By Aaron Chaves:
There are people you meet throughout your career who leave an impression because of what they accomplish.
Then there are people like John Glodt, who leave an impression because of who they are. With the blessing of John’s wife and family, I wanted to share the heartbreaking news that John passed away last week on July 1 after a courageous battle with an aggressive form of cancer.
For those of us fortunate enough to know him, John wasn’t just a respected veteran of the parking and mobility industry. He was one of the genuinely good people.
His career took him through organizations including 3M, DESIGNA, WPS, TIBA Parking, and even his own consulting business for a time, but what always stood out to me wasn’t the logo on his business card, it was the person carrying it.
John had a servant’s heart. He was the “give you the shirt off of his back” guy. He was the kind of man who would spend extra time negotiating just to help someone get the best possible deal. He’d answer the phone whenever you called, make introductions without expecting anything in return, and always seemed more interested in helping someone else succeed than talking about himself.
For all of John’s professional accomplishments, they always came second to the people waiting for him at home. He was incredibly proud of his wife and children, and that was evident in everything he did. Whether he was sharing stories about his family or inviting you out to hear his son perform, you could see where his heart truly was.
Even throughout his battle, John’s positivity never wavered. He had an incredible ability to make others feel encouraged, even when he was the one facing the hardest road. In an industry built on relationships, John reminded us what those relationships are really about. Character. Integrity. Kindness. Generosity. Taking care of people, not because you have to, but because it’s simply who you are.
The industry lost one of its finest this past week, and I lost a friend.
John, thank you for every conversation, every laugh, every lesson, and every reminder that the measure of a career isn’t found in the companies you work for, but in the lives you impact along the way. May you rest in peace, my friend.
Please keep John’s wife, children, family, and all who loved him in your thoughts and prayers during this incredibly difficult time.
Aaron Chaves is the Vice President of Operations for Parking Company of America. Aaron can be reached at aaronchaves@parkpca.com.