Richie Parker

Richie Parker

Keynote Speaker: Chief of Staff, UVA Football Team; Former NASCAR Engineer Born Without Arms

Richie Parker Biography

Richie Parker is extraordinary, just don’t tell him that. He’d prefer to be just one of the guys.

Richie Parker joined the University of Virginia Cavalier Football program as the Chief of Staff in 2022 after a 17-year career with Hendrick Motorsports. At Hendrick, Parker worked as the Manager of Government Projects where he led engineering efforts on government and military defense related projects. Prior to working on the Government Project side of the business, Parker worked as the Vehicle Design Group Manager for the four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams contributing to 112 NASCAR Cup Series wins and seven year-end Championships.

Parker is co-founder of Optimech Solutions, an engineering consulting firm that works with several clients across motorsports as well as many different industries. The 40-year-old received his MBA from Clemson University in 2017.

Born with bilateral amelia, a non-genetic birth defect in which limbs are not formed, Parker has pursued his dreams at one of NASCAR’s most successful organizations. He has been profiled by ESPN and often speaks to organizations about overcoming obstacles and facing adversity. A Clemson University graduate, Parker joined Hendrick Motorsports in 2005 and has contributed to seven Sprint Cup championships during his tenure. In 2014, Parker was honored by the National Inclusion Project as a Champion of Inclusion recipient.

Parker takes pride in finding creative solutions that allow him to lead a perfectly normal and independent life. As a child, he designed a bike that would allow him to ride around with the neighborhood kids. Later in life, Parker convinced a man to sell him his dream car, a 1964 Chevy Impala SS. He and his father partnered with a company called Drive Master to develop a system that allowed Parker to drive the car on his own by steering with his feet. The Beaufort, S.C., native believes in taking responsibility for your life and career, and never giving up until you reach your goals.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Richie Parker and other top speakers and celebrities.

Richie Parker Videos

Richie Parker | Game Plan for Life
Inspirational Man Born With No Arms Drives His and Works For ...
inspiring Story Armless NASCAR Engineer Richie Parker mp4 ...

How do I book Richie Parker to speak at my event?

Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Richie Parker for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Richie Parker, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Richie Parker or any other speaker of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Richie Parker for a speaking engagement?

Speaking fees for Richie Parker, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Richie Parker are $10,000 - $20,000 for live events and Below $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Richie Parker, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

What topics does Richie Parker speak about?

Richie Parker is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Disability, Inspirational, Diversity & Inclusion, Engineering, Manufacturing, Personal Growth, Sports Motivation, College, Creativity, Mental Health, Empowerment, Black Heritage, Sports, Motivational and Health.

Where does Richie Parker travel from?

Richie Parker generally travels from Charlottesville, VA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.

Who is the agent for Richie Parker?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Richie Parker for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Richie Parker for your next private or corporate function.

What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Richie Parker or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.


Richie Parker is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Disability, Inspirational and Diversity & Inclusion. The estimated speaking fee range to book Richie Parker for live events is $10,000 - $20,000, and for virtual events Below $10,000. Richie Parker generally travels from Charlottesville, VA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Rudy Ruettiger, Larry McReynolds and Coach Ken Carter. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Richie Parker for an upcoming event.

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 12/08/2024.

Richie Parker Videos

Richie Parker | Game Plan for Life
Inspirational Man Born With No Arms Drives His and Works For ...
inspiring Story Armless NASCAR Engineer Richie Parker mp4 ...
Richie Parker Drive - YouTube

Richie Parker Reviews

  • Our attendees enjoyed Richie Parker and his amazing story.
    The National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) - Aug 12 2024

  • Clinton High School - Sep 30 2021

  • Mindr - Aug 03 2021

  • I met Mr. Parker at the SC Education Business Summit. He was an excellent speaker, and seemed like a very nice, practical and intelligent young man. With or without arms, His abilities, attitude, and work ethic make him an inspiration, regardless of whether he does or does not have arms. As an educator, I am interested in sharing his story. Our world needs to see much more of role models who value integrity, innovation, and family.
    South Carolina Education Business Summit - Apr 15 2016

  • How do I book Richie Parker to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Richie Parker for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Richie Parker, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Richie Parker or any other speaker of your choice.
  • How much does it cost to book Richie Parker for a speaking engagement?

    Speaking fees for Richie Parker, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Richie Parker are $10,000 - $20,000 for live events and Below $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Richie Parker, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Richie Parker speak about?

    Richie Parker is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Disability, Inspirational, Diversity & Inclusion, Engineering, Manufacturing, Personal Growth, Sports Motivation, College, Creativity, Mental Health, Empowerment, Black Heritage, Sports, Motivational and Health.
  • Where does Richie Parker travel from?

    Richie Parker generally travels from Charlottesville, VA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
  • Who is the agent for Richie Parker?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Richie Parker for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Richie Parker for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Richie Parker or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
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