National Voice for Governors Joins Leading Accelerator gener8tor
WASHINGTON — gener8tor — a national platform for startups, musicians, artists, investors, and universities — today announced that longtime governors’ staffer Stephen Parker will join the organization as its first Vice President of Public Affairs, a role which will be based in D.C. The gener8tor platform includes pre-accelerators, accelerators, corporate programming, conferences and fellowships. The organization was ranked one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies of 2020.
“As our new head of public affairs, Stephen will educate policymakers, business leaders, national organizations, and the media on gener8tor’s efforts to create jobs, invest in small businesses, and partner with states and localities to develop home-grown talent. As a fierce advocate for music and the arts, Stephen will help gener8tor Music and Art spur economic recovery and growth for musicians, artists, and creative businesses across the country,” said gener8tor Co-Founder Joe Kirgues. “Stephen has helped state and local governments create an environment for businesses, workers, and communities to thrive. We are thrilled he will continue that work at gener8tor and help take our programs to the next level.”
Parker joins gener8tor from the National Governors Association (NGA), where he has served for more than eight years in a variety of positions advocating for and advising governors on workforce, education, economic development, labor, unemployment, technology, child care, nutrition, health care, federalism, and environmental policies. As a liaison on behalf of governors to the White House, federal agencies, and Congress, he positioned governors as a leading voice on educational and worker equity and led governors’ efforts to endorse legislation for the first time in 20 years.
“I feel fortunate that gener8tor is allowing me to use my experience to lift up and support emerging businesses, entrepreneurs, musicians, and artists. Entrepreneurship, upskilling, and the creative sector can create jobs and propel state and local economies forward, and I am looking forward to using evidence-based policy and data to tell that story,” said Parker.
Parker joins gener8tor with nearly 15 years of experience working for governors and leaders in states and at the national level, including as Senior Special Assistant to Virginia Governor Tim Kaine and Senior Policy Advisor to the commanding general of the Virginia National Guard. Parker is a master’s degree candidate at Harvard University, holds a bachelor’s degree from Longwood University, and an associate’s degree from Southside Virginia Community College.
###
About gener8tor
gener8tor’s turnkey platform for the creative economy connects startup founders, musicians, artists, investors, universities and corporations. The gener8tor platform includes pre-accelerators, accelerators, corporate programming, conferences and fellowships.
