Vernon B. Parker
Special Presenter - Managing Success in the 8(a) Business Development Program (Diversity)
Vernon B. Parker, founder of The VBP Group, a company specializing in Government Contracts, Human Recourse Management, EEO, and Public Relations, has a rich history in both government service and in the private sector.

On April 1, 2003, Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman swore in Vernon B. Parker as Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights. In this position, Mr. Parker ensures compliance with all civil rights and related laws by all USDA agencies and programs, and coordinates administration of these laws and regulations for the Department's 112,000 employees. He also ensures compliance for participants in all USDA programs.

A successful attorney and active citizen, Mr. Parker began his legal career in administrative law. Mr. Parker is actively involved in community work and volunteerism. Most recently, Mr. Parker answered the call of his community to serve his church in Paradise Valley, Arizona, as the Interim Senior Pastor. He has served the Salvation Army on its National Advisory Board and on the Greater Phoenix Salvation Army Advisory Board. He has also served on the Board of Directors of the Christian Family Care Agency, a small adoption agency serving the needs of children in the State of Arizona. Mr. Parker also served as a member of Arizona State University's Board of Community Alliance for Black Student Support. His career in administrative law, government contracts and Equal Employment Opportunity issues, combined with his passion for improving our society by bringing different interests together, well prepared him for his position at USDA.

In 1983, Mr. Parker received his B.S. degree in Finance, with a minor emphasis in Spanish and Mathematics, from California State University at Long Beach. Upon graduation from California State University, Mr. Parker worked as a Financial Analyst for Rockwell International in Los Angeles, California. Later, Mr. Parker went on to receive his J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center. While there, he served as Editor-in-Chief of the Georgetown American Criminal Law Review. Mr. Parker took his first position in the Federal Government as Counselor to the Director of the United States Office of Personnel Management (OPM). He simultaneously served as the Director of Policy for OPM. Two years into his career at OPM, he was appointed General Counsel. As such, Mr. Parker worked with and familiarized himself with every branch of the Federal Government. He implemented policies on various administrative issues ranging from civil rights and Federal employees' health care, to government contract and procurement issues, to reform of the Federal pay system.

In 1992, Parker accepted an opportunity to serve in the White House as Special Assistant to President George H.W. Bush. He was responsible for the staffing and policy review of over 300 Presidential boards and commissions, including, but not limited to, the African Development Foundation, the President's Commission on Small Business, the United States Trade Representative Board on International Trade, the President's Export Council, and the United States Holocaust Memorial Council.

After leaving Federal service, Mr. Parker practiced law and worked as a consultant in the private industry. When not in Washington, D.C., Mr. Parker's home is Paradise Valley, Arizona, where he lives with his wife and son.