MAPTA Fall Conference at Turf Valley Resort Recap

by Chuck J. Boddy, PTMP

Facilities Director

Revenue Authority of Prince George’s County

The MAPTA Fall Conference at Turf Valley Resort (October 14–17) was time well spent - a chance to step out of the day-to-day and hear where the industry’s heading. It started off with the golf outing, which for me is more about fresh air than fairways. I’m not exactly a pro, but a morning out on the green with good people and bad swings does something for the head.

Once things moved indoors, the sessions covered the full spread of what parking and mobility are grappling with - safety in the field, the rise of smart-city tech, and how we communicate the value of what we do to our communities and leadership. Each one had a different flavor, but the through line was clear: we’re in a period of change, and how we adapt - in training, tech, and messaging - will shape what comes next.

For me, the municipal roundtable was the real highlight. We dove into parking enforcement and compliance, residential permit parking, meters, legislation that opens the door to new strategies and technology and loading zones. No theory, just people in the trenches comparing notes. What stuck with me was how similar our challenges are, whether you’re running a small town or a big city program - the balance between fairness, innovation, and keeping operations grounded in real-world needs.

By the end of the week, I walked away with a few new ideas, some good contacts, and maybe a slightly better short game. Next year’s MAPTA Conference at Kingsmill Resort (October 13–16) is already on my radar. I’ll be there - ready for more good conversation, more collaboration, and another shot at keeping the ball on the fairway.