Meet Toby

Toby Barker currently serves as director of the University of Southern Mississippi’s Business Assistance Center, where he has worked for over a year. As director, he has assisted hundreds of small businesses in a variety of different fields. He helped in providing much-needed programming to area businesses about Go Zone benefits after Hurricane Katrina. He has worked extensively with women and minority-owned businesses, holding several seminar series targeted at providing information on business plans, financing and minority certification to current and aspiring entrepreneurs.

Toby launched the Pine Belt’s first business incubator, which houses new and emerging businesses while providing them needed services to grow during the early stages of the company.

Many around the Pine Belt have lauded his work in economic development. Toby has been named one of HQ Magazine’s Top 20 Business People Under 40. He was also named one of The Burger’s Top 25 Under 35.

In 2007, he launched his own business, Barker-Garcia Enterprises, which serves as a media and economic consulting firm for businesses and communities.

Toby attended The University of Southern Mississippi, earning his B.A. in communications in 2004 and his M.S. in economic development in 2006.

While an undergraduate, he was actively involved on campus, taking significant roles in the Student Government Association, Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, Baptist Student Union and Men of Excellence. He was the youngest executive officer ever elected to the SGA, being elected vice president of the student body as a freshman. Pi Kappa Phi named him Pi Kapp of the Year in 2003-2004 and Brother of Year in 2004-2005. His involvement earned his induction into the Southern Miss Hall of Fame in 2004 and the All Greek Hall of Fame in 2005.

Serving others has always been a priority for Toby Barker. Toby has participated in mission work in Juarez, Mexico, building houses in impoverished areas. He served as a summer missionary in Burkina Faso, West Africa in 2002. He has worked in homeless ministries in New England, the Pacific Northwest and New Orleans. It was these experiences that gave Toby a heightened sense of responsibility for the well being of his community and all of humanity. This sense of responsibility led him into the field of economic development.

Toby owns his home on South 21st Avenue, where he is a member of the Parkhaven Neighborhood Association.

Toby is an active member of First Baptist Church. He is the youngest of six children. His hero is his grandfather, who served on the European front in World War II. He is a lifelong Mississippian and a native of Meridian. Hattiesburg has been his hometown for seven years.

View Toby's full candidate vitae