BOMA WM Panel Discussion| Downtown Grand Rapids Parking

Join BOMA West Michigan for a panel discussion regarding the hot topic,  "Downtown Grand Rapids Parking"! 

Parking is integral to creating and sustaining a vital downtown. This dynamic panel brings together subject matter experts to share their insights.  Discussion will include the factors that hinder parking efforts, and various solutions that the community could explore, including implementing a market-driven real-time reporting system and encouraging responsiveness of parking operators related to daytime commercial use.

Panelists will include Michael Ellis Sr, Owner of Ellis Parking, Jennifer Kasper, Associate Director of Mobile GR with the City of Grand Rapids, and Nicholas Monoyios, Director of Planning with The Rapid. 

Josh Lunger, VP of Government Affairs with the Grand Rapids Chamber, will serve as moderator. 

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$30 for Members // Complimentary for Event-Inclusive Members
$45 for Non-Members (limit - two events per calendar year)
$95 for Frequent Attendee Non-Members (3+ events per calendar year)

Registration for this event is now closed
Please contact wmbae@bomawm.org to inquire about late registration

**BOMA WM kindly asks that non-members join as a member or pay the frequent attendee rate beginning their third event per calendar year. 
Not a member? Join BOMA today!

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Panelists

Jennifer Kasper, Mobile GR Assistant Director, City of Grand Rapids

Jennifer Kasper is the Asst Director of Service Delivery and Operations for the City of Grand Rapids, Michigan's Mobile GR Department. After more than 10 years in the private sector primarily in Customer Service and Operations Management roles, she found her calling 7 years ago working in municipal government mobility operations. Over that time her roles and responsibilities have changed and evolved just as the Parking and Mobility world has, including a 6 month appointment at the beginning of 2024 as Interim Department Director. She currently oversees a staff of 35 employees who collectively maintain approximately 7,000 off street parking spaces, 2,300 paid on street parking spaces, and 10,000+ right of way signs.


Nicholas Monoyios, Director of Planning, The Rapid

Nicholas Monoyios is the Director of Planning at The Rapid where he is currently leading the completion of their 20-year Transit Master Plan process known as "Thriving: A Framework for the Future of Connectivity". He is the immediate Past Chair of Downtown Grand Rapids Inc (DGRI), recently completed a six-year term on the Mobile GR Commission, and currently serves on the Steering Committee for the Grand Rapids Community Master Plan and the GVMC Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Working Group.


Michael Ellis, CEO, Ellis Parking

Michael Ellis has been President of Ellis Parking Company since 1991 (now CEO). In addition to Ellis Company owning and managing parking assets, the company is the largest provider of Valet parking services in West Michigan. Mike is also active in downtown and suburban real estate development.  Mike has served as Board Chair of the Grand Rapids Art Museum, is on the executive committee of the Grand Rapids Symphony and the Corewell Health Foundation Board, and has served several terms as the president of the St. George Church Parish Council. He serves on many downtown committees and boards. Michael holds a BA from Princeton University and an MBA from the University of Michigan.

Moderator

Josh Lunger, VP of Government Affairs, Grand Rapids Chamber

As the VP of Government Affairs for the GR Chamber, Josh works to create a vibrant business climate with a focus on housing, local government and issues of regional significance.

Among other volunteer positions, he serves on boards of the Grand Rapids Downtown Improvement District, Kent County Housing Commission, Housing Kent, Mobile GR, and the Wellspring Preparatory High School Board of Education. Josh is a combat veteran and former paratrooper in the U.S. Army's 82nd Airborne Divison.

Josh has been recognized as "40 under 40" by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives in 2021 and the Grand Rapids Business Journal in 2018. He is also an alum of MSU's Michigan Political Leadership Program. He lives in Grand Rapids with his wife Heather and their rescued Weimaraner dogs. 

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