Parkinson is a St. Charles County native, graduating from Francis Howell High School.
He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Saint Louis University in 2000.
In 2000, Parkinson began working for the St. Louis office of United States Senator Kit Bond.
Among other responsibilities, Parkinson coordinated and conducted Bond's "Listening Post" program, holding local question-and-answer sessions across 17 counties in northeast Missouri.
Parksinson could not seek reelection in 2016 due to term limits and was succeeded by Phil Christofanelli (R-Saint Peters).