Executive Profiles | LAZ Parking

Jared Svendsen

REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENT, SOUTHWEST

Jared Svendsen began working for LAZ Parking's West Coast Division in 1997 as a front-line valet while attending San Diego State University. After graduation, he went on to work for a national real estate trust, where he gained experience in all facets of Property Management. During his 20 year career with LAZ he has worked at all levels of management and has been involved with the planning, implementation, and management of the region’s largest operations.

He currently serves as the Vice President for the Southwest Region, which includes the San Diego, Orange County, and Arizona markets. Jared holds a BS degree in Social Science from SDSU where he graduated summa cum laude.

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Georgi Taja

Senior Vice President

Georgi Taja joined LAZ Parking in 2007 as Senior Vice President after an extensive career with an international parking company where he served in various management, operational, and leadership roles. Since 1988, Georgi has gained experience in airport parking operations, mixed-use facility management, hotel valet, stadium and event management, on-street meter collections, and enforcement and shuttle operations.

Georgi's marketing and management experience includes process improvements, implementing web-based applications, new location planning, acquisition and set-up, and evaluating and enhancing property asset by developing and implementing strategic marketing and business plans to accelerate growth for owned and client locations. He has been a full member of the Building Owners and Managers Association, the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, the Central Atlanta Progress, and the National Parking Association. He is a graduate of the George T. Baker Aviation Institute.

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Glenn Terk

Corporation Counsel

Glenn Terk joined LAZ Parking as Corporation Counsel in 2012 after enjoying many years working with LAZ in his private practice. Prior to joining LAZ Parking, Glenn was involved in the general practice of law in Hartford and Wethersfield, Connecticut with an emphasis on business and commercial transactions and litigation.

Glenn is admitted to the bar in the State of Connecticut, the US District Court for the District of Connecticut, the First Circuit Court of Appeals, Second Circuit Court of Appeals, the Fourth Court of Appeals and the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. He is also a member of the Connecticut Bar Association and an Emeritus Member Real Property Section.

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Cornelius Thompson

Regional Vice President, Texas

Cornelius “Corny” Thompson joined LAZ Parking in 1999 as the Director of Operations for the Connecticut region. During his tenure, he led LAZ Parking’s Maintenance Systems Division and managed all contracted services, including parking facility repairs and maintenance, while overseeing all capital improvements. He also was responsible for managing the southern region of Connecticut, including Rentschler Field in East Hartford.

Cornelius took over as Regional Vice President for North Texas in 2005 when LAZ Parking entered the Dallas market. He is responsible for all parking operations at the world-renowned Victory Park project, which consists of eight development phases over a 10-year period. Once completed, the $1 billion Victory Park project will include approximately 26,000 parking spaces. Cornelius graduated from the University of Connecticut with a business administration degree and played on the men’s basketball team from 1978 to 1982.

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Leo Villafana

REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENT, MID-ATLANTIC

Leo Villafana joined LAZ Parking in February 2010. As Regional Vice President for the Mid-Atlantic region, which includes Washington, DC, the surrounding Virginia and Maryland collar cities, and the remainder of Virginia, he leads a team of over 500 employees at over 100 locations. Leo is responsible for the executive management of business development, yield management, client services, strategic business analysis, identifying and utilizing emerging technology, personnel management and the execution of corporate and client action plans.

Prior to joining the LAZ family, Leo spent 10 years in the parking industry as a General Manager and Operations Manager, overseeing all facets of the parking industry, and another 10 years in the hospitality industry at numerous luxury hotels. Leo’s operational experience includes commercial, retail, mixed-use, hotel, entertainment, special event, self-park and valet parking operations. He is actively involved in multiple industry associations and is an active member of the Washington Parking Association. Leo attended Essex/Dundalk Community College in Baltimore.

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Christopher B. Walsh

Regional Vice President, Florida

Christopher has been a leader in the parking industry since 1996 and started his career with LAZ Parking as a Regional Vice President who successfully expanded our Mid-Atlantic presence. He has worked in markets located in Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia and Washington, D.C.

He is currently based in Miami and responsible for premier Florida properties in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, Jacksonville, Orlando, Daytona, St. Augustine and Naples.

His vast experience in business development activities and operational management encompasses Class A office buildings, hospitals, hotels, stadiums and airports. He also has conducted due diligence activities for numerous acquisitions and privatization deals.

Christopher graduated from LaGrange College with a degree in business administration.

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Tom Williams

Head of Accounting

Tom joined LAZ Parking in 2018 as Vice President of Client Reporting Services. He oversees a team of 40 highly qualified accounting, treasury and support professionals that service a growing base of over 1,300 management locations across the country. He has successfully developed and implemented accounting policies and procedures with technology advancements to ensure that management financial reports, required under management agreements, are provided to clients accurately and on time each month.

Tom started his career in public accounting for a combined total of 16 years, culminating in five years at PricewaterhouseCoopers as Audit Manager in the Technology, Information, Communications & Entertainment sector. Prior to joining LAZ, Tom was VP, Assistant Controller at Ann, Inc. for nine years, responsible for all accounting matters, including SEC reporting. In 2015, Tom joined Brooks Brothers as Group Controller for their global organization. Tom is a certified public accountant and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting from University of Connecticut.

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