Rodney Baker CEO
Hot Rod Connects LLC
Hot Rod Connects is a full-service concierge agency specializing in meeting the needs of businesses, non-profits, professional associations, and individuals. Whatever the need, we fill it… we connect the dots! From large community festivals to productions the size of Globe Life Park or local non-profit functions of 500 or less, you can find Hot Rod Connects there with the right team. We understand the assignment. Book us today to add value to your important project.
Rodney is an accomplished business entrepreneur, CEO, and founder of Hot Rod Connects (HRC), a concierge-booking agency that specializes in offering high-end services for businesses and entertainers. Services provided by the agency include (but are not limited to) conferences, galas, speaking engagements, concerts, and entertainment services. Through Hot Rod Connects, he works directly with Texas Trust CU Theatre, American Airlines Center, AT&T Stadium, Dickies Arena and several other venues to provide VIP Suite services for high-end clients.. He has partnered with well-established groups, executives, celebrities, and corporations in the past couple of years to provide the total experience in service-concierge.
Rodney has a vast amount of experience in business partnerships. He currently serves as a Marketing Consultant for Dallas businessman Roland Parrish, who is the President & CEO of Parrish Restaurants, owning 25 McDonald’s in North Texas. In his current position as a marketing consultant, he collaborates with Mr. Parrish to sponsor and host numerous events, including the Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Roland Parrish Celebrity Golf Tournament, Texas Black Invitational Rodeo Salute to Veterans, Parrish Invitational Battle of the Bands, and the Rev. John and Marie Parrish Medical Clinic in Fort Portal, Uganda. Other collaborations include school fundraisers, education competitions, and scholarship fundraisers, such as the Be Moore Back to School Extravaganza.
He also serves as the sole fundraising arm for Ethos Education Group, founded by Super Bowl Champion Everson Walls. Ethos Education Group is a character development program designed to improve the educational experience of students by redefining success through a firm understanding of identity and self-value. The group, in the past two years, has changed the lives of hundreds of students nationwide. Through a proven curriculum, Ethos and Hot Rod Connects have raised the self-esteem of its students, making it possible to achieve generational change by redefining their success through increased self-value and character enhancement.
For the past six years, he has coordinated Von Miller Day in Dallas, Texas, for Super Bowl 50 Champion and MVP, Von Miller. In addition to his business ventures, Rodney coordinates Miami Dolphins DeAndre Washington’s “Outwork the Competition” camp. The camp improves the quality of youth football through camps and fitness. The goals of the camp involve enriching values such as teamwork, cooperation, respect, and self-esteem. In this position, Rodney is responsible for coordinating venues, inviting hosts, and collaborating with corporations to raise money for scholarships.
In collaboration with Williams Chicken Partners in Education initiative, he coordinates all community food contributions for elementary, middle, and high schools, colleges, churches, and community organizations. He also serves as the fundraising arm for the organization’s marketing team.
His philanthropic involvement includes membership on the board of directors for the Harvey Martin Dream Foundation, where he serves as Director of Philanthropy. From 2014 to 2019, he served as the Executive Director of Michael Crabtree’s Crab5 Foundation. In 2021 he received the “You Can Live Again Brunch” award. He is also the recipient of a Privilege Toast in honor of his philanthropic efforts and his ability to uplift the community.
Rodney has made a commitment to improving the greater Arlington community and it has been very impactful. Rodney believes that life is all about making connections, establishing relationships, and building a network and seizing opportunities. Rodney was nominated by University of Texas at Arlington University Crossroads and received the National Service Award from President Donald J. Trump for his volunteer commitments to the University of Texas Arlington.
HRC demonstrated their support during the COVID-19 Pandemic in helping implement public health programs, particularly in medically underserved areas. HRC helped to create a network of multiple organizations to partner together to complete program activities, including Community- based organizations, Local chapters of national associations including Law Enforcement, Local health departments, Health centers and other community-based health providers, Minority-serving organizations or institutions, Philanthropic organizations, Local municipal entities, such as, Social service providers, childcare, Community Action Coalitions, Chambers of Commerce, homelessness, single parents, families and other community groups and Volunteers.
Rodney is a graduate of Texas A&M University-Commerce (TAMUC). He completed his bachelor’s in business administration in 2007. At TAMUC, he served on various student organizations and committees. He was instrumental in implementing several university-sponsored events that are still being run annually today. For three years, he served as the president of The Zeta Tau Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated. As president of the fraternity, he co-created “Senior Day with the Alphas” and “Cold War Step Show.” Through Senior Day, the university was able to reach its 2010 goal of increasing enrollment to 10,000 students. He is the proud husband and father of two children and resides in Dallas, Texas.
