Valet King is a disruptor in the valet parking services space. The brain behind this provider of top-notch valet solutions is John Fuda, who founded the company in 2013 after recognizing a lack of “exceptional service” in the industry. He has two decades of experience in the parking management and building services sectors. Now, as President, John leads Valet King with a focus on innovation, operational excellence, and delivering top customer experiences.
John wants to leave behind a legacy rooted in empowerment. Whether it is helping someone move up the ranks from valet to manager, or helping a property run more smoothly, he wants people to say, “Things got better because Valet King or Royal Building Services showed up.”
“That is the kind of ripple effect I’m striving for,” John says.
The Birth of Valet King
Valet King offers premier valet parking services in New Jersey, New York City, and Florida. Its clientele is diverse. It serves commercial establishments, residential complexes, hospitality venues, medical facilities, and event arenas.
“Valet King was born from a very simple observation: exceptional service was lacking in an industry that thrives on first impressions,” John says.
His observation came from his hands-on experience in this space. He had parked cars, managed lots, and interacted directly with clients. When he was doing all that, he began to notice a huge gap between basic parking services and a premium, hospitality-driven experience. “That is when the idea for Valet King came to life,” John says. He envisioned elevating parking from a functional necessity to a luxury touchpoint.
“I wanted to create a brand that combined reliability, professionalism, and white-glove service in a way this industry hadn’t seen before,” John says.
Overcoming Obstacles for Successful Expansion
John’s visionary leadership has led to the expansion of Valent King into multiple regions. Along with being exciting, this experience has been challenging for him. According to him, they had to localize their operations without compromising their brand standards. What worked in their favor was the decision to build a trusted local management team, which proved to be key to their successful expansion.
The biggest challenge that John and his team encountered was maintaining the same high level of service while scaling fast. They, however, overcame this challenge quickly. Their heavy investment in training and systems supported their growth without sacrificing quality.
Valet King has a significant loyal customer base. “Consistency” and “trust” are the two factors that keep clients coming back to them. According to John, their clients know that they will show up. They also prefer to choose Valet King because of its respectful approach and commitment to making their lives easier.
John often hears from their clients that when they choose Valet King’s service, they can see the difference in professionalism and attention to detail. “We don’t just park cars, we welcome guests,” John points out, “we communicate with building staff, and we handle every interaction as if it is a reflection of the client’s brand or building.”
Obsessed with Training and Standards
John and his team are obsessed with training and standards. Every individual hired to work at Valet King has to go through a detailed onboarding process. This allows them to learn about the job as well as the company’s values. “We emphasize emotional intelligence, communication, and professionalism,” John says.
And regional managers regularly conduct site visits and gather feedback. “We also empower employees with ownership,” John points out. “They’re not just workers, they’re brand ambassadors.”
John believes that skills can be taught, but mindset cannot. So, when they are recruiting, their focus is on identifying attitude first. He also points out that their training programs are hands-on and continuous, not just one-and-done.
Additionally, they create real career paths for employees, which is not that common in the industry. It offers them a sense of upward mobility, and this according to John, helps them retain great people.
“We also celebrate wins, reward loyalty, and make sure people feel like they’re part of something bigger,” John says.
About Royal Building Services
Royal Building Services is another company founded by John. Its wide range of services meets the diverse needs of residential and commercial properties. By offering janitorial services, maintenance, concierge, and more, it covers all aspects of property management. John points out that the all-in-one service model simplifies operations for clients.
John launched Royal Building Services with the goal of bringing the same level of quality and attention to detail they had perfected at Valet King to a broader range of building services, such as porter staffing, maintenance, and concierge services. “We recognized that luxury buildings needed partners they could trust across the board,” he says. And, over time, their vision evolved from simply meeting needs to anticipating them.
“Now, we work closely with property managers to co-create service plans that add long-term value to their communities, not just check boxes,” John says.
Innovation Is More than Technology
John does not associate innovation with just technology. “We have always embraced the mindset that innovation is not just about technology,” he points out. “It is about mindset and execution.
From the start, John and his team implemented systems to streamline employee scheduling, client reporting, and quality control. He points out that these things might seem basic, but they were earlier rare in this space.
“And innovation, for us, is also about being proactive and always improving,” he adds.
Evolving to Meet Market Demands
Customers’ preferences and demand continue to evolve. John notes that customer expectations have become more sophisticated, especially in luxury markets. They expect seamless, tech-enabled, and high-touch service.
John and his team adapt to the market trends by listening closely to the feedback from customers and designing their services to be flexible. “Whether that is offering custom staffing schedules, integrating digital platforms, or aligning with building protocols,” John points out, “we’re always evolving to match what the market wants.”
Core Principles, Staying Grounded, Community-Focused
Integrity, accountability, and consistency are the three core principles of John’s leadership. He believes in setting the tone from the top. Every day, he shows up at work with purpose and makes decisions that prioritize long-term relationships over short-term gain.
“I also believe that if you take care of your people, your people will take care of your business,” John points out. “Investing in my team has always been at the heart of how I lead.” To John, impact means creating opportunities for employees, clients, and communities they serve.
Despite success and several achievements to his name, John continues to remain grounded. “Staying grounded means remembering why we started. It was to serve,” he says. He and his team regularly sponsor local events, support community initiatives, and hire locally whenever possible. John himself personally stays involved in community conversations. He also ensures that their team gives back whenever they can.
“As we grow, we stay committed to being a company that communities are proud to have around,” John says.
Proudest Achievement and Future Plans
One of John’s longtime employees, who started as a part-time valet, now holds the position of regional manager. For John, this employee’s career advancement from the bottom to a managerial role is one of his proudest achievements. “Watching someone grow and build a career within your company is incredibly fulfilling,” he says. “It proves that the culture we’re building is real and impactful.”
In his role as the President of Valet King, John will continue to focus on steering the company toward growth. He plans to expand their footprint, without compromising on their core values. “We’re exploring new markets and services that align with our strengths,” he says.
John, on a personal level, is striving to become a better mentor and leader. In addition to that, he is making more space to help others on their entrepreneurial journey.
“Giving back is the next chapter,” John says.
Message to Young Entrepreneurs
Traditional industries continue to attract young entrepreneurs. Their new ideas and passion for innovation help modernize and grow these industries. To those aspiring to make a mark in this space, John’s advice is that they must not underestimate the power of doing the basics better than anyone else. Small improvements make a big difference in traditional industries, he points out.
John also advises young entrepreneurs to listen to their clients, invest in people, and not chase flashy solutions. “You need to focus on consistency, professionalism, and building trust,” he adds. “Innovation is important, but reliability is king.”
