The operational manager of McParking: an interview with Tino Schlockow
In this interview, we take you into the fascinating world of McParking and introduce you to a man who ensures that everything runs smoothly behind the scenes - Tino Schlockow. As operations manager, he is responsible for the safety and satisfaction of our customers, from entry to exit. Let's discover together what it means to be Operations Manager at McParking and what Tino particularly appreciates about his job.
Hello Tino, as Operations Manager you are responsible for the entire operational part of McParking. This is certainly a challenging job, so why don't you briefly describe your area of responsibility?
Put simply, I am responsible for ensuring that our customers receive an all-round safe and satisfactory service from the moment they enter our car parks until they leave. I work with my colleagues to ensure that everything runs smoothly on site. First and foremost, this includes ensuring that the barrier systems work, that the car parks and multi-storey car park are in good condition and that transfers to and from the airport run smoothly.
According to Section 4 of the Ordinance on the Operation of Motorised Passenger Transport Companies (BoKraft), as operations manager I am responsible for the staff, the buildings and the vehicles, among other things. In this respect, there are not only the tasks prescribed by the company, but also the area of responsibility prescribed by law. And that's a good thing, because compliance with safety standards is the be-all and end-all in the parking and transport business.
How did you come to McParking? What did you do before?
I'm a trained motor vehicle body and vehicle construction technician. I have always been fascinated by cars and everything that moves with technical assistance. That's why I decided to gain a foothold in the automotive sector. Of course, I also enjoy working on all kinds of vehicles in my spare time. I became aware of McParking when the expansion around BER began and McParking was looking for a responsible employee with an affinity for cars. After a short time, I was offered the position of Operations Manager because of my qualifications.
What do you particularly like about your work?
What I enjoy most is receiving direct feedback from our customers. As I'm on site most of the time, I can see straight away whether customers are satisfied with our service. The immediate feedback from our guests is great and is what makes my job so appealing. And if I need a bit of peace and quiet, there's always something to mow, screw or repair. As operations manager, I'm also constantly on duty as a facility manager, so to speak. There is no larger car park in Berlin than ours in Bohnsdorf with 2,100 spaces - it's quite unique to be responsible for such a large building. It starts with the daily cleaning, continues with the maintenance of the lighting and ends with the annual surface maintenance, to name just a few examples.
But in general, it's the variety that appeals to me. In summer, it's sometimes so busy that I help with airport transfers in a large coach. It's a lot of fun to drive such a giant from time to time.
... and what would you most likely be able to do without?
Well, you can't choose. But due to the numerous arrivals and departures, I can often be found in our car parks at the weekend, especially during the holiday season. Despite having enough employees, this is simply unavoidable. Because in order to know what's going on in the company, you have to be present, especially at busy times.
Now to your private life: What do you do in your free time? How do you switch off from work?
As a balance to the sometimes quite hectic work at McParking, I like to be out and about in nature. A canoe trip in the SpreewaId, for example, is a great way to switch off. I also like to do it with a tent and a barbecue, without all the frills. It's a quick way to get out of the daily grind and you don't have to travel far. Apart from that, as a father of three, I'm naturally called upon as a playmate, chauffeur, cook, counsellor ...
Finally, you must have experienced many things at McParking. What has been the strangest so far?
The opening of Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) in October 2020 was certainly a strange, but also unique situation. I can still remember exactly how we picked up the customers who were on the first flight from Fuerteventura at the airport shortly before midnight with flowers and photos. They were completely surprised, as they had not only been given a lavish welcome by us, but also at the airport. At the same time, it was also quite sad, because a few days later we had to shut down our entire operation until the following spring due to the coronavirus pandemic. The joy of the finally opened airport and the suffering of the pandemic were very close to each other.
But these things are now a thing of the past and we are looking forward to a busy and hopefully smooth summer.