Tom Parks
Senior Associate

Two airplane crashes, eluding border guards in South America, and working in 60 countries makes Tom Parks anything but a dull guy.  Kind of like Indiana Jones goes corporate.

After graduating from The University of Iowa and opting to take the career fork in the road to business rather than music, Parks began traveling around the world representing Amana Refrigeration and Rockwell Collins. Eventually, he went out on his own and purchased Kwik Way, a manufacturing company which, over time, grew to be one of the largest players in the automotive aftermarket business in the country.

For the last 10 years, SPPG has looked to Tom Parks for advice and counsel on programs, issues, and finance.  There is no question that the best stories told in the office are Tom Parks stories, usually about his 45 years working in new and emerging nations, as well as third world companies.  While he continues to advise the family business on company relationships in Italy and China, as a Senior Associate Parks gives SPPG the benefit of his invaluable business and life experiences.

Parks maintains his role as a community leader in Cedar Rapids and is proud to note that he has served in some way on the Board or Directors or Foundation of Tanager Place, a child support agency, for more than 40 years.  “Given my own early years, I so appreciate and understand the value of giving kids a chance to succeed.”

No one peruses a project budget or spreadsheet with such ease as Parks, and in his own gentle way through questions and discussion always provides critical insight and value.  And his life is like an encyclopedia (not wikipedia) of experiences that SPPG staff draw from on a day-to-day basis.  And it’s common knowledge that SPPG staff seek out Parks, not just for advice, but to see if Parks ever sold a freezer or air conditioner to an African chief...before electricity was available.