Hired to create Nevada County’s Economic Development office in 2022, Parker’s current focus is to implement a two-year action plan, support new and existing business, facilitate economic growth for agriculture and cannabis, advance tourism, secure funding, and improve county processes.

Parker served as Executive Director at Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital Foundation for 18 of her 22 years. Prior employment included Executive Director of the California Building Industry Foundation, Assistant Director of the California Confederation of the Arts, and many years at the Sacramento Zoo and Crocker Art Museum.

With an interest in youth workforce, Parker serves on Nevada Union High School’s Advisory Committee for Career Technical Education and on the newly formed Nevada County CEO Board currently developing a youth entrepreneur program.

Parker has been a Rotarian since 2002, serving as President in 2013. She was a Chair of the Adult and Family Service Commission in 2012. In 2018 Parker developed the curriculum and facilitated two nine month sessions of the Center of Nonprofit Leadership’s Executive Director Academy for which she was a founding board member. She was on the Nevada Union School District LCAP strategic planning committee in 2021 and has served on numerous boards, committees, and commissions over the years. She currently serves on Hospice’s Board of Trustees.

Parker is a public speaker, hosted a KNCO radio show, and wrote two columns for The Union newspaper. She has been involved with the Economic Resource Council since 2007 serving as Board President in 2013. She was also a member of the Grass Valley Chamber of Commerce. She is a 2002 graduate of the Nevada County Leadership Institute and currently serves as co-chair of Economic Development Day. The prior 17 years, she was co-chair of Health and Human Service Day and continues to serve as an NCCLI advisor.