John Parker is one of the founding principals of Parker Properties, with son Russ Parker and son-in-law Lee Redmond III, specializing in developing leading edge, tenant-driven office campuses. Prior to founding Parker Properties, John had a successful real estate career beginning with Coldwell Banker from 1951 to 1974, responsible for Coldwell Banker's first Orange County location as manager of its Newport Beach office and later became president of one of three divisions, overseeing mortgage banking, development management, pension fund assets, research and appraisal. In 1974 John formed Parker Properties, developing 23 major projects in Southern California, including office buildings, industrial, research/ development facilities, and specialty retail shopping centers, representing a value in excess of $400 million.

John is recipient of the 1999 University of California, Irvine, Graduate School of Management Lifetime Achievement Award. He also served as a Trustee and Chairman of the Building Committee for the Orange County Performing Arts Center and The Laguna Museum of Art; Trustee of the Urban Land Institute; and Chairman of the Building Committee for the James West Alumni Center at UCLA. He was presented the Humanitarian Award from the National Conference of Christians and Jews in 1983. Parker also served on the Boards of Allergan Pharmaceuticals, CB Commercial Real Estate Services, First Federal Savings Bank, The Regency Group of Florida and CIDA.