Payam Sharifi is a Senior Consultant at Cascade Analytics, where he advises small-business owners and entrepreneurs on organizational, economic, and strategic decision-making. His practice combines qualitative analysis, industrial organization, and applied economics to help clients understand markets, identify opportunities, and navigate complex business challenges.

Prior to joining Cascade Analytics, Payam gained hands-on professional experience as an entrepreneur. He started and operated a country club in Southwestern Missouri for over five years and currently serves as a General Manager for a small business enterprise in Northeastern Oklahoma.

Payam earned a B.B.A. in Economics, Finance, and Accounting from the University of Oklahoma’s Price College of Business, as well as an M.A. in Economics from the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) while pursuing a Ph.D. in Economics with a co-discipline in Public Affairs and Administration. He achieved All But Dissertation (ABD) status at UMKC before launching his entrepreneurial career.

A native of Northeastern Oklahoma, Payam lives in the greater Tulsa area. In his personal time, he enjoys traveling the world with his wife. Payam has presented at national conferences across the United States, and his commentary appears in the Review of Keynesian Economics. He has also been featured or quoted by media outlets including ALJAZEERA and Forbes.