Evan Parker is an American entrepreneur and executive best known for his work in the sports media and collectibles industries. Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Parker’s career has been defined by a focus on content strategy, digital media, and the community-driven world of collecting. His professional path eventually led to the founding of Mantel, a platform designed to connect enthusiasts across various categories of collectibles, including horology.
Parker’s educational background is in journalism, having graduated from the University of Maryland’s Philip Merrill College of Journalism in 2005. He began his professional career in public relations with Edelman before moving into significant roles within the sports industry. He spent eight years at NASCAR, where he served as the head of content, overseeing the league’s media and storytelling initiatives. In 2019, he joined the sports media company The Athletic as Senior Vice President and General Manager, a role in which he was responsible for the commercial and operational growth of the platform. His achievements during this period were recognized in 2021 when he was named to the Sports Business Journal’s Forty Under 40 list.
In 2023, Parker transitioned into the entrepreneurship space by co-founding Mantel alongside Alexis Ohanian and Brent Montgomery. The platform, which officially launched in early 2024, was born out of Parker’s lifelong passion as a collector. While his early interests were rooted in sports cards, his personal collection grew to encompass vintage timepieces and other memorabilia. This personal interest in horology is reflected in the scope of the Mantel platform, which serves as a dedicated space for watch enthusiasts and collectors of other high-value items to share their passion and expertise.
Under Parker’s leadership as CEO, Mantel has secured investments from high-profile figures in the hobby and entertainment worlds, including Steve Aoki and Gary Vaynerchuk. The company’s mission is to modernize the collecting experience by building a community-centric app that emphasizes transparency and storytelling. Today, Evan Parker continues to lead the platform from Los Angeles, utilizing his experience in digital media and his perspective as a collector to shape the future of the hobby industry.