Meet Zach Wojohn: Seasoned Parking Operator & Parking Equipment Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Zach Wojohn and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Zach, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I have had Executive Parking Systems for 23 years. We are a full service valet parking and parking management company. Over the last year, I have watched our industry get plagued by car thefts and robberies from the equipment we use in our day to day operations. About a year ago, EPS and our clients got robbed of a $147,000 Porsche on a Friday night, $171,000 Porsche on the following Saturday night, and a 750LI BMW the next night. All of these were stolen out of closed and locked valet key podiums. I called the manufacturer, who told me they were really sorry but there was nothing they could do. So, I decided there was absolutely something that needed to be done for the industry as a whole. I would make it myself. When I started this business 23 years ago, I built my own key storage out of plywood, making them in the basement of my home. Through a friend at church, I met Grant Henry of Henry Incorporated. They are the largest metal fabrication company in the Southeast region. We became good friends and one day, I showed him a pencil sketch of what my dream valet key storage podium would look like. His response? “Yeah. We can build that.” From there, Valet Vault was born. Using scientific weight pull test, we found that the podiums I was using took only 50 lbs of pressure to not just open the door, but pull it off. Once I realized numerically the weakness of the product of the entire valet parking industry, we had a challenge before us. Our product we developed, Valet Vault, using the same scientific weight test, showed a pull test of 1000 lbs to create the slightest opening at the top of the door, but the reinforcements made the door snap back when the weight was removed, making it impossible for a person to insert a tool or anything else in to breach the door. I knew at that moment we created something far superior than any product available on the market. I knew we were in business. Safer. Smarter. Stronger. 

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I began as a valet at Chops Steakhouse at 18 years old. I quickly became a manager for the Buckhead Life Restaurant Group in Valet Services. At 21 years old, I started Executive Parking Systems using my knowledge I gained over the 3 years working for another company. I pioneered what is now considered the West Village of Buckhead in Atlanta – Roswell Road, East Andrews, Paces Ferry, Cains Hill and Irby Avenue. Thankfully, Executive continued to grow. Hard work and honesty paid off. Executive became one of the largest valet service and parking management providers in the city of Atlanta, Fast forward to operating large scale valet operations with the industry standard file cabinet quality valet key storage podiums. After losing 2 Porsches and a BMW in one weekend to common hand tools, such as flathead screwdrivers, we worked with Atlanta Police on how to better combat the plague currently facing our industry. After realizing the biggest problem we as an industry were facing was the key storage, I partnered with Henry Incorporated and created the patent-pending world’s strongest valet key storage solution proven to withstand 1,000 pounds of pull on a scientific test. The file cabinet podiums failed at 50 pounds of pull. The overwhelming response from the industry has been phenomenal and well received. We were nominated for Innovation of the Year by the National Parking Association. We are now providing the top 5 parking companies in the world with their own key storage solutions custom designed to meet their location specific needs. Valet Vault is indeed creating the solution making everyone Safer, Smarter, Stronger. More to come …… we are currently working on ways to improve wayfinding. Look for AlumiSign soon.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
For dinners – Rain Thai & Sushi Bar, Bangkok Station for Thai, Fogo de Chao for Brazilian steakhouse, Kyma for Greek, Atlanta Fish Market For breakfasts – The White House Restaurant, OK Cafe, J. Christophers, Haven Restaurant & Bar Hangout & Shopping – Buckhead Village / Shops of Buckhead, The Battery Atlanta at Truist Park (also GREAT food choices) Drinks – Steamhouse Lounge, 5 Paces Inn, Hudson Grille 5 Points, Fado Get your dance on – Johnny’s Hideaway, Buckhead Saloon, Gold Room, Whiskey Mistress

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Grant Henry of Henry Incorporated, my fabrication and business partner, and through this process has become a really good friend My wife, Shelli Wojohn, former career criminal prosecutor who retired to help our family’s businesses, running point on the legal front, including communicating with our patent lawyer team at Baker Hostetler Mark Pratt, COO of One Parking, an international parking operator based our of West Palm Beach, Fl Kathy Philips, Senior Vice President of Alliant Insurance Services with ParkWise, the largest insurance provider for the parking industry in North America Dan Schafstall, COO of Executive Parking Systems, a great friend who came to work with me 4 years ago. His company leadership and corporate experience in the retail industry has allowed me to create this new business and refine this product.

Website: www.valetvault.com
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/valet-vault
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valet-vault
Youtube: https://youtube.com/valet-vault

Image Credits
Zach and Shelli Wojohn