Parker Slaybaugh
VP
LINK Public Affairs
Bio:
Parker Slaybaugh is Vice President at LINK Public Affairs and a nationally recognized voice on data center public affairs, community engagement, and policy strategy. He advises data center developers, operators, end users, and industry organizations on navigating complex political and regulatory environments, securing project approvals, advancing policy objectives, and building community support for critical digital infrastructure projects across the United States. Over the past several years, Parker has helped lead public affairs campaigns for data center developments in multiple states, developing strategies that combine public opinion research, stakeholder engagement, grassroots outreach, paid media, and community education. In addition to local project approvals and community relations, he regularly works with clients to navigate emerging policy challenges surrounding data center development, artificial intelligence, energy infrastructure, taxation, and economic development.
His work focuses on helping organizations successfully operate at the intersection of digital infrastructure, public policy, government affairs, and community expectations. Prior to joining LINK Public Affairs, Parker served as Chief Deputy Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry under Governor Glenn Youngkin, where he helped advance economic development initiatives, business recruitment efforts, regulatory reform, and industry engagement across the Commonwealth. He also helped launch and build a statewide trade association representing many of the nation's largest retailers, including several Fortune 100 companies, leading advocacy efforts on behalf of major national brands before state and local policymakers. Before entering government and public affairs, Parker spent six years as a television reporter and anchor in Richmond, Virginia, earning a regional Emmy Award, an Edward R. Murrow Award, and multiple Associated Press honors for investigative and feature reporting. Today, Parker regularly advises some of the industry's leading organizations on community acceptance, entitlement strategy, stakeholder engagement, policy development, and reputation management. He is a frequent speaker on the future of digital infrastructure and the role effective public affairs strategies play in the successful development of data centers nationwide.
His work focuses on helping organizations successfully operate at the intersection of digital infrastructure, public policy, government affairs, and community expectations. Prior to joining LINK Public Affairs, Parker served as Chief Deputy Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry under Governor Glenn Youngkin, where he helped advance economic development initiatives, business recruitment efforts, regulatory reform, and industry engagement across the Commonwealth. He also helped launch and build a statewide trade association representing many of the nation's largest retailers, including several Fortune 100 companies, leading advocacy efforts on behalf of major national brands before state and local policymakers. Before entering government and public affairs, Parker spent six years as a television reporter and anchor in Richmond, Virginia, earning a regional Emmy Award, an Edward R. Murrow Award, and multiple Associated Press honors for investigative and feature reporting. Today, Parker regularly advises some of the industry's leading organizations on community acceptance, entitlement strategy, stakeholder engagement, policy development, and reputation management. He is a frequent speaker on the future of digital infrastructure and the role effective public affairs strategies play in the successful development of data centers nationwide.