05/14/2026
Ashley Parker is an Army veteran, network engineer, and Founder & CEO of The Tech Bodega. A STEM-focused nonprofit dedicated to expanding equitable access to technology education and career pathways for underrepresented communities.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Networks & Cyber Security and brings advanced training in the field, along with a foundation shaped by military service. This combination gives her a systems-level understanding of infrastructure, security, and real-world technology operations. In her role as a network engineer, she has gained direct visibility into the structural gaps that determine who gains entry into the tech industry and who is systematically excluded.
Motivated by that disparity, she co-founded The Tech Bodega to translate access into action. The organization delivers hands-on immersive STEM experiences, including coding, robotics, and 3D printing, designed to build both technical literacy and early confidence in technology for the next generation of learners.
Under her leadership, The Tech Bodega has expanded beyond programming into community-centered initiatives such as after-school STEM enrichment and The Tech Bodega Tech Fest. With a long-term vision of establishing physical tech hubs and storefront learning spaces that function as accessible pipelines into the tech ecosystem.
Ashley’s work operates at the convergence of technology, education, and workforce development, with a clear mandate to dismantle barriers to entry in the tech industry and expand who has access to opportunity. Through scalable, hands-on learning models, she is building tangible pathways into STEM careers and actively reshaping the talent pipeline for the future of technology.