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The 'King of Park'
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Everette Yoakum, the "King of Park"
Would you give your car to a stranger, someone you didn’t know and had never seen before? Someone you knew nothing about? Of course you would, every time you go to a parking garage that offers valet parking. And if you’re unfortunate enough to have to operate a non-commercial motor vehicle in downtown Chicago, you’ll probably be (or already are) interacting with one of these “strangers.” So, perhaps this is a good time to get to know the person with whom you are entrusting what may be your most prized possession.
Everette Yoakum is the garage manager for the Hyatt Regency Chicago on Wacker Drive, just east of Michigan Avenue. It’s a position he’s held since 2000. Mr. Yoakum oversees a sprawling, multi-building, multi-level operation that’s capable of accommodating over 900 vehicles. Maintaining a secure facility, supervising a large, diverse and occasionally transient workforce, satisfying the dictates of superiors and customers, assisting in the development and implementation of parking policies and procedures and providing “on-the-ground” manpower when needed are only a few of the duties he handles on a daily basis. Mr. Yoakum also performs as a “psychologist,” so to speak, for those 900 vehicles come with 900 drivers, each one having their own unique temperament. From the meticulous worry wart that checks the weather and knows where the road construction is before even considering driving their car, to the uncaring owner of a 20-year-old, rust-encrusted, dent-laden “beater,” Everette Yoakum must deal with them all equally. It definitely helps that he already possesses an unflappable demeanor, he also knows what he’s doing; calling upon skills acquired and perfected from having accrued over 19 years experience in the parking business. There is no doubt that when you encounter Mr. Yoakum, and the efficient staff he’s helped to train, you are dealing with professionals. But even the “pros” have their limits. Parking anywhere in downtown Chicago can be an expensive undertaking and the Hyatt Regency Chicago is no exception (though their rates are lower than many nearby facilities). If we want our parking experience to be a pleasant one, there are things that we, as customers, should do.
How much did you pay for your car, $20,000, $30,000, $40,000, perhaps more? Having shelled out those kinds of bucks, you would think people would be more cognizant of their car’s condition before turning it over to the parking professionals. Such is not always the case and Mr. Yoakum wishes it were. ‘Seems like you didn’t notice that insignificant blemish near the rear bumper when you arrived and you were in too big a hurry anyway so you didn’t examine your vehicle with the attendant prior to leaving. Now it’s retrieval time and the tiny mark you didn’t even know was there has become a major eyesore, degrading the appearance (and value) of your car. Instances such as these were the bane of parking professionals but at the Hyatt Regency Chicago it hardly ever happens, thanks in part to a state-of-the-art video system that captures images of your car, in all its glory, when you pull in. Consequently, any discrepancies are usually settled quickly and to everyone’s satisfaction.
Now, you might think Everette Yoakum’s job, which calls for him to dwell within and throughout the recesses of Lower Wacker Drive, is a less than glamorous occupation. You’d be oh, so wrong, for this position has afforded Mr. Yoakum the opportunity to know, and be considered a friend of, President Obama himself. They met prior to Mr. Obama becoming a U.S. senator and their paths have crossed numerous times since; most recently as a few days ago when the president spoke at the American Medical Association convention held at the Hyatt. There have been many encounters with the rich and famous over the years but you need not worry that Everette Yoakum caters to the “big shots” at your expense. He and his staff are experts at what they do and when you pull into the Hyatt Regency Chicago garage, east or west tower, they’ll make you feel that no car in the garage is as important as yours.
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