Richard grew up in Maine and moved to the Washington area in the mid-80s.  He has worked on presidential campaigns, on Capitol Hill, and was part of the grassroots lobbying team that pushed the Brady Bill through the U.S. Congress.  He served as Executive Director of the Maryland Democratic Party, Director of Maryland Government Affairs for The Greater Washington Board of Trade, and President and CEO of the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce.  In the private sector, he's worked as an advertising executive, chief operating officer for an urban design firm, and currently runs his own consulting business in Montgomery County.  Mr. Parsons has been deeply involved in regional economic policy and transportation issues, having served on several major task forces and project studies, and on the Board of several transportation-related organizations (including the Corridor Cities Transitway Coalition, Purple Line Now! and the Suburban Maryland Transportation Alliance).  He is active in local politics and a number of community organizations, and is a graduate of Leadership Montgomery.