Denison Parking’s President, C. Perry Griffith III, is in IBJ’s Forty Under 40

Denison Parking is proud to announce that our President, C. Perry Griffith III, is included in the Indianapolis Business Journal's Forty Under 40 Class of 2022.

Perry was nominated for his achievements in helping Denison grow while navigating the pandemic-driven tumult of the last few years, his commitment to the parking industry, and his efforts to support the community. He focuses on making Indianapolis and the surrounding region a vibrant and attractive place to live, work, and play. Perry is active in the parking industry at large; he was also the recipient of the National Parking Association's 40 under 40 award in 2019.

Leadership

Since Perry joined Denison Parking, it has experienced its strongest growth in decades. A focus on re-invigorating technology infrastructure to enhance client support while perpetuating the family culture that has been a hallmark of the success.

In 2017, he served Denison as a Senior Vice President, focused on Strategy and Business Development. Perry became President in February of 2020, and subsequently navigated the most challenging 18+ months in corporate history as the pandemic dramatically impacted the parking landscape while managing to continue driving the growth trajectory. Denison now manages over 150 locations across 12 states, a 40% increase since joining the company.

Perry credits following the company credo, “being experienced, innovative and personal,” as the reason for the dramatic growth. From the Indianapolis Business Journal article:

“I have been proud to help an almost-90-year-old business navigate the single most challenging two years in its history. There is not a business case, playbook, or any form of guidance you can have to prepare for a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic. I am proud to say we navigated the tumult without compromising the core of who we are or our values.”
--C. Perry Griffith III, as quoted in Indianapolis Business Journal

Experience and Education

Perry has a long history of working in the parking industry. His first job was in the Maintenance Services division of Denison, painting curbs, sweeping, cleaning garages, and clearing the garbage out of parking lots after Colts games. As he says, “I learned that it takes a lot of effort to make parking a seamless experience for our customers.”

Perry earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado-Boulder. He then earned his master’s degree in Business Administration from Indiana University - Kelley School of Business in 2010. The same year, he joined BTS, a global professional services firm supporting world-leading businesses with strategy execution, leadership development, and sales transformation.

He led teams of consultants and partnered with senior business leaders to develop and implement custom solutions designed to drive the execution of strategic priorities and key performance objectives. Perry was a core member of the Innovation & Digital Transformation Practice at BTS. His team created and deployed new solutions to the global practice team and drove significant revenue growth for BTS.

Philanthropy and Community Involvement

Creating positive parking experiences isn’t the only way Denison positively impacts the community. The focus on community support through involvement and leadership helps Denison support the communities in which we operate. Perry focuses his time on the following organizations in their outreach and growth.

Goodwill Foundation of Central and Southern Indiana

Involved on the Goodwill Foundation of Central and Southern Indiana board since 2019, Perry has been active in focusing on the Foundation’s investment and fundraising efforts to support the Goodwill Mission and building bridges for the community to Goodwill.

Many are unaware of the breadth and scope of Goodwill; Perry is an evangelist for the organization, bringing the story and good work to those who may benefit or be able to further the Goodwill mission. He has engaged with state and community leaders about the organization and encouraged them to see Goodwill in action.

The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis

Joining the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis as a Trustee in late 2020, Perry has been actively involved as a member of the Investment Committee, helping oversee the Endowment investments and governance. Additionally, Perry volunteers at the Museum to support his wife, Carrie Griffith, in her efforts as a member of The Children’s Museum Guild.

CornerHouse

Based in Minneapolis, CornerHouse is an accredited, globally recognized Children’s Advocacy Center, providing services for children and caregivers impacted by child abuse for over 30 years. Denison has supported CornerHouse for over a decade through a variety of means and will continue to support their efforts in the future.

Hotel Tango Whiskey

Since 2019, Perry has been an active member of the Board of Hotel Tango Whiskey. He has provided advice and guidance on fundraising, budgeting, and corporate governance. Additionally, he has served as a member of the sub-committee focused on the leadership transition from the founder Travis Barnes to the now President, Nick Ladig.

The growth of HTW has been tremendous over the last few years, and the board takes an active role in supporting the strategic planning and operational plan execution. Additionally, Perry is a broad evangelist for the business, becoming what many in HTW jokingly refer to as the “most annoying customer in the world,” given his propensity for asking for the product at any establishment he walks into that would potentially sell their products.

The Denison Difference

Our leadership and every member of our team are part of what makes Denison Parking experienced, innovative, and personal to bring the Denison Difference to our customers and clients.

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