Biography

Barbara Chance grew up on a cattle and wheat farm in Frankfort, Kansas — population one thousand. She went on to earn a Ph.D. in Urban Sociology. No one would have predicted her next move: parking.

In 1982, she was recruited to serve as Director of On-Street Parking for the City of Philadelphia. Two years later, she did something almost unheard of at the time — she founded her own consulting firm, CHANCE Management Advisors, Inc, in a field with almost no independent advisory companies, and no other woman-owned firms.

For four decades, Barbara helped parking organizations across the country become more professional, more accountable, and more effective. Her philosophy was simple: parking is a serious, multi-million dollar industry — and it deserves to be treated that way.

For twenty years, she taught the Parking Management course for the CAPP certification program, shaping the careers of directors and staff from across the nation. Many of CMA's university and medical clients remained for twenty years. The core staff of the company stayed for 20 of the 35 years the firm worked. That kind of loyalty doesn't happen by accident.

In 2019, the International Parking & Mobility Institute honored her with its Lifetime Achievement Award — the industry's highest recognition. Please welcome Barbara J. Chance into the Parking Hall of Fame.