Name: Tony Albanese

Role: Head of Revenue

Location: Dallas

‍

Q: What brought you to Vend, and why did you choose to join the team?

A: I had been tracking Vend's progress from the very beginning, and when I decided to move on from my role at ParkHub, I just knew that Vend had the best product and team in the business. I reached out to Mike, and the rest is history.

‍

Q: That's fascinating! Can you tell us a bit more about your role at ParkHub before joining Vend?

A: At ParkHub, I was the Chief Revenue Officer. I had the privilege of overseeing revenue generation for the company, and it was a fantastic experience.

‍

Q: Now that you're at Vend, what's your favorite part of working here?

A: It's got to be the people, hands down. The team at Vend is incredible. Everyone is not only genuine but also incredibly intelligent. The atmosphere is fun, and what's even more rewarding is that we genuinely add value to all our stakeholders, from commercial real estate owners to parking operators and even the environment. It's a win-win all around.

‍

Q: That's wonderful! What would you say is the achievement in your career that you're most proud of?

A: Building and leading world-class Go-to-Market (GTM) teams has to be the highlight. In the process, I've had the privilege of helping my team members build rewarding careers. It's incredibly satisfying to see the people I've worked with excel.

‍

Q: Speaking of teams, how would you describe the culture here at Vend?

A: Our culture is fast-moving, and everyone is committed to excellence. But it's not all serious; it's full of joy, and that's what makes it unique.

‍

Q: That's a great way to sum it up. What do you think sets Vend's team culture apart from others in the industry?

A: It's the high concentration of outliers in terms of performance, brainpower, and activity level. Everyone here is driven to excel, and that's what makes us stand out.

‍

Q: Why parking? How did you first get started in the industry?

A: It's an interesting story, actually. A friend of mine started a parking tech company and asked me to help it grow. At the time, I knew absolutely nothing about the parking industry, but I was up for the challenge.

‍

Q: That's a bold move, and it clearly worked out. What are your goals for the next few months or years here at Vend?

A: My main focus is to continue to build the customer base and bring on new clients while laying the groundwork to build a high-performance sales team. I'm excited about the growth opportunities ahead.

‍

Q: Let’s get to know you personally. Is there something about you that people might find surprising?

A: Well, I can do some really cool magic tricks. It's a hidden talent of mine!

‍

Q: That is surprising! If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

A: Flying, for sure. Just think of the time I'd save on those long flights between meetings!

‍

Q: Flying would be quite handy!  What's the last song you listened to?

A: The Last Loving Words by Colter Wall. I'm a big fan of his music.

‍

Q: Great choice! And are you currently binge-watching anything or reading any interesting books?

A: I've been binge-watching "Suits" and "Upload" recently. Both are quite engaging.

‍

Q: What's one thing on your bucket list that you haven't had the chance to do yet?

A: I've always wanted to play baccarat at the Casino de Monte Carlo, and in a Tom Ford tux, channeling my inner Daniel Craig.

‍

Q: That sounds like a fantastic experience! Is there something interesting about you that we haven't asked yet?

A: Yes, I have taste-visual synesthesia. When I taste something, I visualize flavors. It's a quirky and unique part of who I am.

‍

That's fascinating! Thanks for sharing that with us. It's been a pleasure learning more about your journey we’re thrilled to have you joining the team!

‍