August 17, 2011 - Albany Technical College appointed a new Board of Directors Chairperson at its monthly board meeting today, August 17, 2011, at 4pm. Virginia Parker will succeed long-time Board Chairman, Walter Mattox.
A retired Human Resources Director for Mars Chocolate, North America in Albany, Parker was responsible for leading the Albany site’s human resources operations, including recruitment and retention, associate development, relations, organizational development, leadership and management coaching, and external relations.
After graduating with her bachelor of science in Business Education from Albany State University, Parker began her professional career with M&M/Mars in Albany holding positions in Cost Accounting, Training, University Employment Recruiting, and Safety in Mars’ Atlanta, Nevada, New Jersey, Texas and California offices and manufacturing plants.
Parker’s roots for technical adult learning run deep. In her training role at Mars Albany, she partnered with Albany Tech to establish an on-site program allowing associates to take courses preparing them for their GED without leaving work. During that time, she was also an active member of Literacy Volunteers of America. Prior to returning to Albany, Parker was the Personnel and Organizational Director for Uncle Ben’s Food, a division of Mars, Inc., in Vernon, California and Seeds of Change in Sante Fe, New Mexico. In this role, she led strategies designed to attract, retain, and engage associates and drive business performance improvement through effective people strategies.
Upon returning to Albany, Parker has served as a local judge and panel member for the State of Georgia Future Business Leaders of America competition and conference in Atlanta. She is passionate about ensuring that young people understand the importance of receiving an education and being prepared for the workforce. She shares her passion at career fairs through her “Manufacturing As A Career” presentation and dialogue, conducting mock interviews at various high schools and as a volunteer reader at Alice Coachman Elementary School, and a Vision of Hope volunteer.
Parker says that two important aspects of her life are God and Family, and her desire to serve others. She has one daughter, a son-in-law, and two grandsons. She is active in a variety of cultural and professional organizations and previously served on the Albany Technical College Foundation. A member of the National Association of Professional Women and Society for Human Resource Management, she enjoys traveling and reading.