By: By Brandon Scardigli
INTERVIEW
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KENNESAW, Ga. – Sitting behind a desk at the Henssler Group in Kennesaw, Ga., Ted Parrish helps control one of the top financial management firms in the country. Although his 6-5 frame fits snugly in a coat and tie in the boardroom, few know that the Principal and Vice President of Portfolio Management, helping control an estimated $1.44 billion, was once a budding star on the hardwood for Kennesaw State University.
A forward on the basketball team for the Owls from 1993-95, Parrish went on to graduate with a bachelor's degree in business administration with a major in finance where he took his basketball fundamentals and applied them to a life outside of the gym.
"Playing sports, you're part of a team and you have to work together," said Parrish. "Going to school and playing college ball, everyone around you knows you play basketball and if they see that you're serious about academics while you're playing, they seem to take you a little more seriously. The Kennesaw State staff was always very receptive to student-athletes and they were always very connected and I made some great relationships that have helped me get to where I am today."
The Folkston, Ga., native departed Kennesaw State with a .428 field goal percentage, still one of the best in school history, NAIA, Division II and Division I. He helped lead the Owls to a 20-9 record and a second round appearance in the NAIA Tournament during his first season on the team. Parrish also averaged five or more rebounds per game each year of action.
It didn't take Parrish long to transfer that success, starting in 1998 with the Henssler Group and not looking back since.
15 years after graduating, Parrish returned to the university as a member of the Foundation's Board of Trustees, serving as Vice Chairman of the Financial Committee with a focus on KSU Investments.
That same year, Kennesaw State President Dr. Daniel Papp invited Parrish to give the commencement speech at the school's spring ceremony, an offer he graciously accepted.
"I make investments for a living," said Parrish. "I come back and I see where Kennesaw State is now and I see my investment, my degree, has gone up in value. It's wonderful to see the growth and participate in that growth. I'm from a small town and I'm a family person so I see Kennesaw State as my extended family. Giving back is just a way for me to pay back what I feel is owed."
Away from the university, Parrish was named to Georgia Trend's "Forty Under Forty" list in 2009, recognizing 40 high-achieving Georgia natives under the age of 40 who are influencing the state's future in business, government, education, arts and charitable organizations.
"Books have to come first," said Parrish in advice to first-year student-athletes. "You need to set the bar pretty high for what your standard is. Don't consider yourself just a dumb jock, because you're not. Use the connections in sports to build a great career. Professors are drawn to the athlete who strives for greatness in the classroom and really gets it."
A true global ambassador for KSU, Parrish has been extensively interviewed in Investor's Business Daily, The Wall Street Journal, Investment News, Black Enterprise Magazine, CNNMoney.com, CBSMarketWatch, Bloomberg Markets, Standard & Poor's, USA Today, Barron's and other mainstream publications and websites. In addition, Parrish is a guest on all of the major network affiliate TV stations in Atlanta, as well as nationally on CNBC, Fox News, CNN, PBS and Bloomberg Television.
"The friendships that I built on the team were the best part of my time at Kennesaw State," added Parrish. "I'm still connected to those guys and talk to them all the time and it's great to see them grow in life. The coaches are still very connected to me as well. Those were lifelong friendships that were built and I am forever grateful for my time spent at Kennesaw State."
To keep up with the latest Kennesaw State men's basketball news follow the team on Twitter @KSUOwlNation and @KSUOwlsMBB or by liking Kennesaw State University on Facebook.
Season tickets are currently on sale for the 2013-14 campaign, to purchase yours today, visit KSUOwls.com.
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