Press Release
September 30, 2013Contact: Gregory Floyd 973 984-9600 gfloyd@tcsfund.org
TRI-COUNTY SCHOLARSHIP FUND TO HONOR JOHN PARRY
John C. Parry, Chief Executive Officer of Solix, Inc. will be honored by the Tri-County Scholarship Fund (TCSF) at its 32nd Annual Awards Dinner on October 28, 2013. In an interview with TCSF’s President Gregory Floyd, Mr. Parry explains why he shares TCSF’s belief that a quality education is the answer to many of the challenges facing inner city kids, shares his pride in helping to build a company that cares and encourages TCSF recipients to strive to achieve their full potential.
Since 2004, John C. Parry has served as Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors of Solix, Inc. Parsippany-based Solix is a business process outsourcing provider for government, telecom, broadband, utility and healthcare organizations. Under Parry’s leadership, Solix increased revenue by nearly 250% to $100 million and created hundreds of jobs in New Jersey. Solix has not only grown as an industry leader, but also as a model for workplace best practices and commitment to its community.
Mr. Parry’s career has spanned more than 40 years and includes serving as Executive Director of Program Operations at The National Exchange Carrier Association, Inc. (NECA), President of Bell Atlantic Network Systems and Vice President of the Bell Atlantic Global Systems Company (now Verizon). He served in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War and had various assignments in Surface Warfare, Aviation, Logistics and Intelligence before retiring from the Navy Reserve as a Captain in 1990. John and his wife Vicki have two daughters and six grandchildren.
“Tri-County is proud to honor John Parry for his leadership, commitment to our community and support for our mission to help bring quality education to our area’s neediest children,” said Gregory Floyd. “I thank John for allowing us to recognize him and for his willingness to help the Tri-County Scholarship Fund meet its goals,” added Mr. Floyd.
The Interview
In an online interview, Mr. Parry discussed some of the keys to Solix’ success, his affinity for TCSF’s mission and provided words of encouragement to Tri-County Scholarship Fund recipients:
Question: Solix has been recognized by many awards not only for business excellence and workplace best practices, but also for its commitment to the community, how do you foster the values that support those commitments?
Parry: “Solix has a strong internal value system that is driven by its employees. We try to hire people who share our values. It’s simply part of our corporate DNA.”
Question: Solix is committed to many charitable endeavors, including not only TCSF but also Habitat for Humanity, Toys for Tots and the American Cancer Society, how does it go about selecting charitable commitments?
Parry: “We pretty much leave that to our employees. We listen to what they say and will support virtually any charitable organization our people bring to our attention. We support volunteerism by our employees as well. Education initiatives such as TCSF always are high on our employees’ lists.”
Question: What are you most proud of in your tenure at Solix?
Parry: “Since virtually all of Solix’ business involves helping needy entities such as schools and libraries through the E-Rate program or individuals and small businesses through Sandy Relief programs in NJ and NYC for example, I have to say that building a company that cares is my best contribution. Every Solix employee knows that, at the end of each day, they have helped someone have a little better life.”
Question: What attracted you to Tri-County?
Parry: “I believe that a quality education is the answer to many of the challenges facing our inner city kids today. Having attended St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark, I have seen the difference a great inner-city school can make in kids’ lives. Tri-County is a great way to reach a large number of children who can make a difference in NJ’s future.”
Question: How did you learn about Tri-County?
Parry: “We are a corporate resident of the area that is actively engaged in the community. Over the years, whether through our employees’ volunteer efforts or Solix’s direct involvement at an organizational level, we have learned about different charities at events we have sponsored or attended and Tri-County was one in particular whose work I had heard about and the difference it was making for young people in the area.”
Question: How have you witnessed the difference that quality education can make in the life of a child?
Parry: “I go back to my own personal experience at St. Benedict’s Prep both as a student and as someone that remained connected to it. It has been clear to me throughout my life that even if a young person has economic and environmental obstacles that could potentially impede progress, the sound academic foundation of a strong school, that also provides character development and guidance for issues beyond the classroom is invaluable.”
Question: What would you say to encourage others to support TCSF?
Parry: “When you support Tri-County, your contributions stay local and quickly make a positive impact on the lives of those who live in the community. In addition, Tri-County has a long record of successfully steering students to fine academic institutions and instilling the need to give back which continues the cycle of generosity and involvement.”
Question: Finally, what words of encouragement would you give to TCSF recipients and their parents who struggle to overcome challenges to obtaining a quality education?
Parry: “Do not let your circumstance define or defeat you. One of the greatest things we each possess is potential. It is what we do with it and how we drive ourselves to achieve it that matters.”
The 2013 Awards Dinner
To hear more from John C. Parry, please attend TCSF’s Annual Dinner on October 28, 2013 at the Hanover Marriott. The TCSF Annual Dinner seeks to raise $800,000 to provide hundreds of scholarships for some of the area’s neediest children.
Since its founding in 1981, TCSF has provided more than $20,000,000 in scholarships to thousands of the neediest children of Morris, Sussex and Passaic Counties. The majority of these children come from families that live at or below the poverty level. Scholarships are awarded on the basis of financial need and help students of all races, religions and backgrounds to attend private schools in grades K through twelve.
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For more information about TCSF or the Annual Awards Dinner, for interview opportunities or to make a donation, please contact Gregory Floyd at (973) 984-9600 (gfloyd@tcsfund.org) or visit Tri-County’s web site at http://www.tcsfund.org.