Arts/Entertainment/Sports: TODD ‘PARNEY’ PARNELL
CEO, RICHMOND FLYING SQUIRRELS, RICHMOND
Published
Parnell has been strategizing a financial comeback for the Flying Squirrels — the Double-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants. Revenues were down more than 95% in 2020, when the season was canceled due to the pandemic.
Parnell, who came to Richmond with the team in 2010, makes more than 100 appearances a year for speaking engagements and charitable causes. In 2022, the Squirrels are headed to the playoffs for the first time in eight years and gave away scads of promotional items, from bobblehead Squirrels to tie-dye jerseys.
After serving as vice president and chief operating officer, he was tapped as CEO when Chuck Domino retired in July 2020. Parnell also serves on the boards of ChamberRVA and Richmond
Region Tourism.
Big changes are on the horizon for the team as Richmond seeks to develop the valuable land around the aging Diamond into a revitalized district with a new stadium.
BEST ADVICE FOR OTHERS: Have fun in all you do: put others before yourself.
BEVERAGE OF CHOICE: Tito’s Vodka, Anheuser-Busch products, red wine, Yoo-hoo chocolate drinks
MOST RECENT BOOK READ: “The Power of Fun,” by Dave Raymond
FAVORITE VACATION SPOT: Sandbridge
FAVORITE SONG: “Crazy Eddie’s Last Hurrah,” by Reckless Kelly
