Podcast EP 37 Rewind: LEDs, Guidance, and Grit

June 25th, 2025 | Katelyn Perman

“Harder Than It Looks: Parking Uncovered” is our podcast that we use to facilitate connections and illuminate solutions to common problems within the parking and mobility industry.

We aim to do so by highlighting the voices of experts in the space, discussing trends and forward-looking technological innovations, and providing professional food for thought. All in an effort to help one another get better at what we know is harder than it looks…parking a car.

Today, we’re rewinding and recapping Episode 37: LEDs, Guidance, and Grit – The Parking World According to Jeff Pinyot.

In this episode of Harder Than It Looks, Brian Wolff sits down with Jeff Pinyot – the President of ECO Parking Technologies.

Jeff’s journey started in Pittsburgh and evolved from air conditioning sales to pioneering lighting solutions – and finally to developing the world’s first fully integrated wireless parking guidance system. With multiple patents, a knack for invention (yes, even soda packaging), and a passion for helping others grow, Jeff opens up about the risks, the pivots, and the purpose that drive his work.

Meet Our Guests:

Jeff Pinyot

Jeff Pinyot

President of ECO Parking Technologies

Jeff Pinyot is the president and co-founder of ECO Parking Technologies, creators of the Falcon Vision guidance system – the world’s only wireless, integrated light-based parking guidance solution. A civil engineering graduate from the University of Pittsburgh, Jeff is a serial innovator, author of over 150 articles, and a proud family man. His faith-driven leadership style and collaborative mindset have helped ECO grow through adversity into one of the most respected names in parking tech.

    You Won’t Want to Miss These Clips:

    Episode Highlights:

    • Meet Jeff Pinyot – president, engineer, and ECO Parking Tech founder (00:00)
    • From Pittsburgh to Pitt to patents – Jeff’s early life and path (02:00)
    • Launching Level Solutions and discovering the future in lighting (03:30)
    • The pivot to parking: listening to the market, but building it better (05:10)
    • How tariffs and Chinese imports forced a strategic shift (06:45)
    • Going wireless: the thinking behind Falcon Vision (08:00)
    • The power of being in-person: collaboration as a secret weapon (10:10)
    • LED isn’t magic – it’s math and laser-like focus (13:30)
    • Patents, IP strategy, and why software is the soul of the product (14:30)
    • The “two-can” patent – and a (literally) sticky pitch to Pepsi (16:00)
    • Leadership style: deep-end learning and leading by watching (18:00)
    • Winning Fountainbleu with humility – and bringing his son (20:00)
    • Writing 150+ “Marketing Minutes” – and why his first kiss article stands out (22:00)
    • Jeff’s approach to faith, business values, and ethical competition (26:30)
    • Working with Google and building the backbone for national parking tech (28:30)
    • Pittsburgh pride, the Steelers, and what it means to stay loyal (31:30)

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