PENNY PARKS
Penny is the President & Founder of Links Financial LLC, an organization started over sixteen years ago that has completed a combined total of $2 Billion in debt financings and capital raises for small to midsize companies, as well as successfully restructured over $700 Million in debt during the last recession. Links Financial has spearheaded numerous acquisitions as well as positioned various companies for sale. Ms. Parks is the co-owner of Links Golf, LLC, which owns two private country clubs in Citrus County.
Ms. Parks earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and Business, graduating cum laude from Wake Forest University, and a Masters of Business Administration with a Finance concentration, graduating with the Highest Honors, from the University of Tampa. Prior to founding Links Financial, her banking career included senior positions with Bank of America, Northern Trust and the Royal Bank of Canada’s US subsidiary.
Penny serves as a Board Member for the Tampa Bay Wave and a Copperhead Board Member for the Valspar PGA Tournament. Ms. Parks is a member of the University of South Florida Women in Leadership & Philanthropy, the International Women’s Forum, the Junior League of Tampa Sustainer, and the Athena Society. She has previously served as the Chair of the CEO Council of Tampa Bay, the Chair of the University of Tampa’s Board of Fellows, an Advisory Board member for the Sykes College of Business’ Dean’s Advisory Board, an Honorary Commander at MacDill, an Executive Committee Member for the Go Red for Women of the American Heart Association and a Board Member for the Tampa Bay Chamber. She is proud of having helped shine a light on M&A activity in the Tampa Bay area as she has previously served as the Secretary of the Global Board of the Association for Corporate Growth as well as the Chapter President of its Tampa Bay chapter. She was a Founding Member of the Executive Women’s Golf Association, now part of the LPGA Amateur Golf League and has previously chaired the local Make-A-Wish Board, as well as the American Cancer Society’s Breast Cancer Walk. Ms. Parks is currently the Treasurer of Ruth’s List of Florida.