Thomas Parham:
CLASS OF 1963
Hilltop High SchoolClass of 1963
Chula vista, CA
Thomas's Story
Short Story: Right after college graduation I moved to Spain for awhile, came back in 71 and spent 15 years on the road as a professional musician in the US. My last band was signed with William Morris, doing all the L.A. clubs, you can be a Star and all that. One night in Las Vegas just before the last set I had a flash.......the records are not selling, we are working all the casinos in LV (not fun) and your last BMI residual check was for $12.
Hummmm...maybe the show is over. If I stay here I will probably end up a functional alcoholic hanging on the microphone every night saying "Where you folks from? Cleveland huh? are you winning?" they didn't build this place on winners you know, welcome to Las Vegas.
So what to do?
Took an overnight DJ gig on a radio station in Tahoe. In two years I was the boss so I thought guess I can do this. Years pass and I get a call from the Mayor's office in Reno. Seems they need some media help. Kool!
Took the gig working in the Mayors office with the Police & Fire Dept., City Attorneys, Council and havin' a big time.
Learning city and government speak. (you know, all acronyms...CDBG requesting FDXX compliance with the RPTT oversight committee.) Getting appointments to Governors boards, back and forth to Las Vegas on taxpayer money, on the executive committee of the Would Trade Council...I am working the gig..."they love me they really love me"....cause in my head it's still a gig and they are the audience. Showtime!
One day a delegation of VIP Thais came to meet the Mayor. They want to set up a Sister City with a Thai city, Reno or Las Vegas will do. The Mayor is committed to other functions and I say "I'll go" Sounds like a trip to me. 9 years and some 50 programs with Thailand and later China, I decide to stay in Thailand.
Got real lucky and was hired by Virgin Radio Asia in Bangkok to do a nightly show. (Richard Branson company.) Lucky again, #1 English radio show in Thailand. Spent about 6 or 7 years doing that and then the great Bangkok flood ended the gig. We moved to Chiang Mai.
I managed to avoid marriage until I was 59, My wife is a master Yoga instructor with a studio here in Chiang Mai. I work for the Bangkok Post as a global moderator in real time from a dedicated terminal in my home. Also have a now 17 year old daughter. No more Gypsy feet left. A homeboy these days.
I also have a recording studio working primarily with Docu. film makers, NGO's and educational institutions.
Seems this space is a "what did you do after high school space" and at this point a bit of a testimonial of that.: Not is Chronological order.
- Managing Director, US Import Export Trading Consulting 2002/2009.
- Nevada LLC. 3M International Export Distributor #EZ503070
Export of 3M products to the PRC and Hong Kong.
- Director, Thai Provincial Export Assistance Project Assisting the SME
sector with indigenous product export to the US and the UK.
- Nevada World Trade Council Executive Board Member, elect.
Current Honorary Board member.
- Media Specialist (Mayors Office-Reno, Nevada)
Providing ongoing media relations training for elected officials and staff including;
City Attorneys, Police Department, City Council and other administrative departments.
Media crisis management, daily monitoring of press and media news treatment to
provide both tactical and strategic analysis of issues, media spokesperson.
- Cable access advisor and special projects consultant.
- Master of Ceremonies, Nevada State Special ...Expand for more
Olympics.
- Water Conservation Project Director:
Establishment of the TMWCP regional water conservation project. Working with state, county and regional agencies the position involved the monitoring of national and regional water issues. production and dissemination of conservation related media material, production and direction of an eight part television series on water awareness, implementation of a water awareness hot-line number for constituents and regional business and research and targeting of specific business groups. Media spokesperson
- Appointment: Governor Bob Miller, Governors Board NRS 482.480 (Two terms.)
- Director Of Communications, Fair Housing Commission.
- 1992/2005 Chairman, SCI Committee N. Nevada. 1992/2005: Development and
ratification of the first two SCI relationships with Thailand and the United States.
- PRC, SCIC agreement with the city of Nanhai, Guangdong.
Facilitator, Lead delegate, protocol director.
- Appointment: University of Nevada Regents and UNR IELC as representative
of the IELC (Intensive English Language Center) for S. E. Asia/China.
- Consultant to the Municipal Government of Laem Chabang, Thailand ,
Chonburi, Thailand, under the auspices of Mayor Boonlert Nomsilp. Activities included:
Acting at the request of the Mayor on a variety of issues. Representing the interests of
SCI partner Carson City, Nevada.
- 1996/7 Advisor the the Faculty Education, Burapha University Adjunct Lecturer,
Media and Communications, Burapha University, Bangsaen, Chonburi, Thailand.
Responsibilities included: Faculty instruction in English language and Western culture,
assisting as liaison with Victoria University, Australia, Ph.D. program, production of
culturally accurate English language descriptive promotional material and duties assigned
by then Faculty of Education Dean, Dr. Surin Suthithatip.
- Stanford University welcoming committee, Her Majesty Queen Sirikit of Thailand.
- Mayors International Circle . (Founding member)
- Chairman, Sister Cities International Committee, Asia.
Leading delegations from Reno and Carson City to Thailand and the PRC from
1992-1993-1995-2000. Members of these delegations included: Mayor Peter Sferrazza,
Mayor Marv Teixeira, State Senator Bernice Martin Matthews, Dr. Shane DelCohen, Dr.
Stewart Peters and various members of the Nevada business and tourist industry. As
Chairman of the SCI Committee-Asia over the last 12 years, the committee has initiated,
assisted and or participated in more than 50 programs in S. E. Asia and the PRC.
- Appointment: University of Nevada Regents and UNR IELC as representative
of the IELC (Intensive English Language Center) for S. E. Asia/China.
- Board of Directors, Elect, Nevada World Trade Council.
- TAT (Tourist Authority of Thailand) Award for significant contributions
in linking Thailand and the United States.
- Burapha University Appreciation Award.
- Honorary Citizen Award, Mayor Boonlert Nomslip.
Laem Chabang Municipality, Thailand.
1993 US-SCIC-Asia director, Nanhai, Guangdong, PeopleÃÂs Republic of China.
Entertainment Industry:
- US Silver Microphone award, Voice and Production, Radio Services.
- SCCMA Bass Player of the year, SCCMA Band Of the Year.
- BMI Member Song Writer, Radio Play, residual recipient.
- US Silver Microphone award, Voice and Production, Radio Services.
- SCCMA Bass Player of the year, SCCMA Band Of the Year.
- William Morris Agency representation.
That's the short story....Best to all.
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