Phil Barber

Phil Barber has actively participated in producing and managing corporate events for nearly 20 years. Laying the groundwork for his life's work, Barber managed and booked engagements for high school bands when he was just 14 years old. His childhood hobby became his passion at the University of Tennessee where, as a member of the university's Campus Entertainment Board, he produced major concerts on campus. Barber & Associates is one of the nation's leading entertainment and special events management sources, with a staff of agents touting more than one hundred years of combined experience organizing the vast details associated with creating successful events. The company specializes in booking motivational speakers, comedians, celebrity entertainment, technology gurus, business and political leaders for a variety of corporate meetings, industry conferences, and private engagements worldwide. Established in 1977, Barber & Associates is located in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Barber attributes his success to his tenacious customer-oriented service and considers today's technology as a strategic weapon in staying ahead of the competition.

Barber & Associates has become one of America's largest brokers/producers of corporate comedy. Barber has produced numerous dates in the last year including such comedy greats as Jay Leno, Dana Carvey, Sinbad, Rita Rudner, Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall, Richard Jeni, Paul Rodriguez, Jeff Dunham and John Pinette.

Barber & Associates' clientele is dominated by members of the Fortune 500 including names such as AT&T, Andersen Consulting, KMPG, Dupont, Lockheed Martin, Daimler Chrysler, Pfizer, Dow Chemical and Fed-Ex. In addition, Barber & Associates is a prime source for the nation's top technology firms including IBM, e-toll, Cybernet Systems, Trilogy Software, Cree, 3Com, Novell, Nortel Networks, WebTrends, Alltell Information Systems, and many more. International clients include the Marketing Conference of Pakistan, Maduro & Curiel's Bank NV and ABTOF.

Known for his straight-talking, trend-predicting, conventional manner, Phil Barber was appointed to serve a two-year term on the International Entertainment Buyers Association (IEBA) Board of Directors.

Barber, who has successfully grown his entertainment business via the Internet, chaired the association's Internet Task Force, which drove IEBA's Web site offerings, focus on utilizing new technology to improve the current site, and educate IEBA's members on how the Internet is changing the way buyers in the entertainment industry do business.

Barber produced The Presidential Trust Reception & Dinner at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C. for the inauguration of the 43rd President of the United States, George W. Bush. Trent Lott, Senate Majority Leader hosted the event. The Spinners were the featured entertainment.

Barber holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Tennessee. He and his wife, Cathy, reside in Knoxville, Tennessee with their two sons Ryan and Brandon.