Domain Expert
1) Who are they and what is their background?
I have chosen Armen Megerdoomian as the domain expert regarding parking. Mr. Megerdoomian is a Senior Parking Consultant for Walter P. Moore specializing in master planning, functional design, design development, feasibility studies, and field observations.
2) How will they fit this spot?
Given his background and expertise, Mr. Megerdoomian will be able to provide insight regarding efficient parking at the University of Florida.
3) How did you find and contact this person?
To find this person, I searched for parking consultants on the Internet. In order to contact this person, I sent an message to the email linked on their profile page on the company website.
4) The nature of the exchange you have with the person -- what favor did they do for you? What is the return expectation?
I sent Mr. Megerdoomian an email explaining the struggle undergraduate students that live off-campus have to face everyday regarding parking. In the email, I inserted a picture of campus to show him the distance from the parking lots to the center of campus, as well as the size of the parking lots. I asked Mr. Megerdoomian what he would do if he were hired by the university to expand parking.
5) How will including this person in your network enhance your ability to exploit an opportunity?
Based on Mr. Megerdoomian's goals as a Parking Consultant, I believe he will be an asset due to the fact we both want to tackle parking shortages. Similar goals will yield similar results.
Market Expert
1) Who are they and what is their background?
I have chose Luis Macedo of LAZ Parking as a market expert. Mr. Macedo is the Regional Manager of LAZ Parking's Florida Division.
2) How will they fit this spot?
Given his expertise on campus parking garages, I feel as if though Mr. Macedo can be able to balance parking for students, staff, and guests.
3) How did you find and contact this person?
By searching for "parking lot owners", I came across LAZ Parking. While navigating through their website I found an page specifically for campus parking. This webpage has a contact button that directs to Luis Macedos information.
4) The nature of the exchange you have with the person -- what favor did they do for you? What is the return expectation?
The information I sent Mr. Macedo is similar to what I sent to Mr. Megerdoomian. However, since LAZ Parking has a focus on campus parking, I also asked about the feasibility of this project.
5) How will including this person in your network enhance your ability to exploit an opportunity?
Having Mr. Macedo and LAZ Parking in my network will benefit the ultimate consumer. Since the firm focuses on its consumers first, if they were to manage their own garages on campus, decals may be more affordable for students.
Supplier
1) Who are they and what is their background?
I decided to choose Alan Carroll from McCarthy Building Companies. Mr. Carroll is the Executive Vice President of Parking at McCarthy. He has experience in delivering parking solutions for healthcare, commercial, education and government clients.
2) How will they fit this spot?
Given Mr. Carroll's background in developing parking for the educational sector, I believe him and McCarthy will be able to enhance the parking situation at UF.
3) How did you find and contact this person?
I searched for firms that primarily focus on parking lots and garages. I then found McCarthy Building Companies and looked at their employee page. I scanned through the employees' biographies looking for one that dealt with educational facilities. I contacted Mr. Carroll through the email on the company webpage.
4) The nature of the exchange you have with the person -- what favor did they do for you? What is the return expectation?
I asked Mr. Carroll questions regarding the construction process for parking at colleges and universities. I also asked about the possibility for underground parking in Florida.
5) How will including this person in your network enhance your ability to exploit an opportunity?
If the university were to expand parking, McCarthy would be a great firm to work with due to their knowledge regarding parking for educational facilities and consumers' needs and wants.
Reflection
Although awkward at first, contacting professionals allowed me to gain some confidence when networking. This assignment allowed me to understand that in the world of business, it is okay to ask for help and guidance. This networking experience tended to be different than past experiences because this one revolved around a product, rather than the actual individuals involved.
1) Who are they and what is their background?
I have chosen Armen Megerdoomian as the domain expert regarding parking. Mr. Megerdoomian is a Senior Parking Consultant for Walter P. Moore specializing in master planning, functional design, design development, feasibility studies, and field observations.
2) How will they fit this spot?
Given his background and expertise, Mr. Megerdoomian will be able to provide insight regarding efficient parking at the University of Florida.
3) How did you find and contact this person?
To find this person, I searched for parking consultants on the Internet. In order to contact this person, I sent an message to the email linked on their profile page on the company website.
4) The nature of the exchange you have with the person -- what favor did they do for you? What is the return expectation?
I sent Mr. Megerdoomian an email explaining the struggle undergraduate students that live off-campus have to face everyday regarding parking. In the email, I inserted a picture of campus to show him the distance from the parking lots to the center of campus, as well as the size of the parking lots. I asked Mr. Megerdoomian what he would do if he were hired by the university to expand parking.
5) How will including this person in your network enhance your ability to exploit an opportunity?
Based on Mr. Megerdoomian's goals as a Parking Consultant, I believe he will be an asset due to the fact we both want to tackle parking shortages. Similar goals will yield similar results.
Market Expert
1) Who are they and what is their background?
I have chose Luis Macedo of LAZ Parking as a market expert. Mr. Macedo is the Regional Manager of LAZ Parking's Florida Division.
2) How will they fit this spot?
Given his expertise on campus parking garages, I feel as if though Mr. Macedo can be able to balance parking for students, staff, and guests.
3) How did you find and contact this person?
By searching for "parking lot owners", I came across LAZ Parking. While navigating through their website I found an page specifically for campus parking. This webpage has a contact button that directs to Luis Macedos information.
4) The nature of the exchange you have with the person -- what favor did they do for you? What is the return expectation?
The information I sent Mr. Macedo is similar to what I sent to Mr. Megerdoomian. However, since LAZ Parking has a focus on campus parking, I also asked about the feasibility of this project.
5) How will including this person in your network enhance your ability to exploit an opportunity?
Having Mr. Macedo and LAZ Parking in my network will benefit the ultimate consumer. Since the firm focuses on its consumers first, if they were to manage their own garages on campus, decals may be more affordable for students.
Supplier
1) Who are they and what is their background?
I decided to choose Alan Carroll from McCarthy Building Companies. Mr. Carroll is the Executive Vice President of Parking at McCarthy. He has experience in delivering parking solutions for healthcare, commercial, education and government clients.
2) How will they fit this spot?
Given Mr. Carroll's background in developing parking for the educational sector, I believe him and McCarthy will be able to enhance the parking situation at UF.
3) How did you find and contact this person?
I searched for firms that primarily focus on parking lots and garages. I then found McCarthy Building Companies and looked at their employee page. I scanned through the employees' biographies looking for one that dealt with educational facilities. I contacted Mr. Carroll through the email on the company webpage.
4) The nature of the exchange you have with the person -- what favor did they do for you? What is the return expectation?
I asked Mr. Carroll questions regarding the construction process for parking at colleges and universities. I also asked about the possibility for underground parking in Florida.
5) How will including this person in your network enhance your ability to exploit an opportunity?
If the university were to expand parking, McCarthy would be a great firm to work with due to their knowledge regarding parking for educational facilities and consumers' needs and wants.
Reflection
Although awkward at first, contacting professionals allowed me to gain some confidence when networking. This assignment allowed me to understand that in the world of business, it is okay to ask for help and guidance. This networking experience tended to be different than past experiences because this one revolved around a product, rather than the actual individuals involved.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI agree that this assignment may have been awkward at first but networking is a very good skill to have. These new networks can help lead to opportunities or if anything a person who can share some advice. I think sending an email is a good start but trying to have a phone conversation or face to face conversation may be very helpful for networking opportunities in the future. Great post.