Parkinson is brother of former Kansas Governor Mark Parkinson (D) and was a co-chairman of west coast fund-raising for the 1996 Presidential campaign for former U.S. Senator Bob Dole. Parkinson's father was public relations and marketing guru and author Hank Parkinson, whose Wichita, Kansas firm helped launch several major companies and publications including Pizza Hut, Delta Dental Plan and Campaign Insight.
