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OUR PEOPLE: BIOGRAPHIES
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Tricia Parks,
Founder and CEO |
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Tricia Parks is the founder and CEO of Parks Associates, a market
analyst and research company dedicated to providing meaningful
information and counsel to companies offering technology-based
products aimed at improving people's lives. She presents worldwide
on consumer trends, market requirements, and industry structure,
with an eye to meshing visionary and progressive ideas to consumer
needs and wants. Parks Associates hosts
CONNECTIONS™, an international conference and showcase for
the digital home hosted in the U.S., and
CONNECTIONS™ Europe, hosted in Europe and focusing on market
opportunities for digital products and services in the many
nations of Europe. Tricia Parks also developed the Relevancy
Theory, a forecasting model for sales across a broad range of
digital electronic products and services.
Tricia has served on a variety of industry boards including
CEA's Home Networking and Information Technology division, the
National Research Council's Committee for a Partnership to Assess
Technology for Housing (PATH), the AMD Board of Global Consumer
Advocacy, and CABA. Tricia Parks has a BA from Sweet Briar College
and graduate studies from the University of Texas. |
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Stuart Sikes, President
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Stuart Sikes is the president of Parks Associates, a market
research firm specializing in consumer adoption of technology
products and services. Stuart and team assist clients around the
world by predicting trends in consumer technologies and
identifying evolving business models. The Parks Associates team
serves the world’s leading semiconductor, software, consumer
electronics, telecom equipment, and entertainment companies,
providing them with industry analysis, consumer research, and
go-to-market recommendations. Stuart’s recent industry
presentations include the outlook for residential energy
management, new business models for the connected home, and the
evolution of new video services. Stuart has served technology
companies for over twenty years, designing technical service,
software, and hardware solutions for companies ranging from
global semiconductor manufacturers to one of the nation’s
largest airlines. In his positions with companies including
AT&T, NCR, OpenConnect Systems, and Intelligraphics, Stuart’s
roles have included sales, product marketing, marketing
communications, and executive management.
Stuart holds an MBA from SMU and a BA in economics from
Vanderbilt University. |
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Analysts |
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Farhan Abid, Research
Analyst |
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Farhan Abid is part of the Residential Energy Management & Home
Systems research team at Parks Associates. In his role as a Research
Analyst, Farhan studies and analyzes activities within the Smart
Grid and Home Area networking space. His focus is on the energy
management ecosystem and how it affects consumers.
Prior to joining Parks Associates, Farhan was an investment analyst
with StrateSphere Investments, a private equity firm based in
Columbus, Ohio. Farhan earned a BS in Information Systems from the
Fisher College of Business at the Ohio State University.
INDUSTRY EXPERTISE: Home Systems, Energy Management and
Smart Grid Technologies, Entertainment Systems, Home Systems
Integration Channel, Home Builders
Reports |
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Bill Ablondi, Director, Home
Systems Research |
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Bill Ablondi is a technology market analyst with over 25 years
experience advising systems manufacturers, software publishers, and
communication service providers. Bill specializes in marketability
analyses, competitive assessments, and market forecasts. He
has directed syndicated advisory services and related custom
consulting activities for several leading research firms in addition
to Parks Associates. Bill began his information technology career as
an engineer and business development manager at Texas Instruments. He
holds a BS in chemical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic
Institute and an MBA from Columbia University with a concentration in
management science, emphasizing operations research and finance.
INDUSTRY EXPERTISE:
Home Systems, Home Controls, Energy Management and Smart Grid, Home Security, Entertainment Systems,
Home Systems Integration Channel, Home Builders and Multifamily
Executives
Reports
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John Barrett, Director of
Research |
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John Barrett currently analyzes digital media and international trends
for Parks Associates and also heads the company’s consumer research
team. He regularly advises companies from both the content and
hardware industries on their digital media strategies and has
authored dozens of industry reports. Recent publications include
All Eyes on Video,
Gaming ARPU: Games & the Service Provider,
and Global Digital Living.
He holds an MA in international economics from the Johns Hopkins
University: School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and a BS
in international affairs from Georgetown University.
INDUSTRY EXPERTISE: International Research, Digital Media, Mobile
TV, Social Media, User-generated Content, Web 2.0
Reports |
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Yilan Jiang, Manager, Consumer Research |
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Yilan currently studies the digital entertainment industry with a
focus on consumer digital media habits and trends in multimedia
application and services. She also assists other Parks Associates
analysts in a wide range of research projects. She has worked on
numerous primary consumer and industry research projects, including
conducting global consumer research on digital technology trends and
adoption.
Yilan earned her MA in economics from University of Texas at
Arlington and BA in economics in Nankai University, P.R. China.
INDUSTRY EXPERTISE:
Consumer research and adoption patterns,
PC Usage, Multimedia Applications and Services on Fixed CE Platform
and Mobile Devices, Internet Applications
Reports |
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Pietro Macchiarella, Research
Analyst |
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Pietro Macchiarella joined Parks Associates following an international
career in the wireless industry. He has worked in management-level
positions throughout Europe and the U.S.
In his role as a research analyst, Pietro covers home
entertainment media with specific focus on video gaming, digital
music, and connected CE devices. Pietro’s research interests also
include mobile services and 3D TV.
He earned his degree in business administration from Università
Commerciale Luigi Bocconi in Milan, Italy. He also has an MBA from
Iona College in New Rochelle, NY.
Industry Expertise:
Video Gaming, Digital Music, Connected CE devices, Mobile Services,
3DTV Reports |
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Terry Mikelk,
Associate, Computer Modeling |
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Terry Mikelk is a data processing expert with 30 years experience
providing insight and direction on data processing at companies with
$1 million to $1 billion in revenues. He has worked in both the
manufacturing and service sectors and is currently a professor of
computer science at Mountain View College.
Terry has produced all the computer forecast models for Parks
Associates since it was founded and is a frequent contributor on
survey analyses.
A graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Terry served
in Vietnam during that war. He received a postgraduate degree in
information systems from the University of Texas, and he is currently
working on a PhD in marketing systems.
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Laura Allen Phillips,
Research Analyst |
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Laura Allen Phillips joined Parks Associates in 2008. Since joining
the research team, she has worked in many areas, including consumer
research, home systems and controls, security, digital health,
online entertainment, and the mobile industry.
Laura earned a BA in history from the University of Texas at
Austin.
Areas of Expertise:
Online entertainment, digital health, and the mobile
industry
Reports |
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Brett Sappington, Senior Analyst |
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Brett Sappington is currently Senior Analyst with Parks Associates. Brett has spent over fifteen
years in the industry as an executive manager and entrepreneur,
building new businesses and new divisions for technology and business
services firms. Previously, he founded and served as vice president of
sales and marketing for Teligy, a software company specializing in
embedded software for wired and wireless communications systems. Brett
established new divisions for audio/multimedia software and networking
for Intelligraphics. He has also been involved in the development and
marketing of early-market products for 802.11 wireless networking,
PC-based VoIP, and other technologies.
With a comprehensive understanding of all areas of marketing for
technical product and service companies, including product
development, strategic planning, and marketing communications, Brett
knows the critical role that market research serves in the success of
market-driven companies. He is able to work with Parks Associates’
clients to arm them with the market information they need to succeed
in their business.
Brett holds an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin with a
concentration in high-tech marketing and a BA in physics from Baylor
University.
Reports |
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Kurt Scherf,
Vice President, Principal Analyst |
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Kurt Scherf studies developments in home networks, residential
gateways, digital entertainment services, consumer electronics,
and digital home technical support services. Kurt is the sole
author or contributing author/analyst to more than 80 research
reports and studies produced by Parks Associates since 1998. Kurt joined Parks Associates following a career in political
research and multi-tenant dwelling management. He earned his BA
from The University of Iowa.
INDUSTRY EXPERTISE:
Home Networks & Residential Gateways, Home Networking Media (Wi-Fi,
UWB, HomePlug, HomePNA, MoCA, etc.), Media Center PCs, Set-top
Boxes, Networked Consumer Electronics, Consumer Storage, Media
Server Hardware and Software, Consumers and Digital Entertainment,
Television Services, Broadband Video, Digital Home Customer
Support Issues
Reports |
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Harry Wang, Director, Health & Mobile Product
Research |
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Harry Wang studies the consumer electronics and entertainment service
industries with a focus on portable CE hardware, software, and
associated applications and services. He is also the lead analyst for
Parks Associates’ digital health research program. Harry has presented
his research in numerous industry events including CES, Digital
Hollywood, Photo Marketing Association Annual Show, American
Telemedicine Association Annual Show, World Health Congress, and Parks Associates’
CONNECTIONS™ conferences. Harry earned his MS degree in marketing research from the
University of Texas at Arlington. He also holds an MBA degree in
finance from Texas Christian University and a BA degree in
international business from Guangdong University of Foreign Studies,
P.R. China.
INDUSTRY EXPERTISE:
Digital Health Products and Services, Portable and Mobile Access
Platforms and Applications, Digital Imaging Products and Services
Reports |
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Heather Way, Research Analyst |
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Heather Way studies digital media advertising services and platforms
as well as consumer research focusing on digital entertainment,
digital media habits, and consumer purchase processes. Prior to joining Parks Associates, Heather worked in the
Dallas-Fort Worth media market for thirteen years, holding positions
as Director of Advertising, media planner and buyer, national sales
representative, and training coordinator. Most recently, Heather
taught as an adjunct professor in the Department of Radio, Television,
and Film at the University of North Texas.
Heather earned an MS degree in Radio, Television, and Film from the
University of North Texas, Denton, Texas, and holds a BS in Mass
Communications from East Central University, Ada, Oklahoma.
Industry Expertise:
Digital Media, Emerging Advertising Technologies, and Digital
Video Advertising
Reports |
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Sales |
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Jason Paris, Business
Development
Associate |
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Jason Paris joined Parks Associates in 2007 as an analyst studying
international telephone, cable, and satellite providers and is now
a member of the business development team. Jason graduated from
the University of Texas at Austin with a BA in psychology and
government. After working for the Texas House of Representatives,
Jason spent the previous seven years in New York City working with
portable and enterprise healthcare technologies.
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Rob Sukhija, Business
Development Associate |
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Rob Sukhija joined Parks Associates in 2007 following a career in
IT and home automation with both manufacturers and distributors of
high end products and technologies. Rob is currently part of the
business development team assisting our clients' market
intelligence needs. He earned his BA in Social Sciences from
University of California, Irvine.
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Marketing |
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Elizabeth Parks, Vice President of Marketing |
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As the Vice President of Marketing, Elizabeth develops and implements an integrated strategic communications
plan for Parks Associates. This includes overseeing the advertising,
public relations, and marketing campaigns for research and events
produced and hosted by Parks Associates. She also
supports Parks Associates' Business Development Team with with perspective client
searches, overall support, and maintenance of Parks Associates'
databases.
Elizabeth is the key organizer for all of Parks
Associates' events, including
CONNECTIONS™.
Elizabeth joined Parks Associates on a full-time basis in 1998 after
graduating from the University of Texas at Austin with a BA in
psychology.
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Mindi Sue Sternblitz-Rubenstein,
Marketing Manager |
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Mindi Sue manages and oversees Parks Associates’ public relations
efforts, which includes helping to increase local, trade, and national
media recognition for Parks Associates' research and events. Mindi Sue
is also responsible for coordinating all speaker relations activities
for Parks Associates’ conferences, which includes managing all speaker
inquiries and agendas for the events. Mindi Sue also helps promote
press coverage at Parks Associates’ executive conferences, Webcasts,
and workshops. Prior to joining
Parks Associates in early 2008, Mindi Sue worked with ad agencies,
start-ups, consulting firms, retail stores, nonprofit organization,
and real estate companies in designing profitable sales and creative
marketing programs. Mindi Sue has an MBA from University of Texas at
Dallas and a BBA in Management Information Systems from Texas A&M
University.
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Nick Thrash, Director -
Marketing and Event Logistics |
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Nick's primary duties are handling the logistics for Parks
Associates’ events and marketing efforts. He organizes and maintains
vendor relationships for all trade shows that Parks Associates
participates in, including CEDIA and The Consumer Electronics Show.
Nick provides logistical support to all sponsors and speakers at
events and workshops hosted by Parks Associates. Nick is the primary
contact for event sponsors regarding exhibitor logistics and
fulfillment of sponsorship benefits at
CONNECTIONS™. In addition, Nick
manages the distribution of Parks Associates’ research materials to
individual and Client Service accounts.
Prior to joining Parks Associates, Nick worked with a full-service
advertising agency and graphic design firm. Mr. Thrash has a BBA in
marketing from Texas Tech University.
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