Mike Parks profile picture

Mike Parks

If you take life too seriously, you won't get out of it alive

About Me

Mike started out in business as manager of his families farm in Lexington, Kentucky. Combining his equestrian career with Hunter-Jumper=s with farming, he developed the farm into a nationally recognized equestrian center. After college he joined Charles H. McCauley and Assoc. in Birmingham, Alabama as Chief Consultant of their International Department. He put together a joint venture to design and build a series of 7 military hospitals for the Shah of Iran. After the fall of the Shah, he co-founded Language Translation Services, Inc. The company developed into one of the top 5 full service international marketing companies in the US, Canada and England. Their clients included many Fortune 50 companies.After the sale of the marketing company, he founded LTS/C Corp. He developed it into one of the first "on-line" computer companies in the industry. The company was a cutting edge hardware and software company. AT&T selected it to be featured in their National 800 directory as a showcase company. Building on his experience and background he became a consultant and has been working with many major companies since. He consulting expertise covers such things as marketing, both domestically and internationally, computer hardware and software, and enterprise solutions. Mike also partnered in a CLEC marketing company, offering local phone service to businesses. Mike is also a gifted screenwriter and novelist. He writes under several "nom de plume's" and enjoys the freedom it gives him. Along with a writing partner, he has also written a number of screenplays for the family "G" market audience.Currently, Mike is the CEO of Stonewall Publishing Group. Stonewall publishes a family of digital magazines. The next additions to the roster will be, Nashville, TN, Atlanta, GA, Palm Beach, FL, Los Angeles, CA, New York, NY and a magazine about polo.Mike studied Architecture and Pre-Vet at the University of Kentucky and holds a BA in Liberal Arts from Transylvania where he majored in Intercultural Studies and minored in Political Science and Computer Science. He also studied in India, Egypt and Iran through the Fulbright Foundation. He is actively involved in various civic organizations and was a single parent for 15 years. Mike is an active horseman and polo player.

My Interests

There just isn't enough space here. To name just a few though, art, music, horses, architecture and, oh yes, polo. Then there is my current pursuit - developing a family of magazines, to see a sample issue and get a free subscription to one of them, "The Neighborhood of Nashville" click on the icon belowor go to our website www.stonewallpublishinggroup.com

I'd like to meet:

This is really a tough one to try to name names. I have found that there are so many interesting people in the world. I suppose that it would be easier to describe the type of person that I prefer NOT to meet ... Negative and self centered people who get off on tearing other people down.

Music:

An eclectic mix, but I gravitate to Country, Folk, Pop, R&B and classical. No mater what the genre, a great artist is still a great artist.

Movies:

As a screenwriter I tend to watch a movie differently from most people. You never stop learning from your own mistakes and the successes' of others.

Television:

Here, I have to start out with "Nashville Star." I was truly impressed at how positive Jewel, Cowboy Troy and the panel were with the contestants.Next I will add, "Numb3rs" since it was created by two friends and then L&O, since I know one of the Executive Producers as well. He is also coming out with a new series very soon. Can't wait to see the new season. A new show which has my interest is "Burn Notice", great writing.There have been a number of movies on Hallmark which have struck a chord with me. Then there is 24, what can I say.

Books:

Gotta be careful here too. I have a lot of friends who are authors and I just don't want to have a list with anyone first. I like them all.

Heroes:

WOW, this is a tough one. There are so many. I guess I will have to start the list with my first two mentors ... Charles M. Meriwether and Clarence LeBus. They taught me so much about business and having confidence in myself and my abilities.