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                                                                   Exhibit 10.23

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

          THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this "AGREEMENT") is made as of May 7,
2004, between STANDARD PARKING CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the
"COMPANY"), and JOHN V. HOLTEN, a resident of the State of Connecticut (the
"EXECUTIVE").

                                    RECITALS

          WHEREAS, the Company desires to employ the Executive, and the
Executive desires to enter into such employment with the Company, upon the terms
and conditions hereinafter set forth.

          NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and promises
contained herein, the parties hereto, each intending to be legally bound hereby,
agree as follows:

     1.   EMPLOYMENT; DUTIES. On the terms and subject to the conditions set
forth herein, the Company hereby agrees to employ the Executive in an employee
capacity as the Chairman of the Board of the Company, and the Executive hereby
agrees to accept such employment, for the Employment Term (as defined in Section
4). The Executive shall have such authorities and duties as are usual and
customary for a senior executive officer of a company of the size and nature of
the Company, including, without limitation, overall supervision and control of,
and responsibility for, the strategic planning and direction of the Company. The
Executive shall report solely to the Board of Directors of the Company (the
"BOARD"). The Executive shall be elected to, and serve as a member of, the
Board, a member of the compensation, nominating and corporate governance
committees of the Board, if such membership is permitted under applicable SRO
standards, and Chairman of the finance, strategy and executive committees of the
Board, if such Committees are created by the Board.

     2.   PERFORMANCE. During the Employment Term, the Executive agrees to
devote reasonable attention and time during normal business hours to the
business and affairs of the Company to the extent necessary to discharge his
responsibilities hereunder (excluding periods of vacation and sick leave);
PROVIDED that the Executive may, and it shall not be considered a violation of
this Agreement for the Executive to, (a) engage in or serve such professional,
civic, charitable, community, educational, religious and similar types of
organizations, and speaking engagements, as the Executive may select; (b) serve
on the boards of directors of any business or firm, or engage in other business
activities, so long as such service or activities do not significantly interfere
with the Executive's responsibilities as an employee of the Company in
accordance with this Agreement; or (c) attend to the Executive's personal
matters and/or the Executive's and/or his family's personal finances,
investments and business affairs. The Executive shall be permitted to retain all
compensation in respect of any of the services or activities referred to in the
immediately preceding sentence.

     3.   COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS.

     (a)  BASE SALARY. The Company shall pay the Executive a base salary at an
          annual rate of not less than Four Hundred Thousand Dollars ($400,000),
          with annual reviews by the Board, which may increase, but not reduce,
          the Executive's base salary;

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          PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that on January 1, 2005, and on January 1 of each
          subsequent calendar year during the Employment Term, the rate of such
          base salary shall be not less than that in effect immediately prior to
          such date and shall be increased by at least the percentage increase
          in the consumer price index for all items for all-urban consumers
          respecting New York, New York, as published by the United States
          Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, for the 12-month
          period immediately preceding such date (such annual base salary as
          increased from time to time shall hereinafter be referred to as "BASE
          SALARY"). The Base Salary shall be paid in accordance with the normal
          payroll practices for executives of the Company as in effect from time
          to time, but in no event less often than monthly.

     (b)  ANNUAL BONUS; EQUITY AWARDS. The Executive shall be eligible to
          receive an annual incentive bonus based on the achievement of
          performance goals determined by the Audit Committee of the Board. Such
          bonus, if any, shall be paid in cash at the same time or times in
          which annual bonuses are paid generally to senior executives of the
          Company. The Audit Committee of the Board may, in its discretion, also
          approve stock option or other equity awards for the Executive. The
          foregoing notwithstanding, if the Executive ceases to own, directly or
          indirectly, a majority of the outstanding equity interests of the
          Company, the annual incentive bonus and equity awards, if any, shall
          be determined by the Compensation Committee of the Company instead of
          the Audit Committee.

     (c)  BUSINESS EXPENSES. The Company shall promptly reimburse the Executive
          for all travel (at not less than first class rates), entertainment and
          other business expenses incurred by the Executive in the performance
          of his duties to the Company.

     (d)  VACATION. The Executive shall be entitled to a minimum of six weeks'
          paid vacation per year.

     (e)  EMPLOYEE BENEFITS, FRINGE BENEFITS, ETC. The Executive and his family
          shall be entitled to receive employee benefits, including, without
          limitation, medical, hospitalization, dental and prescription drug
          benefits, and fringe benefits and perquisites in accordance with, and
          subject to the terms of, the most favorable plans, practices, programs
          and policies of the Company and its affiliates in effect for any of
          their senior executives from time to time. The fringe benefits and
          perquisites to which the Executive shall be entitled are set forth in
          Exhibit A attached hereto, which may be amended by the parties from
          time to time, subject to the remaining provisions of this Agreement.
          The Executive also shall be entitled to those items set forth in
          Exhibit B attached hereto, which may be amended by the parties from
          time to time, subject to the remaining provisions of this Agreement.

     (f)  INCENTIVE, SAVINGS AND RETIREMENT PLANS. The Executive shall be
          entitled to participate in all cash incentive, bonus, and pension,
          savings and retirement plans, practices, policies and programs
          generally applicable to other senior executives of the Company and its
          affiliates on terms and conditions not less favorable than the most
          favorable of those provided by the Company and its affiliates to any
          such other executives from time to time.

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     (g)  LEGAL FEES. The Company shall pay or reimburse the Executive for all
          legal fees and expenses the Executive incurs in connection with the
          negotiation, preparation, execution, and amendment of this Agreement.

     4.   EMPLOYMENT TERM. Subject to earlier termination pursuant to Section 5,
6 or 7, the term of employment of the Executive hereunder shall begin on [?]
(the "COMMENCEMENT DATE"), and shall continue through the date which is five (5)
years following the Commencement Date. The term of employment shall be renewed
automatically for successive periods of four (4) years each after the expiration
of the initial five (5) years, unless the Company provides the Executive, or the
Executive provides the Company, with written notice to the contrary at least one
year prior to the end of the initial term or any renewal period (the initial
five year term and the four years renewal term(s) shall be referred to as the
"EMPLOYMENT TERM"). Any notice by the Company to the Executive not to extend the
term of this Agreement, in accordance with the immediately preceding sentence,
shall not be valid unless accompanied by a resolution duly adopted by the
affirmative vote of not less than three quarters (3/4) of all of the
disinterested members of the Board (or as otherwise required by applicable law,
regulations or rules).

     5.   TERMINATION WITHOUT CAUSE, FOR GOOD REASON, OR UPON NON-RENEWAL OF THE
          EMPLOYMENT TERM BY THE COMPANY.

     (a)  SEVERANCE. If the Company terminates the Executive's employment
          without Cause (as defined herein), the Executive terminates his
          employment with the Company for Good Reason (as defined herein), or
          the Company elects not to renew the Employment Term under Section 4,
          the Executive shall be entitled to (i) in the event of a termination
          without Cause or for Good Reason, continue to receive through what
          would have been the last day of the Employment Term, plus an
          additional two (2) years thereafter, an amount equal to the Base
          Salary and annual incentive bonus (in the amount of the annual
          incentive bonus paid with respect to the most recently ended year, or
          the target bonus for the year of such termination, if higher) as if no
          such termination had occurred, minus the aggregate amount of Salary
          Continuation Payments (as defined in Section 8(c)); (ii) in the event
          of the non-renewal of the Employment Term by the Company, continue to
          receive an amount equal to the Base Salary and annual incentive bonus
          (in the amount of the annual incentive bonus paid with respect to the
          most recently ended year, or the target bonus for the final year of
          employment, if higher) for a period of two (2) years, minus the
          aggregate amount of Salary Continuation Payments (as defined in
          Section 8(c)) (iii) the Salary Continuation Payments; (iv) medical
          insurance continuation coverage (the costs of which shall be paid for
          by the Company) for the period during which Base Salary is being paid
          under (i) or (ii) above, or any benefits required under the terms of
          any death, insurance or retirement plan, program, or agreement
          provided by the Company and to which the Executive is a party; (v)
          receive reimbursement for reasonable expenses associated with
          maintaining an executive office and secretarial assistance in
          Greenwich, Connecticut, or such other location mutually agreed upon by
          the Company and the Executive, for a period of five years following
          the termination of employment; and (vi) payment of unpaid Base Salary
          through the date of termination, accrued but unused vacation days and
          any unpaid bonuses through

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          the date of termination, reimbursement for any unreimbursed expenses
          under Section 3(c) incurred through the date of termination, and all
          other payments, benefits and rights under any benefit, compensation,
          incentive, equity or fringe benefit plan, program or arrangement or
          grant.

     (b)  DEFINITION OF GOOD REASON. For purposes of this Agreement, "GOOD
          REASON" shall mean the occurrence of any of the following events, as
          reasonably determined by the Executive, without the written consent of
          the Executive:

          (i)    a reduction in the Base Salary, or the failure to pay when due
                 Base Salary, or any other amounts due under this Agreement;

          (ii)   a material reduction in the kind or level of employee benefits,
                 fringe benefits or perquisites to which the Executive is from
                 time to time entitled;

          (iii)  the Executive is no longer the Chairman of the Board of the
                 Company and a member of the Board;

          (iv)   a diminution or adverse change in the Executive's title,
                 authorities, duties or reporting relationships;

          (v)    a failure by the Company to procure, and deliver to the
                 Executive satisfactory evidence of, the assumption of this
                 Agreement by any successor or subsidiary as required by Section
                 12;

          (vi)   a breach by the Company of any material provision of this
                 Agreement, including, without limitation, any purported
                 termination by the Company of the Executive's employment other
                 than in accordance with the terms of this Agreement; or

          (vii)  the relocation of the Executive's principal place of business
                 outside of the Greenwich, Connecticut, area.

          In addition to the foregoing, "GOOD REASON" shall also mean the
          Executive's resignation as Chairman of the Board of the Company, if he
          so resigns within three (3) months of the date of a "Change in
          Control." A Change in Control shall occur if, as a result of any
          person (as such term is defined in Section 3 of the Securities
          Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Act") and used in Rule 13d-5 of the SEC
          under the Act) or group (as such term is defined in Section 13(d) of
          the Act) becoming the beneficial owners of twenty-five percent (25%)
          or more of the common stock of the Company, the Executive ceases to
          own, directly or indirectly, a majority of the outstanding equity
          interests of the Company; provided, however, a Change in Control shall
          not occur if the Executive is, by written agreement executed before
          such Change in Control, a participant in the transaction that results
          in the Executive's ownership interest so ceasing to be such a majority
          interest.

     6.   DEATH AND DISABILITY. The Company may terminate the Executive's
employment if the Executive experiences a Disability during the Employment Term,
PROVIDED that the Company gives the Executive at least thirty (30) days prior
written notice of such termination. The Employment Term shall automatically
terminate upon the Executive's death. Upon termination of the Executive's
employment due to death or Disability, the Executive, or upon the

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Executive's death, his estate, shall receive: (i) payment of unpaid Base Salary
through the date of termination and the Base Salary for the duration of the
then-remaining Employment Term; (ii) any benefits mandated under COBRA (the
costs of which shall be paid for by the Company) or required under the terms of
any death, insurance or retirement plan, program, or agreement provided by the
Company and to which the Executive is a party; (iii) a PRO-RATA portion of the
annual incentive bonus amount for the calendar year in which such termination
occurs, based on the number of days worked by the Executive during such calendar
year, paid within thirty (30) days of such termination; and (iv) accrued but
unused vacation days and any earned but unpaid bonuses through the date of
termination, reimbursement for any unreimbursed expenses under Section 3(c)
incurred through the date of termination, and all other payments, benefits and
rights under any benefit, compensation, incentive, equity or fringe benefit
plan, program or arrangement or grant. For purposes of this Agreement,
"DISABILITY" means that (A) the Executive has been unable, after reasonable
accommodation by the Company, for a period of 180 consecutive days, or for
periods aggregating 180 business days in any period of twelve months, to perform
a material portion of the Executive's duties under this Agreement as a result of
physical or mental illness or injury, and (B) a physician selected in accordance
with this Section 6 has determined that the Executive's incapacity is total and
permanent. Such physician shall be agreed to in good faith by the Company and
the Executive or the Executive's legal representative. If the Company and the
Executive (or his legal representative) shall be unable to agree on such
physician, the Company and the Executive (or his legal representative) shall
each select a physician and the two physicians shall select a third physician
who shall be the physician selected by the Company and the Executive (or his
legal representative) for this purpose.

     7.   OTHER TERMINATION.

     (a)  If (i) the Company terminates the Executive's employment for Cause,
          (ii) the Executive terminates his employment without Good Reason, or
          (iii) the Executive's employment hereunder terminates due to
          expiration of the Employment Term other than as described in Section
          5(a)(ii), the Executive shall be entitled to the Base Salary through
          his final date of active employment, plus the Salary Continuation
          Payments, plus any accrued but unearned vacation pay, such vacation
          pay to be paid within thirty (30) days following such termination or
          otherwise in accordance with this Agreement.

     (b)  For purposes of this Agreement, "CAUSE" shall mean the Executive's:
          (i) willful and continued failure to perform substantially the
          Executive's duties with the Company hereunder (other than any such
          failure resulting from incapacity due to physical or mental illness or
          following the Executive's termination of his employment with the
          Company for Good Reason), which continues for at least sixty (60) days
          after a written demand for substantial performance is delivered to the
          Executive by the Board specifically identifying the manner in which
          the Board believes that the Executive has not substantially performed
          the Executive's duties, or (ii) illegal misconduct with regard to the
          Company that results in material damage to the business or reputation
          of the Company. No actions or omissions done or omitted to be done by
          the Executive in good faith shall constitute Cause. The Executive's
          employment shall not be deemed to have been terminated for Cause until
          the Company has delivered to the Executive a copy of a resolution duly
          adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than three-quarters (3/4)
          of all of

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          the disinterested members of the Board at a meeting of the Board
          called and held for such purpose (after reasonable notice to the
          Executive and an opportunity for the Executive, together with his
          counsel, to be heard by the Board) (or as otherwise required by any
          applicable law, regulation or rule), finding that in the reasonable,
          good faith determination of the Board the Executive was guilty of the
          conduct described in Section 7(b)(i) or (ii), and specifying in detail
          the particulars thereof.

     8.   CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION; NONCOMPETITION.

     (a)  The Executive shall hold in a fiduciary capacity for the benefit of
          the Company all secret or confidential information, knowledge or data
          relating to the Company or any of its affiliated companies and their
          respective businesses that the Executive obtains or obtained during
          the Executive's employment by the Company or any of their respective
          affiliated companies and their respective businesses that is not
          public knowledge (other than as a result of the Executive's violation
          of this paragraph (a) of Section 8) ("Confidential Information"). The
          Executive shall not communicate, divulge or disseminate Confidential
          Information at any time during or after the Executive's employment
          with the Company, except in the course of the performance of his
          duties hereunder, with the prior written consent of the Company, or as
          otherwise required by applicable law or regulation or the order of a
          court or other governmental body having jurisdiction over such
          matters.

     (b)  During the Noncompetition Period (as defined below), the Executive
          shall not, without the prior written consent of the Board, engage in
          or become associated with a Competitive Activity. For purposes of this
          paragraph (b) of Section 8: (i) the "Noncompetition Period" means the
          period beginning on the date this Agreement is executed and ending on
          the two (2) year anniversary of the Executive's termination of his
          employment or Board service with the Company, whichever occurs last;
          (ii) a "Competitive Activity" means any business or other endeavor
          that engages in construction, ownership, leasing, design and/or
          management of parking lots, parking garages, or other parking
          facilities or consulting with respect thereto; and (iii) the Executive
          shall be considered to have become "associated with a Competitive
          Activity" if he becomes directly or indirectly involved as an owner,
          employee, officer, director, independent contractor, agent, partner,
          advisor, or in any other capacity calling for the rendition of the
          Executive's personal services, with any individual, partnership,
          corporation or other organization that is engaged in a Competitive
          Activity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive may make and
          retain investments during the Employment Period in not more than one
          percent (1%) of the equity of any entity engaged in a Competitive
          Activity, if such equity is listed on a national securities exchange
          or regularly traded in an over-the-counter market.

     (c)  As additional consideration for the representations and restrictions
          contained in this Section 8, the Company agrees to pay the Executive
          as follows (the "Salary Continuation Payments"): (i) if the
          Executive's termination occurs for any reason other than Cause, the
          sum of $200,000 in equal monthly installments for twenty-four (24)
          months following the date of termination; (ii) if the Executive's

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          termination occurs for Cause, the sum of $50,000 in equal monthly
          installments for twenty-four (24) months following the Date of
          Termination. In the event Executive breaches Section 8(b) of this
          Agreement at any time during the 24-month period following the date of
          termination, the Company's obligation to continue any Salary
          Continuation Payments shall immediately cease.

     9.   INDEMNIFICATION The Executive shall be indemnified and held harmless
under the Company's bylaws for his lawful activities as an officer and director
of the Company and its affiliates and Executive shall be covered under any
directors and officers liability insurance policy of the Company at the same
level as other officers and directors of the Company.

     10.  NOTICE. All notices and all other communications provided for in this
Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when
delivered or mailed certified or registered mail, return receipt requested,
postage prepaid, and, if to the Executive, addressed to him at care/of Holberg
Industries, Inc., 545 Steamboat Road, Greenwich, Connecticut 06830, and, if to
the Company, addressed to it at Standard Parking Corporation, 900 North Michigan
Avenue, Suite 1600, Chicago, Illinois 60611, Attention: General Counsel, or to
such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in accordance
herewith, except that notice of change of address shall be effective only upon
receipt.

     11.  APPLICABLE LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois without reference to rules
relating to conflict of law.

     12.  ADDITIONAL PAYMENT. To the extent that the amount of any payments
under Section 5 of this Agreement, or any other payment in the nature of
compensation (within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(2) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended (the "CODE")), to or for the benefit of the Executive,
whether paid or payable pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise (the
"PAYMENTS"), are subject to the excise tax provisions of Section 4999 of the
Code, the Company shall pay the Executive a tax equalization payment ("TAX
EQUALIZATION PAYMENT") in accordance with this Section 12, in addition to the
payments otherwise payable under Section 5. The Tax Equalization Payment shall
be in an amount that when added to the Payments will place the Executive in the
same after-tax position as if the excise tax penalty of Section 4999 of the
Code, or any successor statute of similar import, did not apply to any of the
Payments. The amount of this Tax Equalization Payment shall be determined by the
Company's independent accountants and shall be remitted to the applicable United
States federal, state and local tax jurisdictions.

     13.  SUCCESSORS; BINDING AGREEMENT. This Agreement shall be binding upon
any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or
otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the
Company, and the Company shall require any such successor to expressly assume
and agree in writing to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the
same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such
succession had taken place, or, in the event the Company remains in existence,
the Company shall continue to employ the Executive under the terms hereof. The
Company cannot assign, or delegate its duties under, this Agreement except (i)
pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence, or (ii) to a subsidiary of the
Company, PROVIDED that such subsidiary expressly assumes and agrees in writing
to perform this Agreement and, in such case, the Company's liability to

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make and provide payments and benefits hereunder shall nevertheless not be
discharged thereby. As used in this Agreement, the "COMPANY" shall mean the
Company and any successor to its business and/or assets, which assumes or is
obligated to perform this Agreement by contract, operation of law or otherwise.
This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive
and his personal or legal representatives, executors, estate, trustee,
administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees. The
Executive may not assign this Agreement or any rights hereunder, or delegate his
duties under this Agreement, without the prior written consent of the Company;
however, in the event of the death of the Executive, all rights to receive
payments hereunder shall become rights of the Executive's devisee, legatee or
other designee or the Executive's estate.

     14.  ENTIRE AGREEMENT; MODIFICATION. This Agreement constitutes the entire
agreement of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and
supersedes all prior agreements and undertakings, both written and oral. No
provision of this Agreement may be modified, amended or discharged unless such
waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing and signed by the
Executive and such officer of the Company as may be specifically designated by
the Company. No waiver by either party to this Agreement at any time of any
breach by the other party hereto of, or compliance with, any condition or
provision of this Agreement shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar
provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time.

     15.  COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts,
each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together will
constitute one and the same instrument.

     16.  SEVERABILITY. The Company and the Executive agree that the agreements
and provisions contained in this Agreement are severable and divisible, that
each such agreement and provision does not depend upon any other provision or
agreement for its enforceability, and that each such agreement and provision set
forth herein constitutes an enforceable obligation between the parties hereto.
Consequently, the parties hereto agree that neither the invalidity nor the
unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall affect the other
provisions, and this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and be
construed in all respects as if such invalid or unenforceable provision were
omitted.

     17.  SURVIVAL. The Executive's rights hereunder, including his rights to
compensation and benefits, and his obligations under Section 8, shall survive
the termination of this Agreement and the termination of his employment
hereunder.

     18.  HEADINGS. The inclusion of headings in this Agreement is for
convenience of reference only and shall not affect the construction or
interpretation hereof. The words "Section" and "subsection" herein shall refer
to provisions of this Agreement, unless expressly indicated otherwise.

     19.  NO MITIGATION; NO SET-OFF. In the event of any termination of the
Executive's employment, he shall be under no obligation to seek other employment
or take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable, or
benefits provided, to the Executive under any of the provisions of this
Agreement, and there shall be no offset against any amounts or benefits due to
the Executive under this Agreement on account of any remuneration or benefits

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attributable to any subsequent employment with an unrelated person that the
Executive may obtain.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, have
hereunto executed this Agreement as of the day and year first written above.

                                   STANDARD PARKING CORPORATION

Date:  May 7, 2004                 By:           /s/ James A. Wilhelm
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                   Name:           JAMES A. WILHELM
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                   Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
                                         ---------------------------------------


Date:  May 7, 2004                               /s/ John V. Holten
                                   ---------------------------------------------
                                              JOHN V. HOLTEN

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                                    EXHIBIT A

1.   Automobile allowance.

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                                    EXHIBIT B

1.   Executive office and personal secretarial assistance in Greenwich,
     Connecticut.