By A.J. Dugger III
Craig Martin is the president and CEO of The Parking Company LLC, a minority owned and operated valet parking business in Nashville.
“We do any social gathering. This includes weddings and family reunions. Our valets are polite and courteous. We are insured, well-trained, clean-cut individuals,” said Martin, 38. “It is our mission to provide your property and parking facility with the best parking management service available.”
Martin was born in California but moved to Nashville 15 years ago. He is currently attending The University of Phoenix, majoring in health care administration with a focus on information systems. His graduation date is set for July.
“I’ve been in the valet business for 20 years,” he said. “I started out with The Parking Management Corporation.”
It didn’t take Martin long to realize that the valet businesses was his calling. “I’ve always loved vehicles,” he explained. “And I’ve always enjoyed relating to customers. When I started valet parking, I made a lot of cash, met a lot of different people and it wasn’t hard work.” In 2005, Martin founded The Parking Company LLC.
Martin’s company does valet parking for night clubs and urban bars in Nashville. Some of the businesses they work with include The WKND, Lucy Blu, and Club Miami. Other events they valet include country clubs, movie theaters, restaurants, grocery stores, convention centers, medical centers, funeral homes, universities, stadiums and other special events. In the past, Martin has also done private events, including ones for Dr. and Mrs. Jimmy Sheats, Tennessee Tribune Publisher Rosetta Miller-Perry and Oprah Winfrey’s father, Vernon.
“The company slogan, ‘Serious Service, Serious Value, Serious Individuals’ is our testament to do more than simply park your car. We at The Parking Company LLC are excited about building relationships and creating partnerships that will maintain our reputation of excellence,” Martin explained. The company’s president also noted that he has plans to expand. “I’m trying to remove myself from the club business and get more into the restaurant and hotel side of things,” he said.
Martin currently has 15 employees and all of them are Meharry Medical Students. “Management and staff are constantly trained and monitored to not only give the best service, but to keep a safe and accident-free environment, thus giving business owners or event planners the affordable prices they need,” said Martin. “Most importantly we strive to give our current and future clients the confidence in our company that will compliment each service.”
For more information on The Parking Company LLC, visit www.theparkingguys.com or call (615) 668-6550.