Strategic Vision. Lasting Value.

James R. Parks built his career by stepping into complicated situations and figuring out what could be done with them. His story began with accounting. After graduating from the University of Southern California in 1972, Parks joined Peat Marwick, now KPMG, where he developed expertise in tax and business management, working with clients in the entertainment industry. He eventually launched his own practice, building a reputation among high-net-worth individuals, studios and entertainment companies. In the early 1980s, he and a business partner began investing in multifamily properties in Los Angeles. One of their first major acquisitions involved two apartment buildings totaling 360 units. They later combined those properties with a larger portfolio and sold the package to institutional investors, doubling their investment in about 18 months. That transaction established a pattern that would define Parks’ investment career: identifying assets with complicated circumstances, finding a way to restructure them and creating value over time.

James R. Parks built his career by stepping into complicated situations and figuring out what could be done with them. Over more than four decades, the Los Angeles-based CPA, investor and founder of APW Avenue Group has assembled a real estate portfolio valued at approximately $4 billion, spanning multifamily housing, hospitality and commercial properties.

Recognizing Potential. Inspiring Possibility.

Since they were established in 2008, the James R. Parks Prize and James R. Parks Fellowship have recognized business students with exceptional promise. Along with academic achievement, these awards celebrate students with a special spark: the drive, determination, leadership, and curiosity to make a meaningful impact.

Rooted in a commitment to expanding opportunity, the Parks Prize and Fellowship give special consideration to first-generation college students and those with financial need, recognizing that talent and potential exist in every background. The fellowship further advances that vision by providing domestic and international internships that help students build skills, confidence, and connections.

By recognizing students at a pivotal moment in their lives, the James R. Parks Prize and Fellowship affirm their potential and help open doors to future opportunity. The following alumni represent just a few of the many lives your generosity has helped shape.