Ken Gracey
President

Ken Gracey is Parallax's President. He has, in the past, managed almost every department and he continues to be one of Parallax's biggest cheerleaders. Ken's enthusiasm and optimism is positively contagious. One can always tell when Ken is in the office, he thrives on making things happen and makes sure everyone is having fun while getting the job done.

Ken is at the core of Parallax's customer-centric focus. He makes certain that all Parallax documentation and software is always free and available to the masses. And he is always looking for ways to help out the little guys. Ken got our educational program, Stamps in Class, started way back in 1997. We've been providing electronics curriculum for ages 14 and up and training teachers ever since.

In his spare time Ken builds his own robots, works in his machine shop, takes rides on his ginormous bicycle/long board skateboard/skis/snowmobile, and is a very tall dad to two very tall boys.

Rich Allred
Manufacturing Lead

Rich Allred began at Parallax in 1995 as a product photographer and has found himself wearing many hats ever since he started. He is now in charge of in-house manufacturing, many of our educational drawings, safety, and of course photography.

Rich oversees a team that manufactures our Stamp Modules, PropSticks, USB2SER's, Prop Clips & Plugs, Javelin Stamps, and more. Rich himself designed the Boe-Bot wheel, Tank add-on kit, and the mounting bracket for the PING))). He also drew most of the educational drawings, and set up the in-house processes for manufacturing.

Rich's background in freelance photography brought him to Parallax in the early 1990s. Rich says, "I took some product pictures for an electronics company. The company showed the pictures to Chip. He wanted to meet with me. I went to Chip’s apartment (where Parallax began) and I was given a product to photograph which later led to my full time employment." All of the Parallax product pictures you see on the web are from Rich. He also works closely with Jen Jacobs, our Art Director, to get her the product images she needs to create advertisements and graphic images for our website.

Rich enjoys talk radio, documentaries, emergency preparedness and gardening. He likes to learn new things and some of his favorite topics are The Dead Sea Scrolls, History, Science, especially Creation Science and Medicinal Herbs.

Aristides Alvarez
Education Manager

How Aristides Alvarez (Ari) arrived at Parallax is truly interesting. Ari first contacted Parallax in 2000 via e-mail but then switched to a dial-up VOIP phone. Ari was working as a vocational-technical teacher in the coastal city of Mar Del Plata, Argentina. In Argentina Ari found a lack of classroom material and resources written in Spanish so he began translating the material. A few trips to Parallax turned into a new position as our Education Manager, which also launched a work visa and residency processes that lasted many years and was recently completed.

After making improvements to our educational program, Ari developed our Asian manufacturing operations in Hengli, China. Parallax's objective in China is to maintain the same quality as we have in our Rocklin manufacturing facility, and to run the operation with the same values we hold true in Rocklin. This required hiring our own staff and obtaining the many permits and licenses required to legally operate in China -- another challenge that took his family on yet a second move, this time to China. 

Regarding his hobbies, Ari notes "Next year I will review the plan for hobbies, as I have too much to do right now. I'd like to have a couple of beehives at my home and pursue the private pilot license that I've always wanted to do."

Jessica Uelmen 
Engineering Manager

Jessica Uelmen got her start at Parallax in 2009 in the Education department training teachers how to use microcontrollers and robotics in the classroom. She  also made captivating educational videos In 2011 Jessica was acknowledged for the outstanding videos and Parallax was awarded a Makey by MAKE Magazine for Best Educational/Outreach Program.

Today Jessica oversees the Engineering team and manages new products from concept through production, ensuring they are cohesively designed to provide our customers with the best Parallax has to offer.

Jessica’s background includes a degree in Electrical Engineering Technology with a Computer Systems specialty from the University of Central Florida. When asked why she chose to work in electronics she responded, “Because almost anything is possible! You can easily make useful contraptions to solve everyday problems, which is so much more rewarding than simply buying stuff from a large retailer.” Jessica incorporates her love of electronics by creating her own e-textiles, adding lighting and electronics to clothing.

In her time outside the office Jessica is working on a Master of Engineering degree in professional practice through the University of Wisconsin. She also enjoys skiing, biking, and playing video games. In addition to being an avid Doctor Who fan, Jessica is also our resident Harry Potter expert.

Lauren Davis
Marketing Manager

Since 2006 Lauren Davis has been our Marketing Manager, a new position that now seems it was created exclusively for her abilities. Lauren brought a variety of communication and marketing experience from prior work experience along with a B.A. in Communications and Business, along with an MBA from a leading private California university. Such a background certainly helps the rest be professional.

Lauren is responsible for our websites, managing the E-commerce component, packaging design, distributor communication, pricing, bringing 3rd-party products to market, showcasing our customer's success stories, and of course the most important part: creating the Parallax brand. Lauren also runs many special projects at Parallax: the creation and release of OBEX, the Propeller's Object Exchange; the Parallax Perspective video series on YouTube; and behind-the-scenes efforts for new products. These projects make it easier for our customers to find what they're looking for, and for a new customer to get inspired with ideas.

How is all of this possible? Lauren works closely with the whole company without hanging around the water cooler. Effective communication skills and respect define her presence at Parallax. Couple this with consistent results and it's no wonder our customers think we're a much larger company than we are.

Lauren spends her free time with her family and friends. She likes being outdoors and enjoys all water sports.

Jen Jacobs
Art Director

Jen Jacobs started at Parallax over 10 years ago after graduating college with a B.S. in Graphic Design. She has helped to build the Parallax brand into what it is today. She is responsible for giving the "Parallax look" to catalogs, print advertising, current web site design, packaging, trade show displays, and much more. Jen also works closely with the marketing department on special projects such as launching the Propeller Object Exchange and the new website, as well as resizing and refining pictures for customer applications and new products.

Jen's creativity shines in the Parallax Product Catalog each year. Jen single-handedly creates the entire Product Catalog, something that usually takes a team of individuals. Her designs have ranged from a fun grocery design to a more traditional standard design.

Jen is known for her positive enthusiasm and ability to do all things graphic at Parallax. There isn't a challenge that Jen hasn't met.  She is a key member of the marketing team and she works with all departments to bring ideas to paper through design.

Jen enjoys spending time outdoors when she is not at work. She likes hiking, cycling, gardening, and hanging out with friends. She is also a Star Trek junkie.

Andy Lindsay
Engineer

Andy is a key part of the education team at Parallax . He has been extremely influential in developing many of the educational kits and books. He is the author of the "What's a Microcontroller Book," and the "Robotics with the Boe-Bot text" that are both part of our top selling educational kits. He also authored four other Stamps In Class textbooks and developed the Propeller Education Kit & Labs among others. If it has to do with Parallax Education, Andy has had his hand in it.

Andy started at Parallax in 1999 as an intern and was hired immediately after he graduated with his B.S. EEE (Electrical & Electronic Engineering). He found Parallax while working on his electronics engineering senior design project (a pair of glasses that can be worn to control a mouse). A power supply he had checked out from the lab malfunctioned and fried his first BASIC Stamp. At the time, he was really unhappy because not only was his microcontroller damaged, but he also missed an interim project deadline at school because of it. He says, "I didn’t know that when I brought that BASIC Stamp back to Parallax for a discounted replacement, I would find out about an internship opening. That’s how I got started at Parallax. If anyone had told me that damaging my first microcontroller and missing an interim design review for my senior project would be a career defining moment, I would never have guessed that it would result in the coolest job ever, working for Parallax using both software and electronic hardware to invent all manner of cool gizmos and gadgets."

Andy enjoys electronics hobby, kayaking, and skateboarding when he is not busy writing or developing a new educational kit.

Jeff Martin
Senior Software Engineer

Jeff Martin is Parallax's Senior Software Engineer. Like many other key technical contributors at Parallax, Jeff began as a customer. While earning his Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science, Jeff learned of Parallax and its core product at the time, the BASIC Stamp 1. He was amazed by the possibilities but unable to get his hands on one due to his “starving student” syndrome. Finally, as a sort of graduation present in 1995, Jeff visited Parallax to purchase a BASIC Stamp 1. He rapidly learned and mastered the Stamp and was shortly after offered a position to support it and other Parallax products. He's worked in technical support, information technologies, engineering management and now in our R & D department. Jeff has been responsible for our software tools, key printed materials, and hardware maintenance for our core product lines. Jeff collaborates closely with the rest of the R & D group on the Propeller, ensuring a complete product line from hardware to software and documentation.

Jeff is known as a very kind and considerate person throughout the business and Parallax customer base. His patience level for answering questions and providing design assistance is extraordinary by most measures.

Jeff's personal hobbies include cycling, in-line skating, camping, kayaking and just being with his family.

Bonnie Teuton
Human Resources & Office Manager

Bonnie Teuton has been the Human Resources and Office Manager at Parallax since 2003. She has a B.S. and her HR career began at a video game design company in San Luis Obispo. Bonnie is responsible for payroll, recruiting, office management, health care benefits, and organizing company events.

Bonnie's sense of humor and friendly nature makes her the perfect fit for her role here at Parallax. Bonnie says, "I love working at Parallax. During my first week at Parallax I was learning about the payroll process and talking on the phone with the recruiter that placed me here. I said, “Tina, there is this really weird sound outside my office… it kind of sounds like marching.” And there came a parade of Toddler robots, toddling along… it was awesome… it was then that I knew that I was at the right place!"

Bonnie likes to be outside and enjoy all seasons: snowboarding, hiking, biking, rafting, swimming, and lots of golf. Her husband and son keep her very busy these days.