tight squeeze out there!
What’s the most memorable parking experience you’ve ever had, either as a driver or in your professional life?
N: Although not intentionally, parking in the middle of the M4 motorway for an hour with all emergency services present I think is the most memorable! A car accidentally hit the rear passenger corner of my car and as I was trying to avoid it, I hit the central reservation and whilst trying to control the spin I ended up crashing into the side of a lorry. Thankfully my car took the majority of the impact, hence always wear a seatbelt! As you can imagine I am a very nervous driver now and refuse to drive on motorways at all costs.
Do you have any advice for customers to optimally benefit from our services/products?
N: The best advice I can give is to communicate with your regional sales manager, account manager, or technical manager. Talk about the challenges you’re facing in your car park, and we’ll find the right solution from our WPS portfolio to fit your needs.
To whom do you want to pass on the 'Meet our Parking Experts' baton?
N: I’d like to pass the baton on to Sven Zijlstra, the Project Lead at WPS NL. Sven is extremely knowledgeable, and he has assisted WPS UK on an installation sharing his knowledge and is always happy to help anyone.
