E: 13 Transforming Petersburg: An Insightful Talk with Sam Parham, Mayor of Petersburg

Samuel Parham, born and raised in Petersburg, Virginia, is a dedicated public servant and business professional who has made significant contributions to his community. A 1993 graduate of Petersburg High School, Parham furthered his education at Richard Bland College, where he earned an Associate of Science degree in 1996. During his time there, he demonstrated his leadership abilities by founding the Multi-Cultural Alliance, co-founding the Rotaract Club, and participating in the College Players drama club.Parham continued his academic journey at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia, graduating in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management.In the corporate world, Parham holds the position of Director of Business Operations at Colonial Cleaning Service, a family-owned enterprise that has been serving Petersburg since 1981.Parham's political career began with his election to the Petersburg City Council in November 2014. His peers on the council recognized his leadership skills and elected him Vice Mayor in January 2015. Two years later, in January 2017, he was elected Mayor by the City Council, a position he continues to hold due to repeated re-elections by the council.In addition to his mayoral duties, Parham has held numerous leadership roles in the community. Among them are the Governor of the Petersburg Breakfast and Lunch Rotary Clubs and the Colonial Heights Rotary Club, and the President of the Petersburg Breakfast Rotary Club. He also serves as a board member for the Alliance for Building Better Medicine, the Virginia Gateway Region, the Battersea Foundation, and the VCU Alumni Association. He is the Vice Chair of the Crater Planning District Commission. In August 2023, Governor Glenn Youngkin appointed Mayor Parham to the Virginia Advisory Board on Service and Volunteerism.Through these roles, Mayor Parham continues to influence positive change in his community. Support the show