PEORIA MAGAZINE February 2023

D I S H A N D D R I N K

GROUNDBREAK, BAKER, BUSINESSWOMAN Peoria County Clerk Rachael Parker brings a sweetness to everything she does

BY AMY EDGAR PHOTOS BY RON JOHNSON

R achael Parker has made a name for herself in Peoria as a successful elected official and entrepreneur. She’s also a mother and grandmother committed to lifting others and bettering her community. Parker was elected Peoria County clerk in 2020. She also is the talent behind SweetCakes by Rachael, a custom bakery on the city’s West Bluff. SCHOLAR-ATHLETE Parker is the youngest of six children, born and raised in Galesburg. Even as a child, she was driven to succeed. An avid runner since age 9, she was selected to participate in track-and field competition overseas during her senior year of high school. She then attended Western Illinois University before accepting a track scholarship at Bradley University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree and was later inducted into its athletic hall of fame. After graduation, Parker moved to Oklahoma City and took a job in banking. She returned to Peoria to be closer to family and soon went to work for the Small Business Administration as a loan program manager, followed by economic development positions with the cities of Peoria and Chillicothe. Parker initially had no interest in

politics. She was convinced to run for the Peoria District 150 School Board while leading the PTO at her kids’ school. After children Ryan and Riley graduated, Parker ran for Peoria County Board in 2010, won, and served for nine years before being appointed to fill the county clerk seat vacated by the death of Steve Sonnemaker. In 2020, she was elected to the job in her own right. “I often say my life is like a puzzle, and all the pieces have fallen nicely together,” said Parker.

confections, asking only that customers purchase the ingredients. A co-worker suggested that Parker take her kitchen craftsmanship to the next level, and SweetCakes by Rachael was born. She began the business at home, thenmoved to a commercial location 16 years ago. Following the COVID pandemic, the bakery now takes pre-orders only. Each dessert is made with care and attention to detail. Parker said her most challenging creation is a lemon blueberry cheesecake cake. “I have one customer that wants that every year for her birthday,” she said. “I don’t advertise it because it is a very special cake, not one I want to mass produce.” Her key lime cupcakes, meanwhile, f inished third in Taste of Peoria competition in back-to-back years and are customer favorites. “Ido likemakingcupcakesbecausethey just seem to put a smile on everyone’s face,” said Parker. “Sometimes … I turn into the cupcake fairy and leave a cupcake on someone’s desk here at the courthouse with a note on it that says, ‘You are doing a sweet job for Peoria County.’ It’s just something that brightens up someone’s day.” Case in point is longtime customer Dorothea Gul ley of Peoria, who recently trekked to SweetCakes for a couple dozen sugar cookies for her son’s 21st birthday.

PEORIA COUNTY’S ‘CUPCAKE FAIRY’

All the while, baking continued to be more than a passing fancy for Parker. At first, she gave away her signature

12 FEBRUARY 2023 PEORIA MAGAZINE