Transportation Services Staff Recognized For Professional Excellence

The International Parking & Mobility Institute (IPMI) has selected Texas A&M Transportation Services Director Kenneth Kimball, Administrative Associate IV Carol Yeager, and Marketing and Communications Manager Melissa Bubela for its Professional Excellence Award for their outstanding contributions in their respective professions.

The award is part of IPMI’s Professional Recognition Program, which was created to acknowledge professionals who operate, maintain, and manage parking and mobility operations, and the individuals who are changing the perception of the industry as a career and profession. Award winners are nominated by their peers and selected by a committee of industry professionals.

“We are extremely proud of our staff for their outstanding commitment and hard work,” said Transportation Services Associate Vice President Peter Lange. “We commend and thank them for their professional excellence. Our department and university are thrilled to see them receive such prestigious recognition by the industry.”

Kimball manages a budget of $50 million, directing the I.T. development and support unit, and overseeing the human resources manager and staff. He also volunteers in his church and community and for Texas A&M, leading a university committee of business administrators.

He is frequently called upon by peer universities, undergraduates and graduate students to lend help and solutions to their problems or projects. He took the lead for his department to become an Accredited Parking Organization (APO) with Distinction, meeting with all of the units to lay out expectations and gather and organize thousands of documents.

His plans help his department thrive even in lean times. As the department financial adviser, Kimball’s goal is to always make sure leadership has the information needed to make sound fiscal decisions, said Transportation Services officials. His strength is projecting what the budgets will look like in the future and creating good models. Officials said he is talented at building models that factor in the many challenges of budgeting for auxiliary services in a university environment. Recently, he was placed on a university-level task force to explore how recent changes to federal tax law will affect parking benefits for staff and faculty.

“Our Professional Recognition Program spotlights industry professionals who elevate their organizations and everyone around them,” says IPMI CEO Shawn Conrad, CAE. “Kenneth’s commitment to fiscal responsibility, creativity and excellence benefit his entire organization and everyone it serves.”

Yeager has been with Texas A&M Transportation Services since 2008, and is credited with single-handedly creating a culture of service toward its personnel. Every year, she is a top nominee and frequent winner of the department’s Shining Star awards, which recognize selfless service and commitment to the department’s mission. She is known for her characteristic humor and good nature, her co-workers said. She serves as the manager’s administrative assistant and assisting with daily office support activities for eight other supervisors and managerial staff. Additionally, she is active with departmental committees and has served as the unit’s representative for university-wide fundraisers.

On football game days, when work shifts often last up to 18 hours, she arranges for box lunches — frequently delivering them to each post — and then a full meal for all officers once the game begins. She assists in serving all meals and cleaning up after. She also assists during the annual move-in event, welcoming about 10,000 new students each fall semester, and is the primary expense account holder, making the purchasing decisions for the unit regarding all supplies, equipment, services, and uniforms.

“Carol exemplifies the characteristics we hope to see in all of our industry professionals and it’s our honor to recognize her,” added Conrad.

Bubela leads the marketing and communications charge for one of the largest parking and transportation operations on any college campus in the country. Her department was awarded an IPMI Parking Matters Marketing & Communications Award for three consecutive years. She manages two websites and two mobile apps that target nearly 200,000 combined users each year. She also oversees seven social media platforms, leads branding and image campaigns, and maintains media relationships and media inquiries, community relations, and public engagement.

Along with multiple successful marketing campaigns, Bubela led the implementation of the university’s Donations for Citations initiative and collaborated with the university’s Football Thursday gameday communications committee, which resulted in unprecedented social media engagement for the university, international media coverage, and university-wide recognition, Transportation Services officials said. Furthermore, she has participated in some of the university’s most notable events, providing communications support for events such as the 2017 Hurricane Harvey response and the George H.W. and Barbara Bush interments.

“Melissa has a tough job and does it with style, helping spread the good word about parking and mobility far and wide. We’re grateful to have her talent and commitment in the industry,” Conrad said.

For more information about the competition and this year’s winners, visit Parking & Mobility.

About Transportation Services
Transportation Services is an empowered team of professionals dedicated to providing efficient, dynamic and innovative fleet, parking and transit services to the Texas A&M University community. Transportation Services supports the teaching, research and public service mission of Texas A&M University, with focus on customer service and communication.