RICHARD D. PARKER, Ph.D.
Senior Consultant
Phone: 501-952-0530
Click here to contact The VMP Group via e-mail
BACKGROUND SUMMARY:
Enthusiastic leader and educator who combines a solid educational background with proven real world experience. Over fifteen years experience in interpersonal and group communications in retail, government, political, business to business and academic settings. Noted for excellence in professional writing, editing, public speaking, and public relations strategies. Specific skill sets include:
Public Relations Business Communication Processes
Retail Management Strategy
Campaign Management & Strategy
Canadian Business Processes
Integrated Marketing Communications
WORK EXPERIENCE:
The VMP Group, LLC, Little Rock, AR
Senior Consultant – Communications, Public Relations and Advertising, 2006 – Present
University of Arkansas at Little Rock, College of Business, Little Rock, AR
Assistant Professor, Department of Marketing and Advertising, 2005 – present.
Responsible for teaching courses in advertising, marketing and public relations
Western Kentucky University, Gordon Ford College of Business, Bowling Green, KY
Assistant Professor, Department of Management and Information Systems, 2001 – 2005.
Responsible for teaching courses in business communication, critical thinking, leadership and ethics
PMR Communications Consulting, Birmingham, AL & Nashville, TN
Owner and Chief Editorial Consultant, 1997-2005.
Communications consulting and project assessments for businesses, non-profit organizations and political campaigns. Work has included: editing and production of internal communication material for an international non-profit organization with representatives in twelve nations; material content review for computer based training course for Fortune 500 software firm; advisement to entrepreneur on promotion strategy for new outdoor recreation product; business communication, marketing and retail operations strategies for premier Nashville wine retailer.
SunGard Employee Benefits Systems, Birmingham, AL
Product Support Consultant, Customer Education Specialist, 1996-2001.
Responsible for software testing, writing software documentation, and client training. Clients included major financial institutions and brokerage firms in the United States, South Africa, Hong Kong and Australia.
Waldenbooks Company, Atlanta, GA & Tuscaloosa, AL
Senior Bookseller, 1990-1996.
Endeavor Publishers, Marietta, GA
Vice President for Marketing and Distribution, 1985-1988.
Entrepreneurial venture to distribute copies of The Official Book of Space Trivia written in 1985 at age 15. Established sales markets in seven states, promoted book on radio and television programs, book sales used to help finance first year of undergraduate studies at The University of Alabama.
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE:
U.S. Air Force Auxiliary, Alabama Wing, Civil Air Patrol, Maxwell AFB, AL
Director of Public Affairs, Squadron Public Affairs Officer, 1997-1999. Responsible for developing promotional campaigns for CAP activities within the state to include print, broadcast and Internet communications. Acted as chief spokesman for wing activities within the state to the news media. Participated in public speaking engagements to civic organizations in Alabama. Supervised 19 squadron public affairs officers. Received Commander’s Commendation Award and Meritorious Service Award for outstanding work in public relations.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS:
• Society for Marketing Advances
• Small Business Institute
• Academy of Entrepreneurship
• Southeastern Academy of Legal Studies in Business
• Academy for Organizational Cultural, Communications and Conflict
• Academy of Business Education
• United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship
• Southern Association for Canadian Studies
-- Vice President 2006 – present
-- Member, By-Laws Committee 2006
• United States Naval Institute
• Naval War College Foundation
EDUCATION:
Ph.D., Mass Communication, 2001, University of Alabama.
Concentration: Political Communication, Advertising and Public Relations.
Master of Public Administration, 1995, University of Alabama.
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, 1992, University of Alabama.
Seminar Certificate in North American Commerce, 2005, Laval University (Canada)
HONORS AND RECOGNITION:
• Distinguished Faculty Award, UALR Chapter American Advertising Federation, 2006
• Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, 2005
• Western Kentucky University Leadership Studies Fellow, 2004-2005
• Small Business Institute, Distinguished Applied Paper Award Runner-Up, 2004
• Coleman Scholar, United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship, 2004
• National Member, Alpha Epsilon Lambda Graduate Honor Society, 1995
• Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society, 1995
• Pi Sigma Alpha National Political Science Honor Society, 1992
CONSULTING:
Advertising Consulting, Orlando law firm, 2006 – present
Website Development, Atlanta home theatre and electronics firm, 2006
Retail and Marketing Strategy, Nashville wine retailer, 2003 – present
SEMINARS & TRAINING:
Public Relations Overview
Business Communication in the Workplace
Email @ Work
Public Relations Writing
Resume Writing and Interviewing Skills
Who’s Your Customer?
Trading with Canada
SELECT PUBLICATIONS:
Bell, Joseph R., Parker, Richard D. and Hendon, John R. “Entrepreneurial Application of Marketing Communication in Small Business: Survey Results of Small Business Owners” (forthcoming in Entrepreneurial Executive)
“Virtual Canada: How Canadian Provinces and Territories Promote Travel & Tourism Online” presented at the 2006 Southern Association of Canadian Studies Biennial Meeting.
“Advertising North vs. South: Comparing Advertising Practices in Canada and the United States” presented at the 2006 Indiana Canadian Studies Roundtable.
Finney, R. Zachary, Parker, Richard D., Close, Angeline G. and Orwig, Robert A. 2004. The Agency in Cyberspace: A Content Analysis of Ad Agency Homepages, Journal of Contemporary Business Issues, 12(2), 74-80.
“What exactly do I have in common with an entrepreneurial manager? Undergraduate perceptions of potential bosses based on statements of philosophy” presented in the Management and Marketing Issues Track of the 2005 USASBE/SBI National Conference (with Gabe Buntzman).
Parker, Richard D. 2003. Gore Mail vs. Bush News – Candidate Email Strategy in the 2000 Presidential Election. Journal of Organizational Culture, Communications and Conflict,
7(2) 63-88.
“Contemporary Aspects of Relationship Marketing and Innovations in Advertising by Bed & Breakfast Owners in the United States” presented at the 2002 Hawaii International Conference on Business.