Commissioner Barber graduated from West Rowan High School in June 1978.  He received a B.S. Degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in May 1982.  He moved on to Duke University in 1997 and completed an Executive Management Program in Business Development.  In 1999 he completed an Executive Management Program for Strategic Planning at Columbia University.  He is currently completing his Masters in School Administration. 

While continuing his education, Commissioner Barber entered a 19-year career with Kodak.  That career took him to Miami, New York, Boston, Chicago, London, Stuttgart, Germany, and Dubai,UAE before returning to Rowan County.

Commissioner Barber is currently serving his second term as a County Commissioner and his current term expires in December of 2014.