Mark Parkinson became Kansas' 45th Governor on April 28, 2009.

A successful businessman and former legislator, Governor Parkinson is a native Kansan with roots in Scott City, where the Parkinsons still own the family farm.

Born in Wichita, Governor Parkinson attended Wichita Public Schools and graduated from Wichita Heights High School before going on to graduate summa cum laude from Wichita State University in 1980. He graduated first in his class from the University of Kansas School of Law in 1984.

Governor Parkinson then entered private practice, forming his own law firm in 1986. He also served as president of the Johnson County Bar Foundation.

Governor Parkinson was elected to the Kansas House of Representatives in 1990. Two years later, he was elected to the Kansas Senate. While in the Legislature, Governor Parkinson was known as someone who bridged party lines. He worked to strengthen Kansas schools and enhance local control.

In 1996, Governor Parkinson's career path focused on a new passion: helping enhance older Kansans' quality of life through first-class elder-care retirement facilities. His company's assisted living facilities have received national recognition for their design and the business has been named as an outstanding business in Northeast Johnson County.

Governor Parkinson served as chairman of the Shawnee Area Chamber of Commerce board in 2004, and in 2005 was the "Chair of the Chairs" of the nine Chambers of Commerce in Johnson County. In 2006, he joined Governor Kathleen Sebelius as her Lt. Governor.

Under Governor Parkinson's leadership, wind farms have tripled in Kansas; our state is the future home to the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility; and Kansas is working to leverage resources from the American Recovery Act to create jobs, rebuild our infrastructure and continue our investment in public schools.

In 2009 the Topeka Capital Journal named Governor Parkinson 'Kansan of the Year' citing his bipartisan support and ability to move the state forward even in challenging economic times.

Married to his wife, Stacy, for more than 25 years, the Parkinsons are active in community and charitable organizations, including co-chairing the successful Sunflower House Capital Campaign which raised $4.2 million to support the child abuse assistance agency. They also completed a $6.7 million Capital Campaign for SAFEHOME, one of the most comprehensive domestic violence agencies in Kansas. Both involvements led the United Community Services of Johnson County to name the Parkinsons 2006 Co-Citizens of the Year. They are parents to three children: Alex, Sam, and Kit. They belong to the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood.