About Bo

Brief Background:

A native of Kalamazoo, Michigan, whose grounding in the world of high finance has complemented his activities as a daredevil adventurer, Bo Parfet has traveled a long way — both literally and figuratively — since graduating with an MBA from The Kellogg School of Management at Chicago’s Northwestern University, as well as with a Masters Degree in Economics from the University of Michigan.

Highlighted Past Experience:

After serving as a Research Fellow at the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the organization responsible for establishing the accounting rules followed by all businesses), Bo worked on Wall Street as an investment banker in corporate finance for J.P. Morgan. It was then that he began an around the world journey to climb the highest mountain on every continent: Mount Everest (Asia), Vinson Massif (Antarctica), Mount McKinley (North America), Cerro Aconcagua (South America), Mount Elbrus (Europe), Mount Kosciuszko (Australia), Carstensz Pyramid (Oceania) and Mount Kilimanjaro (Africa), where a return visit saw Bo serve as a vanguard member of a scientific team that discovered 29 new species.

Notable Initiatives:

In 2004, in conjunction with Explorers Club, Bo established the Seven Summits Awards Program that rewards top students with grants to perform healthcare-related field research. At the same time, he also formed a partnership between The Explorers Club and The Kellogg School of Management that enables seasoned explorers to lecture on-campus about the invaluable leadership lessons that they’ve learned. 

Publications:

• Die Trying: One Man’s Quest to Conquer the Seven Summits.
• They Lived To Tell The Tale: True stories of Modern Adventure from the Legendary Explorers Club.
  

Awards:

• Presidential Volunteer Service Award – completed 4,000 hours or more of volunteer service.
• JPMorgan Leadership Award – employees who demonstrate extraordinary leadership within JPMorgan and the community.
  

Civic Experience – Board of Director

Timmissartok Foundation Bangkok, Thailand – assists individuals with adventurous projects that will take place in a foreign country. The foundation believes that one individual with a dream can be more powerful than a string of committees. Albert Einstein showed us that “imagination is more important than knowledge.” Ideas inspire people. The Timmissartok Foundation wants to invest in the people with the big dreams - “the hungry dogs” - who have a strong enough heart to make their dreams come true.

Specialized Language Development Center, Kalamazoo, MI – provides specialized instruction to people who struggle with dyslexia. Please note, I am on the advisory board.

Gilmore Foundation, Kalamazoo, MI - focuses on educating the community on the history of automobiles and is most noted for its Classic Car Museum, one of the country's top 10 car museums.

Current Occupations:

• In 2007, Bo and his business partner Bill Bennett started a real estate company. Iconic Development is an Evanston, IL based real estate firm specializing in environmentally friendly development and revitalization of niche real estate including student housing, senior housing, housing in predominantly Hispanic neighborhoods, and distressed assets. Through this niche asset strategy, Iconic is able to precisely quantify demand drivers in order to better serve targeted customers, leading to efficient deployment of capital and high risk-adjusted returns.

• Bo is also helping his father grow their family business.  MPI Research is a privately held contract research organization, headquartered in the heart of the life science corridor in southwest Michigan, which serves the preclinical research needs of several industries.

• Bo, although a little overweight, still climbs and is classified as a professional ski mountaineer.

Residences:

Bo is based in Chicago, IL, Kalamazoo, MI and occasionally on the side of a mountain.