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Gov Business Review: Specials Magazine
Adriver pulls up to the entry kiosk of a downtown parking garage on a weekday morning. Coffee cup in one hand and office badge clipped to his shirt, he’s already running late for a meeting. He leans out with his card, the machine beeps and then freezes. The line of cars behind him idles in a sea of brake lights. He tries again, and the kiosk flashes another prompt, but the barrier doesn’t raise. Picture the same scene repeated across cities, from staff arriving at hospitals to travelers heading to airport decks. Each time, the seconds lost at the gate compound stress, and routine entry points become daily choke points in the flow of urban life. Federal Parking addresses this gap with a human-centered model of automation. “Moments like these reflect a larger issue across the U.S.,” says Barrett Goodman, owner and CFO. “Parking has been digitalized, but not always humanized. Automated platforms handle payments and issue receipts, but they cannot mediate tempers, guide someone through a failed transaction or keep vehicles moving when a system hiccup stalls the lane.” Federal Parking draws the line between ordinary efficiency and real-world reliability. Its license plate recognition, QR-enabled entry and gateless systems make daily parking seamless. Yet when technology stumbles—as it inevitably does—trained professionals are on-site to intervene, de-escalate and restore flow. The company’s approach ensures automation handles the routine, while people handle the exceptions. It’s a technology augmenting a human-managed service experience. Whether it’s a high-traffic commercial garage, a mixed-use development or a premium residential building, Federal Parking tailors its approach to each property. The advanced technology with robust safety protocols and intuitive customer engagement tools creates a cohesive, responsive ecosystem that meets the expectations of both property owners and end users.
Top Lobbying Firm 2025
A new governor takes office. A senior legislator steps down. Suddenly, priorities shift, alliances change, and the policy landscape looks completely different. For companies with something at stake, whether it is a regulation, a funding stream, or a market opportunity, the rules of engagement can change overnight. Without the right relationships or up-to-the-minute insight, even the most carefully crafted strategy can fall flat. The 51 Group was built for moments like this. As a national bipartisan government relations firm, it works across all 50 states and in Washington, D.C., helping clients stay grounded in the middle of political uncertainty. What sets the firm apart is how it navigates change. With long-standing relationships, deep policy fluency, and strategies tailored to each client’s goals, The 51 Group turns volatility into opportunity. That ability comes straight from the top. Co-founders Davis and Scott did not build their network overnight. They spent years in the trenches, working alongside governors, legislators, lobbyists, and clients alike. They showed up to the right rooms, built trust over time, and kept showing up. That consistency has created a network with real depth and real influence. Through conferences, casual conversations, and day-to-day collaboration, Davis and Scott have built an ecosystem. One where the right introduction happens at the right moment, and where advocacy is as much about listening as it is about speaking up. For their clients, that can make all the difference. A Relationship-First Approach to Lobbying Clients experience the strength of that network every day. When an education client hits a legislative obstacle in a state where they have no presence, The 51 Group makes the connection to a local lobbyist it has an established relationship with, one who is proven and trusted. These are not cold introductions, but relationships shaped over years of collaboration, allowing clients to bypass delays and speak directly with decision-makers. That level of coordination extends through every stage of the relationship. The 51 Group takes a proactive approach, staying closely aligned with clients through regular check-ins, joint planning, and clearly defined goals. When a bill is introduced or a rulemaking begins, the response is already in motion; focused, timely, and effective.
CXO INSIGHTS
Rising Out Of the Pandemic- Identifying the Challenges and Bridging the Gap Between Resources and Low To Moderate Income Families
Tanya Jones, Associate Vice President of Government Relations and Advocacy, HeartShare Human Services of New York
Shaping the Future of Traffic and Transportation in the City of Rockville
Emad Elshafei, Chief of Traffic and Transportation, City of Rockville
Escalating Software Costs In Calvert County: Understanding And Addressing The Challenges
Stephen Pereira, Chief Information Officer, Calvert County Government
The Pierce Playbook of Modern Day Citymaking
Dalton Pierce, City Manager, City of York
Mastering Leadership in Service and Crisis
Dalton Rice, City Manager, City of Kerrville
IN FOCUS
Modernizing Municipal Transportation for a Multi-Modal Future
E-commerce, micromobility, and new work paradigms are reshaping urban transport. Municipal policies lag, creating a governance gap that cities must address to achieve sustainable and efficient mobility.
The Infrastructure Influence Economy: Lobbying at the Intersection of Policy and Procurement
Public-private partnerships are vital for infrastructure development, highlighting the importance of collaboration, data-driven advocacy, and long-term strategic influence in shaping national projects.
EDITORIAL
Intelligence at the Core of Urban Mobility
The parking industry has quietly become one of the more sophisticated corners of urban technology and most people haven’t noticed. What used to be meters, barriers and patrol officers is now a real-time intelligence operation. Cloud platforms and IoT sensors are turning static spaces into dynamic assets that respond to demand as it happens. U.S. cities are deploying pricing systems that adjust by the minute based on occupancy, reducing the circling traffic that accounts for a surprising share of urban congestion while providing operators with live visibility into utilization and revenue. But the bigger shift is conceptual. Parking facilities are no longer just parking facilities; they’re mobility hubs. EV charging stations, bike-share docks and last-mile logistics are converging under unified management systems that coordinate flow across transportation modes. This isn’t about optimizing car storage. It’s about rethinking how cities move people and goods. The market is responding accordingly. Smart parking is projected to grow at a rate of 18.29 percent annually through 2029, with parking management expanding at a rate of 20.4 percent through 2030. That’s not incremental growth. That’s recognition of infrastructure becoming intelligence and cities learning to think differently about their curbs. This edition highlights public sector leaders reshaping digital governance. Inez J. Rodenburg, GISP, CGCIO, MBA, chief information officer (CIO), City of Danville, Virginia, emphasizes the importance of bridging generational divides in e-governance to ensure inclusive digital access. Stephen Pereira, chief information officer, Calvert County Government focuses on managing rising software costs while balancing security, efficiency and fiscal responsibility. Together, they demonstrate how modern governance thrives on the combination of technology and empathy. We also spotlight Federal Parking, a Mid-Atlantic leader blending technology with human oversight in parking management. Led by Barrett Goodman, the company operates 35 garages with systems that combine automation, on-site support and real-time coordination. From urban operations to its luxury Collector’s Car Corral, Federal Parking sets new standards for efficiency and service. We hope these perspectives help technology leaders, city planners and mobility innovators navigate the U.S. transformation in urban infrastructure and digital governance.
