Patrick Parkes serves as Disability Advocates of Kent County’s Business Development Coordinator. In this role, he helps to manage the organization’s accessibility reviews, project consulting, and educational workshop offerings for the design community with an eye toward inclusive, Universal Design. As a wheelchair user born with cerebral palsy himself, Patrick brings lived experience to this role. He supplements this lived experience with professional experiences in the business, public policy, and education sectors.

Specifically, he has worked in Broker-Dealer Operations for the global investment management and research firm Alliance Bernstein in Nashville, TN; as a Guest Teacher for districts throughout the Kent Intermediate School District in Grand Rapids, MI; and as the Fiscal Policy Analyst for Kansas Policy Institute in Overland Park, KS.

Patrick holds a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) as well as a B.A. and an M.A in Political Science/Civic Leadership—all from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Go Illini!

Outside of work, Patrick has enjoyed competing both nationally and internationally as a member of the U.S. National Team in the Paralympic sport of Boccia. Relatedly, he also serves as the Vice President and Athlete Representative on the USA Boccia Board of Directors as well as an Athlete Representative to the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee Athlete Advisory Council.