Virtual Coffee & Commerce with Keith Parker

The Alpharetta Chamber presents:
Virtual Coffee and Commerce
Featuring:
 Keith T. Parker,  
President and Chief Executive Officer of Goodwill 

       

Keith T. Parker is president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Goodwill of North Georgia (GNG). One of the largest nonprofit organizations in the southeast, and the largest nonprofit employer in Atlanta, GNG spans a 45-county territory, operating 65 stores, 53 attended donation centers and 13 career centers. GNG employs over 3,000 team members, each of whom play a direct or supporting role in the organization’s donated goods retail operations and its career services. Annually, GNG serves more than 7 million shoppers. Through the revenue generated in its stores, the organization is able to train and connect over 25,000 North Georgians to jobs each year (establishing GNG as one of the most successful workforce development agencies in Georgia). Parker took the helm at GNG in October 2017. Prior to transitioning into his leadership role at GNG, Parker has served as CEO of the largest transit systems in several cities, including San Antonio, Charlotte and most recently, Atlanta. 

Parker’s five-year leadership of MARTA won widespread acclaim. He helped transform one of the most beleaguered transit agencies in the nation - with huge budget deficits and major public image issues - to a fiscally sound, award winning organization. Parker’s leadership established MARTA as an important player in Georgia’s economic development efforts, helping to attract/retain major employers.  

          Throughout his career, Parker has received numerous awards and accolades as a transformational leader and transportation visionary. He won Texas CEO of the Year Awards in 2011 and 2012, and the Georgia CEO of the Year Award in 2013.  He was recognized as the nation’s Outstanding Public Transportation Manager by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) in 2015. METRO Magazine named Parker as one of its 20 Most Influential People of the Decade. In 2016, Parker was appointed by President Barack Obama to serve on the National Infrastructure Advisory Council (NIAC). In November of the same year, he was named one of eight Public Officials of the Year by Governing Magazine. In August 2017, Parker was selected as one of Atlanta’s Most Admired CEOs by Atlanta Business Chronicle. Georgia Trend Magazine has recognized Parker as one of Georgia’s 100 Most Influential leaders on multiple occasions. In 2019, Parker was selected as one of the City’s Most Powerful Leaders by Atlanta Magazine. 

          Parker’s commitment to one of his alma maters, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), has been notable. Parker received the VCU Alumni Star Award in 2015, followed by an appointment to the Virginia Commonwealth University Board of Visitors by Governor Terry McAuliffe in 2016.  More recently, Parker was unanimously elected Rector and Chairman of the VCU Board of Visitors.  

           Parker has a long history of service to nonprofit, charitable, and corporate boards. Parker served on the board of directors for Goodwill of San Antonio and Goodwill of North Georgia. He remains active and engaged with the GA Chamber of Commerce, the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, and Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau. Parker serves on several prominent national boards including The Eno Center for Transportation and continues his work with NIAC. On the corporate side, Parker serves on the Fifth Third Bank Advisory Board as well as the Grande West Bus Company Board of Directors.  Parker and his wife are natives of Virginia and have 3 children. Parker holds an MBA from the University of Richmond, as well as a Master of Urban and Regional Planning and a BA in Political Science from Virginia Commonwealth University. Parker is a 2014 graduate of Leadership Atlanta. 

     

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